Goodness from God – Are You Absolutely Good Without It?

 Are you a better good person because of goodness?

Ephesians 5:8-11 for you people were once darkness [i.e., when living in sin], but now you are light in [fellowship with] the Lord. [So], live like people who belong to light [i.e., who live godly lives], 9 (for the product of light consists of everything good and right and true). 10 Then you will demonstrate [or, “learn about”] a life that is very pleasing to the Lord. 11 Do not have fellowship with [people who practice] worthless deeds of darkness [i.e., sinful living], but expose them instead. (AUV)

Goodness says, “You can rely on me. Let me help you do what is right, to be generous and God-pleasing good. You can be honest, dependable and kind. I have a good outlook on life and positive qualities. I come from God who is the perfect good. With me in you, you can be like Him.”

Something to think about:

Does goodness from the Holy Spirit help you become a better good person? Are you absolutely (unquestionably) good without the goodness that comes from God’s Spirit? You believe you are good, but do you do good things without expecting something in return? Such as help the poor and others in need. Matthew 19:16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and said, “Teacher, what good deed should I do to have eternal life?” (ISV) Mark 10:21 Then Jesus, beholding him, loved him, and said to him, One thing you lack: go your way, sell whatever you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: and come follow me. (RKJNT)

Key Points:

1. The Holy Spirit produces goodness which produces good deeds from the heart – Luke 8:15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. (NIV)
2. Do you use good words? Matthew 12:33-37 33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. 34 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. 36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” (NKJV)
3. Do you think good thoughts? Titus 1:15-16 “A person who is pure of heart sees goodness and purity in everything; but a person whose own heart is evil and untrusting finds evil in everything, for his dirty mind and rebellious heart color all he sees and hears. 16 Such persons claim they know God, but from seeing the way they act, one knows they don’t. They are rotten and disobedient, worthless so far as doing anything good is concerned.’ (TLB)

Fruit of the Spirit

Goodness – Goodness says: You can rely on me. Let me help you do what is right. I have a good outlook on life. God is the perfect good. With me in you, you can be like Him.

Fruit of the Spirit

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 Gentleness, self-control: against such things there is no law. (RKJNT)

Galatians 5:22-24 But the fruit produced by the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindliness, generosity, trustfulness, gentleness, self-control. 23 Against such things there is no law! 24 And those who belong to Jesus, the Christ, have already crucified their earthly nature, with its passions and its cravings. (OEB)

How to use Goodness

Refer to 1 Thessalonians 5:14-22 to get a few examples of being God-pleasing good (using goodness). Live at peace with one another. ♦ Warn the believers that will not work (idle, unruly; 2 Thessalonians 3:10-11); if anyone would not work, neither should he eat. ♦ Be patient with everyone ♦ Do good things to and for others as often as you can. (Galatians 6:10) ♦ Stay away from sin (evil); Avoid doing things that even look like you are doing wrong. (Romans 12:9, 21; 1 Thessalonians 5:22; 3 John 1:11)].

1 Peter 2:11-12 Dear friends, your real home is not here on earth. You are strangers here. I ask you to keep away from all the sinful desires of the flesh. These things fight to get hold of your soul. 12 When you are around people who do not know God, be careful how you act. Even if they talk against you as wrong-doers, in the end they will give thanks to God for your good works when Christ comes again. (NLV)

The ‘fruit of the Spirit’ “goodness” comes from the Greek word ἀγαθωσύνη agathosune (ag-ath-o-soo’-nay) n. 1. goodness, i.e. virtue or beneficence {the doing of good; active goodness or kindness; charity} 2. uprightness of heart and life, goodness, kindness [from primary word ἀγαθός agathos (ag-ath-os’) adj. 1. good; 2. pleasant, agreeable, joyful, happy 3. excellent, distinguished 4. upright, honourable]

Other English words for goodness in Galatians 5:22

“generosity” [ALT, AUV, KNOX, MOF, MRINT, NAB, NRSV, OEB, OJB, PNT and TCNT] ♦ “well doing” [BBE] ♦ “beneficence” [MACE] ♦ “benevolence” [Riverside and WEY] ♦ “kindness” [MPSNT] ♦ “good” [CEV, NIRV and NLV] ♦ “being good” [BWE and WE]

NOTE: the Bible translations that use these words are enclosed in square brackets.

