The Fruit of the Spirit: “Goodness”

Galatians 5:22–23 (NASB)

22 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.

Key truths to keep in mind as we study the Fruit of the Spirit:

1. There is only one Fruit of the Spirit.

(v. 22) “But the FRUIT…”

It is a singular in the English and the Greek. It is a singular fruit with 9 distinct aspects: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, [and] self-control…”

2. The Holy Spirit is the source of the Fruit of the Spirit.

(v. 22) “…the fruit OF THE SPIRIT……

John 15:5 (NASB)

5 “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

So far we have looked at love, joy, peace, patience, and kindness. This week, the next characteristic of the Fruit of the Spirit that we are examining, is… GOODNESS.

I think a great illustration of goodness is found in Psalm 1.

Psalm 1:1–6 (NASB)

1 How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers. 4 The wicked are not so, But they are like chaff which the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 6 For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

Goodness is about…

WHO you are.

4 The wicked are not so, But they are like chaff which the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 6 For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

What is goodness?

Webster’s 1828:

GOOD'NESS, noun The state of being good; [it is] the physical qualities which constitute value or excellence…

1. [Goodness is ]The moral qualities which constitute christian excellence [a valuable quality; any thing highly laudable, meritorious or virtuous, in a persons…Purity of heart, uprightness of mind…]; [It is] moral virtue; and true religion.

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness… Galatians 5:22.

The Greek word translated as “goodness”, means, “uprightness of heart and life”.

Goodness is a state of being that God produces in your heart and life. It is godly character or holiness. Some call it integrity.

It is about WHO we are. Or better yet, WHO God made us to be in Christ.

John 15:16 (NASB)

16 “You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain…

He chose us to be good. Goodness is that state of being where the fruit of the Spirit remains!

God expects His people to be good, to be holy, because that’s who He is.

Psalm 25:8 (NASB)

8 Good and upright is the Lord…

Leviticus 11:44 (ESV)

44 “…and be holy, for I am holy…”

But there is one big problem hindering our goodness…

Mark 10:18 (NASB)

18 “…No one is good except God alone.”

People are not good! That’s one of the biggest lies that the Devil has put out there, that people are “inherently good”.

Did anyone teach you to be selfish?

Did anyone ever teach you to get angry?

Did anyone ever teach you to lie?

Did anyone ever teach you to lust?

We are not good. Only God is good.

If we are not inherently good we need to be changed.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NASB)

17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

In Christ YOU ARE a new creature!

Romans 6:4 (ESV)

4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

In Christ YOU ARE renewed.

1 Peter 2:9–10 (NASB)

9 …you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Did you hear that? If you are a born again child of God you are also… (repeat 1 Peter 2:9-10)

So, let me ask you, who are you?

Goodness depends on it.

Goodness is about…

WHAT is in you.

1 How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.

Ungodliness is what is naturally in us.

Mark 7:21–23 (NASB)

21 “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, 22 deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. 23 “All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man.”

And we naturally seek after unholy things…

Psalm 53:1–3 (NASB)

1 …They are corrupt, and have committed abominable injustice; There is no one who does good. 2 God has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if there is anyone who understands, who seeks after God. 3 Every one of them has turned aside; together they have become corrupt; There is no one who does good, not even one.

But there is good news!

Once we have put faith in Christ Jesus and are saved by grace, we are born again, a new creature, we are changed.

Part of that change is God putting godliness into us because He comes into us.

1 Corinthians 3:16 (NASB)

16 Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

1 Corinthians 6:19 (NASB)

19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?

Romans 8:9–11 (NASB)

9 …you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you…

11 …if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

That “life” is the good life. God makes us good because He comes in and takes over.

Galatians 2:20 (NASB)

20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

Goodness is in us when we have surrendered to God, died to self, and alive in Christ.

Once we give ourselves to God and He changes us from the inside out, he takes out that unholy heart that was void of goodness and replaces it with a good heart.

Ezekiel 36:26–27 (NASB)

26 “…I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 “I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.

God changes us our desires and longings…

Galatians 6:14 (NASB)

14 …may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

The Holy Spirit uses the Word of God in us to maintain goodness in our lives…

1 How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.

Psalm 119:11 (NASB)

11 Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You.

Deuteronomy 6:5–6 (NASB)

5 “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 “These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart…

2 Timothy 3:16–17 (NASB)

16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness…

What is in you?

1 Samuel 16:7 (NASB)

7 “…God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Is the Holy Spirit in you?

Is His word in you?

Goodness depends on it!

Goodness is also about…

WHERE you’re planted.

3 He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers.

The streams of water represent to life giving power of God.

In John 4, Jesus tells us that He gives us living water.

