The Gospel According to Paul: Goodness Comes From God. Message Magazine’s Online Devotional for Sunday, May 27, 2018
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).
How Much We Need Him
In many popular systems of thought, it is being taught that everyone is basically good, and all that each person needs to learn is how to tap into the goodness that is deep within. This is one of the reasons why people do not understand or sense their need for God. I do not mean a general need that brings only awareness, and the belief that this awareness will awaken inherent goodness. I am referring to the need for the superior power of God to redeem our souls from sin, and eternal ruin.
Goodness is an attribute that only God possesses within Himself. All human beings must borrow the goodness that God bestows through a rebirth experience; the experience that all must have with Christ if we hope to receive eternal life. Through faith in Christ, we are transformed into powerful agents for good. We become witnesses of the power of God to transform us from doomed sinners into saved saints.
God is Good; God is Great
Goodness is godly; therefore it must originate in Him. Goodness is not deep within each person. Goodness, rather, comes from the Lord who lovingly shares it with each believer from outside of us, and then we are changed within.
I’m not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, are you?