Definition from Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

The quality of being good in any of its various senses; excellence (being very good); virtue (honest goodness); kindness; benevolence (good will); as, goodness of character, of disposition (mood), of conduct (ways), etc.

Galatians 6:9-10 And we should not become tired of doing good things, for eventually we will receive [never ending life] if we do not give up. 10 So then, we should do the right thing toward every person whenever we have the opportunity, and especially toward people who are part of God’s family [i.e., those making up “the faith”]. (AUV)

Other words with the same meaning as goodness

• Beneficence – The practice of doing good; active goodness, kindness, or charity.
• Benevolent – having a disposition to do good; kind; charitable.
• Just – upright; honest; having principles of uprightness; righteous; impartial (not biased, open-minded); honorable and fair in one’s dealings; consistent with moral right.
• Obedient – submissive to authority or control; yielding willingly to commands, orders, or injunctions; performing what is required, or abstaining from what is forbidden; obeying or carrying out a request, command, or the like.
• Pious – having or showing reverence and earnest compliance in the observance of religion; devout; zealous in the performance of religious obligations; having or showing a sense of duty and loyalty to God, parents, family, friends, etc.
• Real – authentic; genuine; not artificial or spurious {spurious defined: lacking authenticity or validity; counterfeit; false}; not pretentious.
• Right – morally good; genuine; in accordance with or conformable to justice, law, morality, or another standard.
• True – faithful; loyal; constant; reliable; conforming to an original, pattern, rule, standard
• Virtuous – having or characterized by moral right action or thinking; chaste; pure; righteous

♥ Question for ‘Goodness – Fruit of the Spirit’: Do you practice doing good to be noticed by others or is it from your heart?

Scriptures to read and study

Matthew 19:16-22 {(key verses: 16 and 21); reference Mark 10:17-22 (key verses: 17 and 21); Luke 18:18-23 (key verses: 18 and 22)}; Ephesians 4:17-5:14 (focus verses: 4:17-24, 5:8-11; key verses: 5:8-11); 1 Thessalonians 5:12-22 [(focus verses: 14-22); 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15]; 2 Thessalonians 1:3-12; Ephesians 2:1-10 (key verse: 10); Romans 12:9-21 (key verses: 9 and 21); Galatians 6:6-10 (key verses: 9-10)

Goodness

Conclusion

Goodness – I pray that we learn to use goodness to do good things that please God.
Fruit of the Spirit

Message

Goodness – Fruit of the Spirit – I pray that we learn to use goodness to do good things that please God.

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 We pray always for you, that our God may count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire of goodness and every work of faith with power. 12 May the name of our Lord Jesus be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. (NSB)

Full of Goodness

Romans 15:14 “My brothers and sisters, I know without a doubt that you are full of goodness and have all the knowledge you need. So you are certainly able to counsel each other.” (ERV) Can others make a statement like that about you? Are you full of goodness? Do you have all the knowledge you need to do good and please God?

Philippians 4:8-9 “Finally, brothers and sisters, fill your minds with beauty and truth. Meditate on whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is good, whatever is virtuous and praiseworthy. 9 Keep to the script: whatever you learned and received and heard and saw in me—do it—and the God of peace will walk with you.” (The Voice) Ephesians 2:10 “God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing. (NCV) So my friends, live a life overflowing with and full of goodness and be blessed in Jesus name. Goodness from God, are you absolutely (completely) good without it? I love you—Tim ♥.

♥ Final question for “Goodness”: Are you doing good things for and to others as often as you can?