FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT GOODNESS

22 But the fruit of the (Holy) Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self- control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.Gal 5:22-25

GOODNESS 1)What is goodness? 2)How good am I? 3)How can I grow in goodness?

1) WHAT IS GOODNESS?

And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.” And it was so. 10 God called the dry ground “land,” and the gathered waters he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good. 11 Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed- bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. 12 The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day.

14 And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so. 16 God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. 17 God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, 18 to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. Gen 1:9-18

1) What is goodness? Real goodness is absolute, not relative

2) What is goodness? Real goodness is absolute, not relative Real goodness is perfect

3) What is goodness? Real goodness is absolute, not relative Real goodness is perfect Real goodness is complete

3) What is goodness? 31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day. Gen 1:31 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. 2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done Gen 2:1-3

2) HOW GOOD AM I?

2) How good am I? Absolute – Good in God’s absolute standard, not relative to others. Perfect – The wedding shirt! Complete – Past unfinished business

17 As Jesus started on his way, a (a rich, young0 man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’ [d] ” 20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” 21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.d

23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is [e] to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?” 27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”e Mark 10:17-27

2) How good am I? You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’ [d] ” 20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”d Yet, he realised he did not have eternal life! The rich young man realised his goodness was not absolute, perfect or complete. But…..

2) How good am I? 17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. Jesus is not saying He is not God. Jesus is saying He is God!!!! If you say I am good, acknowledge that I am God, because only God is good!

3) HOW CAN I GROW IN GOODNESS?

3) How can I grow in goodness? The rich young many wanted to grow in goodness! But he couldn’t, because at that moment, he couldn’t believe Jesus was the son of God.

3) How can I grow in goodness? Believing in Jesus makes us “good”!

3) How can I grow in goodness? MORAL GOODNESS VS GOSPEL GOODNESS