THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS G D N E S S Lesson 7 for the 13th of February, 2010

“No one is good—except God alone” Mark 10:18 How does God show that He is good? Through Creation (Genesis, 1: 31) For His mercy endures forever (1 Chronicles, 16: 34) He shows the right way to sinners (Psalm 5:8; Micah, 6: 8) He forgives (Psalm 86: 5) His mercies are over all His Creation (Psalm 145: 9) He is a refuge in times of trouble (Nahum, 1: 7) He keeps His promises (Nehemiah, 9: 25) He forgets the sin (Psalm 25: 7) He encourages us (Psalm 27: 13) He provides for the poor (Psalm 68: 10) He gave us His Son (Ephesians, 2: 7) He fulfils every good purpose (2ª Thessalonians 1: 11) He shows love towards all men (Titus, 3: 4)

How can we measure our grade of goodness? HUMAN GOODNESS Only God is good, but we can achieve a grade of goodness, although we don’t have perfect goodness. How can we measure our grade of goodness?

A RULE TO MEASURE GOODNESS God’s Law is a rule to distinguish evil and good. “I would not have known what sin was except through the law” (Romans, 7: 7) The Law teaches us how to behave, not only how to be good, but also how to act with goodness toward others. It is a sign of God’s good character.

Who can be good when he is measured with the Rule of God’s Law? “All have turned away; they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one” (Romans 3:12)

“Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots “Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Neither can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil” (Jeremiah 13:23) In spite of all our effort, no one can be good by himself. We can do good works, but that doesn’t make us good people. Goodness is a fruit of the Spirit, and only the Holy Spirit can place that fruit in us.

“One of the most earnest prayers recorded in the Word of God is that of David when he plead, "Create in me a clean heart, O God." God's response to such a prayer is, A new heart will I give you. This is a work that no finite man can do. Men and women are to begin at the beginning, seeking God most earnestly for a true Christian experience. They are to feel the creative power of the Holy Spirit. They are to receive the new heart, that is kept soft and tender by the grace of heaven. The selfish spirit is to be cleansed from the soul. They are to labor earnestly and with humility of heart, each one looking to Jesus for guidance and encouragement. Then the building, fitly framed together, will grow into a holy temple in the Lord” E.G.W. (SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 4, page 1165, on Ezekiel 36: 26)

“Who is wise and understanding among you “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom”. (James 3:13) As Christians we are called to produce good works, “which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians, 2: 10)

Goodness is not only an inner feeling; it must be shown in external actions, in favour of others. We are not “good” because we deserve salvation, but because God’s goodness gives us that salvation. We are “good” because our hearts, our purposes and our acts show the world that we really serve God.

“We are accepted through Christ's merit alone; and the acts of mercy, the deeds of charity, which we perform, are the fruits of faith; and they become a blessing to us; for men are to be rewarded according to their works. It is the fragrance of the merit of Christ that makes our good works acceptable to God, and it is grace that enables us to do the works for which He rewards us. Our works in and of themselves have no merit” E.G.W. (SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 5, page 1122, on Luke 16: 10)