The Fruit of the Spirit - Goodness

Today we are continuing on in our series on the Fruit of the Spirit. We have looked at love, joy, peace. long-suffering and kindness so far. And we can see that all of these fruit are intertwined with each other. We know that the fruit of the Spirit is found in Galatians chapter 5.

Galatians 5:22–23 NKJV

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Today we will be looking at the fruit of goodness. The Greek word goodness is the word agathōsynē (ag-ath-o-soo'-nay ) and it means: uprightness of heart and life, goodness and kindness. Uprightness of heart and life! The word uprightness is the condition or quality of being honorable or honest. So goodness is the fruit that creates the quality of being honorable and honest in everything we do.

Romans 2:1–4 MEV

1 Therefore you are without excuse, O man, whoever you are who judges, for when you judge another, you condemn yourself, for you who judge do the same things. 2 But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who commit such things. 3 Do you think, O man, who judges those who do such things, and who does the same thing, that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Do you despise the riches of His goodness, tolerance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

1. God’s goodness is what leads us to repentance!

The word repentance used in this scripture and throughout the New Testament is the Greek word, metanoia. It is a summons to a personal, absolute and ultimate unconditional surrender to God as Sovereign. So we see here that it’s God’s goodness that leads us to this. In the past, there was a belief that Godly fear, now I’m not talking about the fear of the Lord where we reverence Him for who He is, but actually being fearful of Him punishing us is what is needed for true repentance. But if we come to Jesus out of fear it doesn’t last long. Once the fear has subsided, we no longer have a “reason” to follow Jesus. God’s goodness, His uprightness of heart and His kindness, is what causes us to serve Him forever. The fruit of Goodness operating in our lives draws people to us to meet this God we serve!

Psalm 107:8–9 (AMP)

8Oh, that men would praise [and confess to] the Lord for His goodness and loving-kindness and His wonderful works to the children of men!

9For He satisfies the longing soul and fills the hungry soul with good.

2. God’s goodness does wonderful works!

Now there are good works and then there are wonderful works. What’s the difference? The word good means that which is morally right while wonderful means extremely good or marvelous. If we are to honestly look at everything that God has done in our lives in the past, we would come to the realization that they were not only good things, they were extremely good, marvelous, wonderful. God has kept us safe even when we didn’t even know we were in danger. He’s provided for us supernaturally. I’ve heard many people say, “I should’ve died but God saved me.” “I have no idea how we made it, it has to have been God.” “The doctors said there was no hope for me, but God healed me.” This is the God we serve, full of goodness. The fruit of Goodness operating in our lives draws people to meet this God we serve!

Psalm 27:13 NKJV

13 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living.

Psalm 23:6 NKJV

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.

3. God’s goodness is evident everywhere!

The goodness of God is remembered from the past, it’s seen in the present, and is promised for the future. We can see His goodness in the lives of the people who trust in Him. He always comes through for them in every aspect of their lives. We see it in our own lives as we can never get away from the goodness of God. It follows us in our life for all the days we are alive. And in the end, we will be with Him for eternity. All of this is because of the goodness of God which is evident in us when we have the fruit of goodness operating in our lives. The fruit of Goodness operating in our lives draws people to us to meet this God we serve!

Jeremiah 29:11 NLT

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

4. God’s goodness gives us hope for the future!

If there’s one thing you and I are not capable of doing it’s this. We cannot predict accurately beyond the shadow of a doubt, what the future holds for us. The good news is this, God knows exactly what the future holds for us. In fact, He not only knows, He has it planned for us. God has made plans for us that are for good and not for disaster. They give us a future and a hope. Why? Because God is good all the time!! The fruit of Goodness operating in our lives draws people to meet this God we serve!