Knowing God Series #11
“Our Infinitely Good God”
Review
Through the summer we have set out to get to know the God of the Bible better.
I. The nature of God
II. The Attributes of God
A. God is infinitely GREAT in His ability / capacity
B. God is infinitely and perfectly PURE in His morality and judgments
1. God is HOLY
2. God is RIGHTEOUS / JUST
3. God is TRUTH
Not only does God perfectly conform to His own values and standards (righteous), He also never violates His own standard (Holy) and He is the ultimate definition of reality (truth). “Truth” is the term used to describe the thing that corresponds to fact or reality. Truth requires some standard of measure by which it can be tested. Some things are more easily tested and compared than others. “Water boils at 212o F.” Does that statement correspond to reality? It is easily tested. “Two plus two equals four.” “Three feet equals one yard.” There are set standards by which we can test the truth of a statement. We rely on those set standards every day without question. Other statements are not so easily tested; origins, morality, right and wrong behavior.
Many claim that in these cases no absolute standard exists by which to measure truth. I believe that the God who created all things also established a set standard by which those things best function.
The Bible may not address every issue in life but it does provide the framework in order to effectively address any issue that may arise.
The Bible does not mention marijuana and specific drugs but does provide principles by which we could arrive at a determination of the morality of recreational drugs.
God and His Word remain the ultimate measure of reality. God does not just speak truth, He is truth. Jesus boldly declared, “I am the way, the truth and the life.”
in Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Colossians 2:3
The Holy Spirit is called “the Spirit of truth.”
We need to measure and evaluate everything in life in light of God’s word.
So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." John 8:31-32
Be careful to listen to all these words which I command you, so that it may be well with you and your sons after you forever, for you will be doing what is good and right in the sight of the LORD your God. Deut 12:28
4. God is WRATH
God reacts and responds to evil in His world. He responds to those who do not live by His truth.
5. God is JEALOUS
Jealousy is a passion for fidelity. It intensifies in the face of infidelity. It is an extension of wrath and anger.
So watch yourselves, that you do not forget the covenant of the LORD your God which He made with you, and make for yourselves a graven image in the form of anything against which the LORD your God has commanded you. For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. Deuteronomy 4:23-24
You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, and on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, Deut 5:9
Then Joshua said to the people, "You will not be able to serve the LORD, for He is a holy God. He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your transgression or your sins. "If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you harm and consume you after He has done good to you." Joshua 24:19-20
A jealous and avenging God is the LORD; The LORD is avenging and wrathful. The LORD takes vengeance on His adversaries, And He reserves wrath for His enemies. Nahum 1:2
Paul felt passionate about the people’s fidelity to Christ.
For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin. But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:2-3
6. God is the SOVEREIGN JUDGE
As the infinitely pure God, God must judge all that is imperfect as compared to His absolute standard of truth and morality. He not only established the standard but designed the consequence connected to violation of that standard.
Whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. James 2:10
A righteous, just, holy, truthful, jealous and angry God must judge violations of His law and rejection of His authority. There is automatic temporal judgment. There is also autocratic temporal and eternal judgment. God built in certain natural consequences of sin but He also specifically determines particular consequences both in this age and in the age to come.
We referenced the final judgment on evil last week. Those who decide to chance judgment on their works will be judged by those works.
And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. Revelation 20:12
The problem is that there is no balancing of good and bad deeds.
A man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law NO flesh will be justified. Galatians 2:16
Only those covered with the righteousness of Christ will gain entrance to a kingdom in which only righteousness dwells. Our righteousness will not suffice as all have sinned and fall far short of God’s standard. If the standard is the moon, it does not matter how high you can jump in comparison to others. No one gets to the moon without help from something outside of their own ability.
We must maintain a balanced view of the God we serve as reveled in Scripture.
God declared (words) and demonstrated (works) His infinite greatness, purity and goodness.
INTRODUCTION
An infinitely great and pure God would be terrifying if not for the fact that God is also good.
God interacts with His creatures out of His goodness. God is not just great and pure but good.
These operate in perfect balance. Habakkuk pleaded that God would remember mercy in wrath.
Paul called his readers to contemplate the balance between the severity and kindness of God.
Behold then the kindness and severity of God… Romans 11:22
Moses presented a bold request to God. Israel was terrified of God. Moses longed to know Him better. (Exodus 33:15-34:9)
God’s goodness is like a prism that breaks into a multitude of colors when His glory hits it.
God pronounced many aspects of that goodness as He passed over Moses tucked in the rock.
He is compassionate, merciful, gracious, longsuffering, loving, faithful, forgiving. He is also kind and gentle.
God is not always safe but He is good. Ask Adam and Eve, Uzzah, Ananias and Sapphire, David, Noah or Achan.
The term “good” is a term difficult to define and applies to various circumstances. I found at least 28 citations for “good” in the Encarta dictionary.
