August 22, 2020
We throw the word “good” around a lot:
• That was a “good” sermon - Pastors really like that one…. ???
• She is really “good” at math.
• Fresh vegetables are “good” for you.
• He is a “good” singer.
The word “Good” suggests a desirable quality and "Goodness" means little more than to be likeable/pleasant/friendly. These terms have been carelessly applied to people. We excuse our behavior by saying that down deep we’re not as bad as our actions say we are:
• I know he’s verbally and emotionally abusive, but down deep he’s a good person.
• I know she’s a malicious gossip, but down deep she’s a good person.
• I know I texted malicious and racist remarks about…… but those words don’t reflect who I am deep down – I really am a good person.
OR we excuse our behavior by saying it isn’t as bad as someone else’s behavior.
• Sure, I stole $10 from Sue, but at least I didn’t embezzle $1-million like Fred did.
OR we use “good” behavior as evidence that a person is good on the inside – those who do something admirable are regularly considered “good” even though their character may be exceedingly immoral.
If the human standard of “good” – which can be achieved through human effort – is all that God is looking for in His children, then none of us need be here today and Jesus died for nothing.
That’s exactly what Satan wants us to believe, but Jesus has a different opinion:
• Matthew 7:16-18 - You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? 17 "Even so, every good tree bears good fruit; but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 "A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.
Jesus seems to think that what goes on on the inside is way more important than what we see on the outside and from where He stands none of us is good on the inside or any place else.
• Isaiah 64:6 - All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.
• Romans 3:10-12 - As the Scriptures say, "No one is good—not even one. No one has real understanding; no one is seeking God. All have turned away from God; all have gone wrong. No one does good, not even one."
So, if the human standard of “good” is not good enough, what hope do we have?
The Source of All Goodness
• Exodus 33:19 - And the LORD said, "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
• 2 Chronicles 6:41 - Now arise, O LORD God, and come to your resting place, you and the ark of your might. May your priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation, may your saints rejoice in your goodness.
• Psalm 31:19 - How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you.
• Psalm 116:12 - How can I repay the LORD for all his goodness to me?
God is the Source of all that can truly be called “good”, because at the heart of goodness is love. God’s “goodness” is others focused and is expressed in mercy, faithfulness, patience, compassion, forgiveness as well as justice and judgment.
The Christian Life
The Greek word for “goodness” {Agathosune}, means “uprightness of heart and life”.
Goodness is always, under every circumstance, beneficial to others – it is doing good, because it is the right thing to do and not for the purpose of being recognized for being or doing “good”.
• Matthew 6:1-3 - Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 "So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
However, Biblical Goodness “Agathosune” is bigger than simply “being kind”; it covers a lot of territory. It can mean doing the right thing in a quiet and gentle way, like giving a cup of cold water to a thirsty man.
• Luke 10:27 - Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, Love your neighbor as yourself.
But it also means not letting wickedness and hypocrisy stand. It means being consumed with the knowledge and power and purposes of God. It means causing a stir, when a stir is what’s needed.
• Galatians 2:11-21 - When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision. 13 And the rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all….
Goodness is holiness in action and flows from an inward devotion and love for God.
According to Acts 10:38, Jesus went about doing good. He fed the hungry, healed the sick, raised the dead and allowed children to sit on his lap. He allowed himself to be spat upon, allowed a crown of thorns to be jammed onto his head, allowed the mob to hang him on a cross AND as he was dying, he asked his Father to forgive them for what they had done. = “goodness” for sure!!
That same Jesus:
Violently and forcefully cleared the Temple of thieves dressed as respectable businessmen
• A lot of Bible scholars believe that Jesus was showing “Agathosune” in one of its purest forms when he cleared the Temple. John was quoting Psalm 69:9 when he said, "Zeal for Thy house will consume me." {John 2: 17}. Jesus was consumed with “goodness”; consumed with uprightness of heart and life.
Publicly rebuked hypocrites who pretended to represent God.
• Matthew 23:25-26 - Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.
• Matthew 23:27-28 - Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but, on the inside, you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
I’m going to stop preaching for a moment and switch to meddling.
Wearing a mask has become a right vs. left political fight over personal rights and freedom. It should have never become a political battle ground and for the Christian, it should not even be a matter of discussion. I wear a mask, NOT because I am afraid of the Covid or because I am a puppet for the far-left, but because it is the RIGHT THING TO DO. I AM my brother’s keeper. I AM responsible for the health and welfare of my fellow man. Therefore, the needs of others ALWAYS outweigh my personal freedom = I’m a Christian and I wear a mask.
• Galatians 5:13-14 - For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
• Philippians 2:3-8 - Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
• 1 Peter 2:16 - Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God.
Now back to preaching….
GOODNESS does what is right in every circumstance – not for political gain or popularity or recognition – but because GOODNESS flows from an upright heart and it is meant to be a hallmark of the Christian life – it is not an optional extra.
However, Godly GOODNESS does not come naturally to us --- we have no ability to manufacture it through human effort………. So how do we become good people?
• 2 Peter 1:3-4 - His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 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.
We allow the Holy Spirit into our lives to guide and transform them.
The Holy Spirit will not automatically operate in the life of a Christian. A transformed life only happens as we surrender to and cooperate with the Holy Spirit.
Choosing the Holy Spirit is an absolute necessity for Victorious Christian living. Why? Because the power of a fruitful life does not lie with the believer, but with the Spirit. Just as an apple tree doesn’t think about producing apples – it produces apples because it’s an apple tree and because it’s connected with the source of life, so it is with a believer. A believer doesn’t TRY to produce righteous fruit. He produces fruit BECAUSE he is a believer and BECAUESE he is connected to his source of life --- the Holy Spirit.
• John 15:4-5 – Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing…. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.
GOODNESS is produced by God’s work in us --- it’s a gift = God’s goodness BECOMES our goodness.
• Galatians 5:22-23 - The FRUIT of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, GOODNESS, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
GOODNESS is the evidence that the Holy Spirit is at work in our lives – transforming us into the image of Jesus.
Every Good Tree Produces ---- GOODNESS
