
But the Fruit of the Spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control. Against such things there is no low (Galations 5:22-23 - NIV).
“Goodness is easier to recognize than to define.”
GOODNESS IN OUR HEARTS BEGINS WITH OUR CONVICTION THAT GOD IS GOOD
The right response is to affirm the truth – God is good – and
Then accept that many times there are no answers to the “why” question this side of heaven.
We accept that somehow, God will work everything for good as promised in Romans 8:28.
28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (NIV).
8Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways (Psalm 25:8 - NIV).
16Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?" 17"Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments." (Matthew 19:16-17 - NIV).
ONLY THE HOLY SPIRIT CAN CREATE GOODNESS WITHIN US
Man’s goodness only comes through God’s goodness.
God has called us to good works.
10For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10).
Goodness must come from a good heart.
43"No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. 45The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. (Luke 6:43-45 - NIV).
GOODNESS IS A CHOICE (It is lived out in the things we choose to do)
Serving Others
20On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (Romans 12:20-21 - NIV).
Uprightness of Heart and Life.
* What this means is that goodness includes abstaining from every appearance of evil.
22Avoid every kind of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22 - NIV).
* An upright life is an honest one, a life that can be admired.
* Spirit-created moral and spiritual excellence.