In Ezekiel, there is a stream of water flowing from the thrown of God and planted on the banks of the river there are fruit bearing trees.

We see that same stream in the Revelation

Psalm 92:12–15 (ESV)

12 The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 13 They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. 14 They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, 15 to declare that the Lord is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

Jeremiah 17:7–8 (ESV)

7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. 8 He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

The stream of water in Psalm 1 is talking about being close to God. It is about being in an environment that is conducive to spiritual growth.

Where we are planted matters!

Consider Lot, Abraham’s nephew.

Genesis 13:12–13 (NASB)

12 Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled in the cities of the valley, and moved his tents as far as Sodom. 13 Now the men of Sodom were wicked exceedingly and sinners against the Lord.

Genesis 14:11–12 (NASB)

11 Then they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food supply, and departed. 12 They also took Lot, Abram’s nephew, and his possessions and departed, for he was living in Sodom.

Genesis 19:4–8 (NASB)

4 Before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, surrounded the house, both young and old, all the people from every quarter; 5 and they called to Lot and said to him, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may have relations with them.” 6 But Lot went out to them at the doorway, and shut the door behind him, 7 and said, “Please, my brothers, do not act wickedly. 8 “Now behold, I have two daughters who have not had relations with man; please let me bring them out to you, and do to them whatever you like; only do nothing to these men, inasmuch as they have come under the shelter of my roof.”

Genesis 19:15–26 (NASB)

15 When morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Up, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away in the punishment of the city.” 16 But he hesitated. So the men seized his hand and the hand of his wife and the hands of his two daughters, for the compassion of the Lord was upon him; and they brought him out, and put him outside the city. 17 When they had brought them outside, one said, “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you, and do not stay anywhere in the valley; escape to the mountains, or you will be swept away.” 18 But Lot said to them, “Oh no, my lords! 19 “Now behold, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have magnified your lovingkindness, which you have shown me by saving my life; but I cannot escape to the mountains, for the disaster will overtake me and I will die; 20 now behold, this town is near enough to flee to, and it is small. Please, let me escape there (is it not small?) that my life may be saved.” 21 He said to him, “Behold, I grant you this request also, not to overthrow the town of which you have spoken. 22 “Hurry, escape there, for I cannot do anything until you arrive there.” Therefore the name of the town was called Zoar. 23 The sun had risen over the earth when Lot came to Zoar. 24 Then the Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven, 25 and He overthrew those cities, and all the valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. 26 But his wife, from behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.

Genesis 19:31–38 (NASB)

31 Then the firstborn said to the younger, “Our father is old, and there is not a man on earth to come in to us after the manner of the earth. 32 “Come, let us make our father drink wine, and let us lie with him that we may preserve our family through our father.” 33 So they made their father drink wine that night, and the firstborn went in and lay with her father; and he did not know when she lay down or when she arose. 34 On the following day, the firstborn said to the younger, “Behold, I lay last night with my father; let us make him drink wine tonight also; then you go in and lie with him, that we may preserve our family through our father.” 35 So they made their father drink wine that night also, and the younger arose and lay with him; and he did not know when she lay down or when she arose. 36 Thus both the daughters of Lot were with child by their father. 37 The firstborn bore a son, and called his name Moab; he is the father of the Moabites to this day. 38 As for the younger, she also bore a son, and called his name Ben-ammi; he is the father of the sons of Ammon to this day.

2 Peter 2:7–9 (NASB)

7 and if He rescued righteous Lot, oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men 8 (for by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds), 9 then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment,

Where are you planted?

Secondly…

Are you planted firmly?

3 He will be like a tree firmly planted

Hebrews 10:23 (NASB)

23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering…

John 15:4 (NASB)

4 “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.

Are you a tree alone by itself or are you planted in an orchard?

Hebrews 10:23–25 (NASB)

24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

Hebrews 3:13 (ESV)

13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

Where are you planted?

Where do you hang out?

Who do you spend the majority of your time with?

With God? With God’s people?

The environment will have an impact on goodness.

In closing:

God expects His people to be good.

And only He can make us good.

So, are you good? Are you characterized by goodness?

If you’re a child of God and you know you’re lacking consistent goodness, repent today. Confess that sin. Surrender your will to God and ask Him to produce goodness in you for His glory today.

If you haven’y yet place faith in Christ Jesus, and God has shown you today that you are not good. Then be made good today. Acknowledge your sin. Admit your need for God. Believe the good news that Jesus died to save sinners like you and just as He rose from the dead He also will give you new life. Do that before you leave here today and God will not only make you good, by grace He will give you eternal life in Christ Jesus.

Who are you?

What is in you?

Where are you planted?

Prayerfully consider your answers as I pray…

Memory Verse of the Week:

Galatians 6:9 (NASB)

9 Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.