The Goodness of God!

Exodus 34:6-7

6 Then the LORD passed by in front of him and proclaimed,
"The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth;
7 who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity,
transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished,
visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on
the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations. " NAS

GOODNESS and VIRTUE

God is therefore the highest expression of VIRTUE! He is the paragon of every good, positive and lovely thing! And because of this truth, God not only delights in the His own glorious goodness, but also delights in the communication of it. He therefore expresses His goodness eternally, to all who possess His favor. The favor of God is found in the repentance of sins and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ. To those who possess this marvelous salvation, shall God continually pours out His blessing for the coming EONS of eternity! Oh the promises of God to those who have found His favor! And woe to those who stubbornly reject it! God therefore possess benevolent desires toward those who will freely receive His blessing and the communication of His eternal happiness!

Psalms 103:11-14 – 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. 13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; 14 for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. 17 But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children —  18 with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts. NIV
Romans 8:31-39 – 31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all-how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died-more than that, who was raised to life-is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."   37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. NIV
1 Corinthians 3:21-23 – 21 So then, no more boasting about men! All things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future-all are yours, 23 and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God. NIV
Isaiah 54:10 – 10 Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the LORD, who has compassion on you. NIV

Although God is exceedingly good and desires to communicate His goodness, He does so only to those who are said to “fear Him” or “obey His precepts.” Now that the salvation of God in Christ has come to earth, it is in Christ that the blessing of God is found. And more than that, it is in obedience to Christ that one finds themselves in the blessing of God. Eternal life and true blessing come to people based on their relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ. To those who obey Christ, they will receive eternal life and eternal happiness, but to those who reject Christ and His offer of salvation, they will be eternally cursed and shut out from the presence of God. Who would knowingly reject such an offer of  everlasting happiness and freedom from the hand of the Loving and Almighty God?

John 3:36 – 36 "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." NAS
Mark 16:15-16 – 15 He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. NIV
John 3:16-18 – 16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. NIV

GOODNESS and SANTIFICATION

The gracious mercy of God is expressed in our sanctification! We are being transformed into His goodness! We are taking on and participating in the divine nature. In the communication of His goodness, God not only explains and reveals what it is, but transforms us into it! In position we have been given the divine nature and been perfected forever, now He is in practice molding and shaping us into the same. Although we have been sanctified in position before God, the Lord is actively sanctifying us in our conduct and practice. God is continuing the good work of salvation now by transforming us into His image. In fact, this is the very ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives, to transform us so that we take on the very nature of God! What wondrous love is this? O my soul!

Hebrews 10:14 – 14 because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. NIV
2 Peter 1:4 – Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. NIV
2 Corinthians 3:18 – 18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. NIV
Romans 8:29 – 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. NIV
1 Corinthians 15:49 – 49 – And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven. NIV
Phil 1:6 – 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. NIV

GOODNESS and GLORIFICATION

How God’s goodness is expressed in our glorification! The exceeding greatness of this statement cannot be measured, indeed it will take eternity for us to experience the glorious richest of His kindness. When we speak of “glorified or glory,” we speak of that quality of life and exceeding joy in the presence of God, which we God’s saints, will experience forevermore, world without end! It is the state to which we will be transformed, a state of immortality and holiness. It is that sure and firm promise of God, that He shall deliver us to His presence where we will be eternally fulfilled and made to be glad with everlasting happiness in his kingdom of peace and glory. It was promised to us before the beginning of time, the prophets cried out in hope of it, Christ Jesus purchased it for us, and we now eagerly await it. Even now our God is preparing us to enter into this blessedness, to this end He has called us, where we will be ultimately conformed into the perfect image and likeness of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

1 Corinthians 2:7- 7 No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.  NIV
Romans 9:23-24 – 23 What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory- 24 even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles? NIV
1 John 3:2 – 2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been
made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. NIV

God is Good! And so the scripture says,

1 Chronicles 29:12-13 “ 12 Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.”13 Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name. NIV

GOODNESS DEFINED

This is the very essence of God’s nature, He is Good! He has always been good, even from eternity past, so it is said, “For His lovingkindness is everlasting.” Jer 33:11 God is originally good, and the source of goodness in the creation, so that when He created all things He pronounced, “And God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good.” NAS (Gen 1:31) Everything that comes from God, His creation, His eternal plan, His laws and statutes, His sovereign rule cannot be anything but good! The longer we sit and ponder God’s goodness, the more clearly we see just how kind and gracious He is!

