Knowing the God Who Is Good

The Goodness of God

God’s goodness as an attribute and as an umbrella term that contains many attributes

Because of the attributes of greatness, God’s goodness can never:

be dependent on another person’s actions

be fully comprehended

be lessened, made greater, or measured

be limited with regard to action

be limited with regard to place

be limited with regard to time

be mistaken or surprised

be outmaneuvered, manipulated, or thwarted

be tainted with any form of sin or compromise

God’s goodness can only be seen correctly when it is filled with every aspect of God’s greatness!

If we start with the goodness of God, we tend to reduce it to a man-sized goodness.

We may think that focusing only on the infinite bigness of God will surely produce in us a determination to live holy lives.

Getting a working definition of God’s goodness

1). Moral rightness

2). A beneficial quality of something

3). Benevolence, generosity, kindness, or good-will

Matthew 5:43–45 ESV

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

Psalm 34:8 ESV

8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

Goodness is known by other names when it is expressed in different situations

He is essentially, perpetually, superlatively, infinitely good.

Psalm 107:1 ESV

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