• Of a high quality or standard, in relation to another or others (Good performance)
• Having the appropriate qualities to be something or to fit a purpose (Good piano)
• Possessing the necessary skill or talent to do something (Good carpenter)
• Having or showing an upright and virtuous character (Good person)
• Having or showing a kind and generous disposition (Good neighbor)
• Affording pleasure or comfort (Good steak, good book)
• Having undergone no deterioration or damage (Good shape, the milk is still good)
• Sufficiently large, or providing more than enough of something (Good resources)
• Worthy of honor or high esteem (Good ruler)
• Acceptable as true or genuine and sufficient for the purpose (Good credentials)
• Helping somebody to organize thoughts or make decisions (Good advice)
• Pleasant to look at (Good looking)
• Beneficial to health or well-being (Good for you)
• Suitable and likely to produce the right results or conditions (Good facility)
• Careful and thorough (Make a good effort)
• Financially or commercially advantageous or reliable (Good investment)
• That is what it appears to be (Good report)
• Well behaved and obedient (Children were good at the restaurant)
• Socially correct (On their good behavior)
• Remain in operation, or able to continue doing something (Good for another year)
• Considerable in extent or size (Good selection of books)
• Healthy (I’m good)
You can see the extensive use of the term “good”. Interestingly all of the above could apply to our GOOD God.
There is essential goodness, which relates to the make-up of a thing, its ability to perform.
Good saw, good car, good job, good performance.
There is esthetic goodness, which relates to the beauty or desirability of something.
Good wife, good car, good painting, good sunset.
There is ethical goodness, which relates to character and moral values.
Good man or woman, good kids, good politician.
There is economic goodness, which relates to expense, or quality.
Good fortune, good diamond, good salary.
There is expending goodness, which relates to relationship to others.
Out of the goodness of his heart he fed the multitude.
God is good in every sense of the word Good.
• He is perfect
• He is beautiful
• He is holy and righteous
• He is rich and valuable
• He is continually inclined to deal well and bountifully with his creatures.
Generally references to the goodness of God focus on His interaction with His creatures. It refers to His disposition to give to others in a way which has no mercenary (selfish) motive and is not limited by what the recipients deserve, but consistently goes beyond it. (Packer)
Not everyone would agree that God is ALWAYS good. If God is so good than how can He allow…
Yet the Scriptures adamantly declare the goodness of God. God IS good all the time and God always does good. God is good to all in some ways but to some in all ways. (Packer)
God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. Genesis 1:31
Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name. For the LORD is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting and His faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 100:4-5
Praise the LORD! Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His lovingkindness is everlasting. Psalm 106:1
You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon You. Psalm 86:5
You are good and do good; teach me Your statutes. Psalm 119:68
They shall eagerly utter the memory of Your abundant goodness, and shall shout joyfully of Your righteousness. Psalm 145:7
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. James 1:17
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him! Matthew 7:11
Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground. Psalm 143:10
And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. Luke 18:19
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28
The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, and He knows those who take refuge in Him.
Nahum 1:7
It is not a mistake that our modern English word “good” comes from old English “God”. God is the very definition of good. Just as He cannot be anything but holy and righteous, He cannot be other than good. Because He is good He must always do good. Jesus spent His whole ministry demonstrating the goodness of God.
You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good, and healing all who were oppressed by the devil; for God was with Him. Acts 10:38
The goodness of God is continuously on display all around us both physically and spiritually.
EVANS
“If it does not emanate from God, does not agree with His nature it cannot be called good because only that which agrees with who and what God is can be called good.”
TOZER
“Divine goodness as one of God’s attributes, is self-caused, infinite, perfect, and eternal. Since God is immutable He never varies in the intensity of His loving-kindness. He has never been kinder than He now is, nor will He ever be less kind. He is no respecter of persons but makes His sun to shine on the evil as well as the good, and sends His rain on the just and on the unjust. The cause of His goodness is in Himself; the recipients of His goodness are all His beneficiaries, without merit, and without recompense.”
The fact of God’s goodness is indisputable or undeniable, yet the distribution of His goodness often times seems inequitable or unfair.
The writer of Psalm 73 wrote a song about his struggle.
I don’t know about you, but I have felt like the psalmist at times. It is easy to look around us and complain about our circumstances. It is easy to blame God or doubt His love and goodness in the face or world events. The bible is clear that God works all things together for good.
He cannot do otherwise. The truth is that the ultimate manifestation of God’s wrath will be hell.
Those who harden their heart against God are storing up wrath for the day of wrath. (Rom 2)
The ultimate manifestation of God’s goodness will be heaven. Those who believe in Christ are storing up treasure for eternity. (Rom 8:18; Lk 6:23). The problem of suffering and evil will finally be resolved. Evil and good will no longer coexist but eternally divide between heaven and hell.
That is what the Psalmist discovered in his trip to the sanctuary. The wicked, who prosper now, will eternally suffer latter. The righteous, who suffer now, will eternally prosper later.
There are numerous specifics flowing out of God’s goodness which we will explore later.
“The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin,
TODAY
Return to the Lord, enter the presence of God and repent for your bitterness and doubt and complaining.
The nearness of God is our good.
O taste and see that the LORD is good; how blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! Psalm 34:8
Reaffirm the truth of God’s goodness.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name. For the LORD is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting and His faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 100:4-5
Reflect God’s goodness.
Just as God is good and does good, we, as His children are called to do good.
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. Ephesians 2:10
We will spend our time next week to examining our responsibility as God’s children to reflect His goodness in all our relationships.
