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 3:12)? 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 64:6). 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 2:10). The fruit of the Spirit is, among other things, goodness (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 7:12), 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:___