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5. Goodness a) Definitions (1) The
divine attribute of goodness could be defined as: (a) Goodness
covers two areas, what God is in and of Himself, and what God is to His
creatures. In other words goodness covers His character and the expression of
His character. (Derickson’s Notes
on Theology) (b) It is that perfection which prompts Him to
deal kindly and bounteously with all His creatures. (Louis Berkhof, Systematic Theology (Grand Rapids:
Eerdmans, 1941), p. 70) (c) He is originally good, good of Himself,
which nothing else is; for all creatures are good only by participation and
communication from God. He is essentially good; not only good, but goodness
itself: the creature’s good is a super-added quality, in God it is His
essence. He is infinitely good; the creature’s good is but a drop, but in God
there in an infinite ocean or gathering together of good. He is eternally and
immutably good, for He cannot be less good than He is; as there can be no
addition made to Him, so no subtraction from Him (Thomas Manton) (d) God is summum bonum, the highest
good. (Pink) (2) The
Hebrew word “good” or “goodness” is tōb or tūb which
when speaking in reference to God means, the intrinsic quality of
graciousness and benevolence toward others. (3) The Greek word for goodness is agathosunā
which comes from agathos. Agathos can refer to God’s moral
excellence and His acts of benevolence. A synonym is chrāstotās which
can mean a gracious attitude of goodness or kindness (cf. Ro 3:12). b) God’s
goodness is intrinsic to His nature (Ps 119:68; Mk 10:17-18). (1) In
describing God, the psalmist could only conclude that God Himself was good
(Ps 119:68). God did not learn to be good or to behave, but goodness
describes His divine essence. (2) In addition, God alone is good (Mk
10:17-18). If any of God’s creatures display or emulate goodness, they are mirroring
or adding goodness to their actions. (3) Man is described as lacking goodness both
in his actions as well as attaining merit before God (Ps 14:3 cf. Ro 3:12; Ps
25:8). c) God’s
goodness is synonymous with all His attributes (Ex 33:18-19). (1) The
summation of God’s perfections is such that those perfections must be called
good. There is nothing bad or defective in God’s perfections, nor can
anything be added to make them better. (2) In fact, when describing His own glory
(attributes), which was to be shown to Moses, it was called God’s “goodness”
(Ex 33:18-19). d) God’s
goodness is observed in His creative acts (Ge 1:31; Ps 145:15-16) (1) Since God
is intrinsically good, His goodness will be observed in every act and every
deed in His creation. (2) God’s goodness can be observed in His
creation in general (Ge 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25). (3) God’s goodness can be observed in His creation of man (Ge 1:26-27, 31; Ps 139:14) (4) God’s goodness can be observed in His
provisions for His creation (Ge 1:28-30; 2:9,12; Ps 136:25; 145:15-16; Lk
12:24) (5) The goodness of God is seen in the variety
of natural pleasures which He has provided for His creatures. God might have
been pleased to satisfy our hunger without the food being pleasing to our
palates - how His benevolence appears in the varied flavors which He has
given to meats, vegetables, and fruits! God has not only given us senses, but
also that which gratifies them; and this too reveals His goodness. The earth
might have been as fertile as it is without its surface being so delightfully
variegated. Our physical lives could have been sustained without beautiful
flowers to regale our eyes with their colors, and our nostrils with their
sweet perfumes. We might have walked the fields without our ears being
saluted by the music of the birds.
(Pink, Attributes of God) e) God’s
goodness is extended to all that He decrees and purposes (Neh 9:13; Ro
7:12; Ro 8:28). (1) Since God
is intrinsically good, and is good in His acts and deeds, it stands to reason
that His decrees and purposes would be good. (2) In spite of man’s attempts to regard God’s
commandments and statutes as restricting, they are described as good (Neh
9:13) (3) Though sinful man cannot attain unto it,
God’s Law is good (Ro 7:12, 16; 1Ti 1:8) (4) Regardless of evil and suffering in the
world, God’s purposes and providence is good (Ro 8:28; Is 46:10). f) God’s
goodness is shown to all men in general ways (Mt 5:45; Ac 14:17; 17:28). (1) Though
all men will not partake of God’s eternal life, all men do partake of God’s
goodness of natural life (Ac 17:28). (2) Regardless of man’s immorality, all mankind
receives God’s goodness and blessings from God’s creation (Mt 5:45; Ac
14:16-17). g) God’s
goodness is ultimately shown in Christ (Tit 3:4-5; Ep 2:7) (1) God’s
ultimate goodness was displayed when Christ appeared to bring salvation. He
gave this ultimate goodness to save those who least deserve it (Tit 3:4-5). (2) But God’s goodness actually began before
Christ became a man. God’s good pleasure and kind intention was exercised
before the foundation of the world when He predestined some to be adopted as
sons (Ep 1:4-5). (3) To those who embrace Christ’s sacrifice,
they will experience God’s goodness and kindness not only in this life (Ps
23:6; Is 63:7), but also for all eternity (Ep 2:7). h) Christ
possesses the divine attribute of goodness (Tit 3:4; Mk 10:17-18). (1) In
reference to God’s ultimate goodness that was displayed when Christ appeared
to bring salvation, it is referring the divine goodness of Christ. Note that
Tit 3:4 states that it is the kindness (goodness) of “God our Savior,” who is
none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. (2) In Mk 10:17-18, when Jesus asked the man,
“Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone,” His intention was
to cause the man to see that He was the Son of God. (3) In addition, goodness, is a divine
attribute of the Holy Spirit (Ga 5:22). i) Application
to the Believer (1) One of
the believer’s remedies for discouragement is to see God’s goodness as a
source of encouragement (Psa 27:13; Jer 31:14). In fact, it is the Lord’s
goodness that gives cause for the believer to praise God (Psa 135:3; Psa
100:4-5) (2) A believer can trust in God’s sovereignty
because God is good, He does what is good, and He brings about ultimate good
(Ge 50:20; Na 1:7; Ro 8:28). (3) Because God is the believer’s good Father,
and the believer lives by the Spirit of God, he is divinely enabled and
richly exhorted to exemplify God’s goodness in his life (Ga 5:22; Ep 5:9).
This applies to the believer’s good attitude as well as good deeds (Pr 12:14;
Ga 6:9-10; 1Co 13:4; Ep 4:32; 2Th 3:13; 1Ti 6:18; Tit 2:7, 14; 3:8, 14; He
10:24-25; 13:16, 21; Jm 3:13; 1Pe 3:8, 11; 3Jn 1:11). |
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Grace Bible Church · 4000 E. Collins Rd · PO Box #3762 · Gillette, WY · (307) 686-1516 |
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