Psalm 106:1 – Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Nahum 1:7 – 7 The LORD is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble, And He knows those who take refuge in Him. NAS

What is this goodness that God is? It has been defined as, “the benevolence, love, mercy and grace of God.” Indeed there are no words to describe the meaning of God’s goodness. It is certainly the opposite of evil, being that which is “good,” that which promotes happiness and prosperity, success and welfare. His benevolence is kind to all His works, His love delights in pleasure toward all He has made, His mercy is expressed in pity and compassion for the needy, gentleness and lovingkindness to His creation, and His grace grants His goodness even to the unworthy. He is always giving, as it is His nature to give and give. Indeed every good thing comes down from the Father of lights. (Jam 1:17) God is continually kind and benevolent even to the wicked, His enemies, and those who oppose His goodness. What fullness and complete goodness is in the blessed Creator!

Psalms 145:9 – 9 The LORD is good to all, And His mercies are over all His works. NAS
Psalms 36:6-8 – 6 Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the great deep.O LORD, you preserve both man and beast. 7 How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings. 8 They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights.

GOODNESS and CREATION

Think with what goodness God has made His creation. The birds and bees, and the flowers and the trees, with what beauty He has graced the earth! And what about our bodies? How perfectly suited for our creative minds has He given us hands by which we can do our good pleasure. Or how about the flavor of your favorite meal, and even vittles to fill a hungry belly. Or the tingling rush of a hot fire on a cold winter’s night, or the sweet butterfly kisses of precious young daughter! Oh the magnificence of the goodness of God! Volumes could not contain the expressions of the riches of His kindness to us! If we could spend a lifetime considering the loveliness of God’s creation, how much more lovely is the One from whom it all flows! How vast is the sum of His goodness? With what shall we respond to the goodness of God? With simple gratitude and a heart of thanksgiving shall we acknowledge His wonderful goodness to us!

1 Tim 4:4 – 4 For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, NIV
Ps 50:14-15 – 4 "Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, And pay your vows to the Most High; 15 And call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me. " NAS

GOODNESS and EVIL

Oh how we underestimate the goodness of God. God clothes and feeds us, and showers us with love and family, pleasure and happiness, and yet would we speak a word of complaint? Oh dear reader, count thy blessings! We frequently consider why God allows bad things to happen, yet we continually look upon our sin and the sins of others as just another part of life. Oh the goodness of God in passing over our sins! Although God is patient and forbearing, He will not allow this forever. Indeed because He is good, He must therefore punish evil. Would God be good if He just allowed the evil that goes on and never brought it to justice? Would He be good if child molesters and rapists, killers and liars, and yes even everyday sinners like you and me were allowed to just go on thru life, never having to give account for our actions? Indeed He must bring evil to account, and it will be the brightest day of all His goodness when death and hell are put away forever! Yes and Amen, there is coming a day when He will rid the earth of every form of evil that can be named, and it shall henceforth be called the “Home of Righteousness.”

Matt 5:45 – He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. NIV
Matt 13:49-50 – 49 "So it will be at the end of the age; the angels shall come forth, and take out the wicked from among the righteous, 50 and will cast them into the furnace of fire; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. NAS
Rev 20:10 – 10 And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. NAS
Rev 21:3-4 – 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He shall dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be among them, 4 and He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away. " NAS

GOODNESS and SALVATION

The gracious mercy of God is expressed in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God is so exceedingly good, that he would come to the earth and being innocent, pay the penalty so that the guilty can be acquitted. What marvelous love is this! Oh blessed Goodness! How have I been released from the prison of my sin? The guilt and shame of my sins is never to be remembered again. The salvation of God in Christ is exceedingly good! What’s more is that His goodness showers upon us not only eternal life, but He now grants to us all things whatsoever we need for now and forevermore. The blessings and bounty of God’s goodness include love and joy, peace and compassion, indeed His patience and kindness now run through our veins as a river of heavenly delights! More than this , His goodness has become our very nature. We now have the good nature of God residing in us 24X7. And if that were not enough, we have been given the eternal inheritance of God’s goodness to enjoy forever and ever, world without end! Blessed  lord, “Thy lovingkindness is better than life!” (Ps 63:3)

2 Corinthians 5:17 – 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! NIV
2 Corinthians 5:21 – 21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. NAS
Ezek 36:26-27 – 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. NIV
Eph 2:4-7 – 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. NAS