Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples
Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ
The Goodness of God Selected Scriptures • The goodness of God is attacked by the godless, challenged by the faithless and questioned by the immature
Defining Goodness • Isaiah 5: 20 – woe on those who redefine what is good and evil • Goodness: “The quality or state of being good” • 40 definitions for “good” (Websters 1828 Dictionary) • The synonym for moral good is virtue
Defining Goodness • b. Wf / tôb = noun, adjective with similar to English “good” with multiple meanings • bf 1 y 2 / yatab = verb, similar to tôb • Both used in Psalm 119: 68 • Multiple Greek words include “good” in their translation
Defining Goodness • Greek: kalov. V / kalos = “pertaining to a positive moral quality, with the implication of being favorably valued” • Related to Greek concept of beauty in form (outward) or quality (inward)
Defining Goodness • Greek: a. Jgaqo. V / agathos = “positive moral qualities of the most general nature” • Related to Greek concept of excellence in physical nature, usefulness or abstract concepts such as emotion and moral character qualities
Defining Goodness • Matthew 7: 17 -20 = a good (a. Jgaqo. V / agathos) tree produces good (kalov. V / kalos) fruit • True goodness is defined in relationship to conformity to God’s laws or in reflection of the qualities of God
Irrational Attacks Against God’s Goodness • Attacks based on classic lie that reasons God is either not sovereign or not good since there is suffering • These are often a deflection of the guilt of personal sin: Anger for personal suffering mixed with fear of suffering like others
Irrational Attacks Against God’s Goodness • It is absurd for a creature to make claims against its Creator (Isaiah 29: 16; 45: 9 -11; Romans 9: 20) 1) Ignores God is holy, righteous & just and will judge & punish sin 2) Fails to recognize God’s
Irrational Attacks Against God’s Goodness • God’s non-moral attributes (eternal existence) are not dependent on moral attributes (goodness) • A capricious, arbitrary or evil god would be even more to be feared • Claiming a policeman is not
Proclamations of God’s Goodness • God’s goodness reflects in His other moral attributes • God’s holiness – Isaiah 6 – is joined to all of God’s other moral attributes • Holiness is required for man to see God (Exodus 33: 20; Hebrews 12: 14)
Proclamations of God’s Goodness • God’s justice demands recompense for sin – Ezekiel 18: 4; Romans 3: 23, 6: 23 • Without God’s goodness, mercy, love and grace would not extend to provide atonement and satisfy justice – no salvation without God’s goodness.
Proclamations of God’s Goodness • Direct claims God is good • 1 Chronicles 16: 34; Psalm 106: 1; 107: 1; 118: 1 & 29; 136: 1, Jeremiah 33: 11 • Psalm 25: 8; 34: 8; 86: 5; 100: 4 -5; 135: 3 • Lamentations 3: 25; Nahum 1: 7; Matthew 19: 17
Examples of God’s Goodness • Universal goodness – ØPsalm 145: 9 – good to all ØJames 1: 17 – every good thing ØGenesis 1: 31 – all of Creation Ø 1 Timothy 4: 4 -5 – every created thing
Examples of God’s Goodness • Goodness to a particular people or group – ØPsalm 68: 10 – the poor ØEzra 8: 18 – the returning remnant ØPsalm 104: 27 -28 – God’s creatures ØPsalm 73: 1 2 -13 – Israel, pure
Examples of God’s Goodness • Goodness to people in a Ø Particular condition - Psalm 107: 9 Ø With certain experiences Joseph (Genesis 50: 20) Ø Respond in specific ways – • Psalm 84: 11 - walking uprightly
Examples of God’s Goodness • Good things from God: ØPsalm 69: 16 – lovingkindness & compassion ØPsalm 119: 39 – God’s ordinances Ø 1 Timothy 1: 8 – the Law Ø Deut. 10: 12 -13 – The Lord’s commandments & statutes
Hope in God’s Goodness • Historical examples: ØExodus 1: 15 -21 – Hebrew midwives ØJoshua 21: 45; 23: 14 -15 – victory over promised land ØPsalm 103 – David’s life
Hope in God’s Goodness • Remembering the Lord’s goodness: Ø Psalm 27 – lifted from despair Ø Psalm 109 – reasons to pray • 1 Thessalonians 2: 16 -17 • Philippians 1: 6 • Romans 8: 28
Conclusions • Bad things happen to “good” people • The causes of suffering ØYour own sin ØThe sin of others ØLiving in a sin cursed world • Proud & arrogant blasphemers need to repent
Conclusions • God is good by proclamation and demonstration • Encourage Christians who waver in their faith with God’s goodness • The mature can rejoice in tribulation (Romans 5: 3 -10; James 1: 2 -4) and learn
Conclusions • The Christian life is about Christ, not your own comfort or glory. The goal is to follow and become like Him. • Like Joseph, you can recognize that what others mean for evil, God uses for good. • Psalm 107: 1– 2
Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ
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