Goodness

Goodness is action; it’s not something we do only for the sake of being virtuous.

When we strive to be “good” only for our own benefit, it is not truly goodness that we possess. In Greek, the word goodness, “agathosune,” means “an uprightness of heart and life” (Thayer & Strong, 1995).

God is good.

1 Chronicles 16:34 (niv) Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

his love endures forever.

The goodness of God is a perfection of his character which he exercises towards his creatures according to their various circumstances and relations. Viewed generally, it is benevolence; as exercised with respect to the miseries of his creatures it is mercy, pity, compassion, and in the case of impenitent sinners, long-suffering patience; as exercised in communicating favour on the unworthy it is grace.

Psalm 119:68 (niv) You are good, and what you do is good; Teach me your decrees.

We see that God is Good and if that is what God is nothing but good can He do.

The life of Jesus Christ is the perfect example of goodness as he died on the cross for the sins of humanity in order to give us the gift of eternal life. His ministry and sacrifice is an example of God's goodness towards mankind. After all, the term gospel means good news.

No one but God is good.

Mark 10:18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. (Mark 10:18–21)) Is about the rich young ruler.

Jesus puts the focus of the issue where it must be: on God.

The young man’s starting point was wrong because it was himself. “What must I do?

To call Jesus good is to call Him God

Psalm 14:1 (amp) The [spiritually ignorant] fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”

They are corrupt, they have committed repulsive and unspeakable deeds;

There is no one who does good.

The heart of man is wicked.

Jeremiah 17:9 (niv) The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?

Mark 7:21-22 (niv) For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder,

Even our best works are not good.

Isaiah 64:6 (nlt) We are all infected and impure with sin.

When we display our righteous deeds,

they are nothing but filthy rags.

Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall,

and our sins sweep us away like the wind.

The problem is we are called to do Good.

Galatians 6:10 (niv) Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

We must be connected to God to bring forth any good.

John 15:5 (niv) “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

What we all need in order to be connected.

Galatians 3:27 (amp) For all of you who were baptized into Christ [into a spiritual union with the Christ, the Anointed] have clothed yourselves with Christ [that is, you have taken on His characteristics and values].

2 Corinthians 13:14 (niv) May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Galatians 5:16 (niv) So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

Scripture also cautions that merely thinking about doing good is not enough. James 1:22 admonishes us to "be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." James continues his teaching by comparing a man who simply hears the Word but does not obey it to a man who looks at his face in a mirror but soon forgets what he looks like (James 1:23¬–24). He concludes the teaching by saying, "But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing" (James 1:25).

A marble cutter with a chisel and hammer was changing a stone into a statue. A preacher looking on said I wish I could deal such a changing blow on Stony hearts.The Workman answered. Maybe you could, if you worked like me upon your knees.

All of our works if we wish them to be good should start on our knees.