We use the word “good” a lot in our daily lives. We talk about having a good day, eating good food, watching a good game, or even just feeling good. But when the Bible talks about goodness, it’s speaking of something far deeper—something that isn’t just about what we do, but about who we are in Christ. The Bible tells us in Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” Goodness isn’t about just being a “nice person.” It’s about reflecting God’s character in our lives. The Anglo-Saxon word for God is the same as the word for good—and for good reason. Goodness is a God-like trait.
The Source of Goodness
The Bible teaches us that God is the source of all goodness:
- Genesis 1:31 – “God saw all that He had made, and it was very good.”
- Psalm 100:5 – “For the Lord is good, and His love endures forever.”
- James 1:17 – “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights.”
All true goodness comes from God. We don’t manufacture it on our own—it flows from a life connected to Him. But here’s the struggle: sin has distorted what was meant to be good.
The Struggle of Goodness
When Adam and Eve ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:17), they gained knowledge of evil but lost the ability to avoid it. They also became powerless to do good on their own. Romans 3:12 says, “There is none who does good, no, not one.” Romans 7:18 echoes this struggle: “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells.” We try to be good, but sin keeps getting in the way. The good news is that God didn’t leave us in our brokenness—He sent Jesus to make us right again.
How Can We Live in God’s Goodness?
We all have areas of life that have been knocked over by sin—broken relationships, financial struggles, health challenges, addiction, or regret. But God is in the business of making things right again. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”
When we surrender to Jesus:
– He makes us right with Him (Justification – instant)
– He helps us grow in goodness (Sanctification – lifelong process)
– He promises to complete the good work He started in us (Philippians 1:6)
The key is abiding in God’s love and allowing His Spirit to work in us.
The Service of Goodness
True goodness isn’t just about who we are; it’s also about what we do. Micah 6:8 says, “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
Goodness in action means:
– Trusting in the Lord and doing good (Psalm 37:3)
– Not growing weary in doing good (Galatians 6:9)
– Letting our light shine through good deeds (Matthew 5:16)
– Overcoming evil with good (Romans 12:21)
Jesus “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38), and as His followers, we are called to do the same.
The Spirit of Goodness
If the fruit of goodness is in you, it will show.
- Acts 9:36 – “In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha… She was always doing good and helping the poor.”
- Acts 11:24 – “Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.”
Goodness is not about trying harder—it’s about letting the Holy Spirit work in you. The more we focus on Jesus, the more His goodness flows from our lives. The more we fill our hearts with God’s Word, the more goodness overflows into our actions.
Will You Say YES to God’s Goodness?
You will never be good enough to get to heaven on your own. Spurgeon once said, “You might as well try to cross the Atlantic in a paper boat than try to get to heaven on good works!” That’s why Jesus came! He became our goodness so we could receive His righteousness. Psalm 34:8 says, “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” Have you experienced His goodness in your life? If you’ve never given your life to Jesus, today is the day. Say YES to Him! If you’re ready to grow in your faith and serve others, join the Life Team at Liberty. If you’re looking for community, take the next step in a small group. Plan your visit today at libertylive.church/visit. Take your next step at libertylive.church/connect.
Let’s live out God’s goodness—because when we do, we will change the world!
