The Bible begins by affirming that all that God creates is good. “And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good” (Genesis 1:31). This foundational truth establishes that goodness originates from God. He is not only good in His actions but in His essence. As the psalmist proclaims, “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!” (Psalm 34:8). God’s goodness is constant and unchanging.
Believers are called to reflect God’s goodness in their lives. Paul identifies goodness as a fruit of the Spirit: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness…” (Galatians 5:22). This means that goodness is not merely human effort, but a divine quality produced in the believer by the Holy Spirit.
The call to goodness is also tied to righteous living: “As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good” (2 Thessalonians 3:13), and “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good” (Romans 12:9). Goodness is active—it involves choosing righteousness, acting with integrity, and seeking the welfare of others.
Jesus Christ perfectly embodied goodness in His life and ministry. When a man called Him “Good Teacher,” Jesus responded, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone” (Mark 10:18), pointing to God as the ultimate standard of goodness. Yet in Christ, we see that standard fulfilled—He healed the sick, fed the hungry, forgave sins, and ultimately gave His life for the salvation of the world.
The Bible assures that goodness will not go unrewarded. “Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9). God delights in those who walk in His ways and blesses the work that reflects His goodness.
Goodness, according to the Bible, is far more than just being nice; it is a profound reflection of God’s character lived out through His people. It is both a divine attribute and a human calling, made possible through the work of the Holy Spirit and modeled perfectly in Jesus Christ.
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