"Goodness" : November 2000

 •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 5
 
Have you ever heard people speak about their goodness? It is a natural thought that we are good - at least some of the time. What does the Bible mean when it says that “there is none that doeth good, no, not one” (Romans 3:1212They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. (Romans 3:12))? When a person rejects the Lord Jesus Christ, he cannot do one good thing to please God. He tells us that “we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:66But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. (Isaiah 64:6)). It is not until a sinner accepts the Lord Jesus as Saviour that he can begin to do good works before God.
On the other hand, a Christian finds that he is “created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:1010For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10)). The fruit of the Spirit is, among other things, goodness (Galatians 5:2222But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, (Galatians 5:22)).
A rich man called the Lord a “good master,” but he had to be reminded that there is none good but one, that is, God. Do you think this man realized that Jesus is God and that is why He was good? Some said, “He is a good man” (John 7:1212And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people. (John 7:12)), but we hope they also trusted in Him as the Son of God.
1. Some would die for a good man. What were we when Christ died for us?
Romans 5:___
2. Rather than being overcome by evil, what is a Christian to do to overcome evil? Romans 12:___
3. What trait of God is it that leads men to repentance? Romans 2:___
4. Who is to be glorified when a disciple of the Lord Jesus does good works before men? Matthew 5:___
5. The Apostle Paul learned that in him, that is, in his flesh something did not dwell. What was it? Romans 7:___