The Goodness of God

Introduction

Hot button issues:

Gender Identity

Homosexuality

Abortion

Revenge

Christ—the only way

When you think of the word “good”—sometimes we can define it as somewhere between best and worst.

But in the Scripture, good is described as an attribute of God.

Text

1 Chronicles 16:34 ESV

34 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!

We are called to give thanks to God. Why? Because He is good.

Good speaks to his character of holiness, righteous, perfect.

Everything God does is good. Which also reveals the significant clash between the goodness of God and the way the WORLD responds to that goodness.

The WORLD (everything outside the grace of God) views God as not good—not His justice nor His grace.

But it is critically important for the believer in Christ to know and believe, and embrace the goodness of God.

God reveals His goodness in creation

Genesis 1:31 ESV

31 And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

God declaring different aspects of His creation as “good” was a repeated refrain throughout the creation story.

Creation revealed an important principle: What God does is good.

God reveals His goodness in His covenant.

Israel’s redemption from Egypt and care int he wilderness.

Exodus 18:9 ESV

9 And Jethro rejoiced for all the good that the Lord had done to Israel, in that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians.

God’s teaching and the Law

Jeremiah 6:16 ESV

16 Thus says the Lord: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’

The promise of restoration and a new covenant

Jeremiah 32:40 ESV

40 I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me.

God expects goodness from those who follow Him.

As God demonstrates His goodness through compassion and love, so should we.

Luke 6:35 ESV

35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.

Perverting God’s goodness brings judgment.

Isaiah 5:20 ESV

20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!

The Bible everywhere summons people to discern good and evil.

Hebrews 5:14 ESV

14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

The follower of Christ is called to choose good.

Romans 12:9 ESV

9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.

1 Thessalonians 5:15 ESV

15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.

Do Justice

Refuse to lie

Seek peace

Be impartial (truth oriented)

Defend the weak

Conclusion

Do what is good!!!

Micah 6:8 ESV

8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

The goodness of God and the good embraced for the follower of Christ demonstrate moral authority over the broken systems of this world—of human invention.

For the world’s “goodness” is always focused on the selfishness of those in power. Even the good eventually becomes corrupted.

Be good because your Father in heaven is good.

1 Chronicles 16:34 ESV

34 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!