Goodness - Ripe With Grace

Goodness is often misunderstood because we tend to define it by our own standards—quality, benevolence, and satisfaction. We compare ourselves to others, thinking we’re good if we’re better than someone else, or we measure goodness by the nice things we do or how satisfied we feel. But true goodness isn’t about our own efforts or comparisons. It’s rooted in God’s very nature. God’s goodness is not just something He does; it’s who He is. When we try to define goodness apart from God, we end up with a subjective, shifting standard that leaves us either prideful or discouraged.

Scripture shows us that God alone is the standard of goodness. His quality is perfection—absolute moral purity, beauty, and integrity. Everything He creates, He calls good, and humanity, He calls “very good.” We are God’s masterpiece, more glorious than any other part of creation. But we can’t manufacture goodness on our own. It’s not about trying harder or doing more good deeds. Goodness is a fruit of the Spirit, produced in us as we abide in Christ and receive His new nature.

God’s benevolence is His grace—His active, undeserved favor toward us. He doesn’t just sit back and possess goodness; He demonstrates it by pouring out grace, inviting us to “taste and see” His goodness personally. This is not a distant or theoretical goodness, but one that can be experienced and shared.

The satisfaction of God’s goodness is seen in His judgment and atonement. God’s justice and mercy meet perfectly at the cross. Jesus’ sacrifice satisfied God’s demand for justice and His desire to show mercy. The cross is the ultimate display of God’s goodness, justice, and mercy converging for our sake—past, present, and future.

When we reflect God’s goodness, it’s not about drawing attention to ourselves, but about letting others see what God has done in us. The fruit of goodness is meant to be shared, not hoarded. As we serve and use our God-given gifts, we let God’s goodness shine through us, inviting others to experience His nature for themselves.

Key Takeaways

• 1. God’s goodness is not just an action but His very nature. When we define goodness by our own standards or circumstances, we misunderstand who God is. True goodness is unchanging because it is rooted in the character of God, not in our shifting experiences or efforts. [16:11]
• 2. Comparing our goodness to others leads to pride or discouragement, but God alone is the standard. Our attempts to be “good enough” are like children’s crayon drawings compared to a masterpiece—only God’s perfection sets the true benchmark for goodness. [19:10]
• 3. God’s benevolence is His grace, actively demonstrated toward us. His goodness is not passive; it invites us to personally experience and share in His favor. We are called to “taste and see” that the Lord is good, moving from knowledge about God to a real encounter with His grace. [24:26]
• 4. The cross is where God’s justice and mercy meet, fully satisfying the demands of both. Jesus’ atonement covers all sin—past, present, and future—showing that God’s goodness is not compromised by evil but triumphs over it through sacrificial love. [28:43]
• 5. The fruit of goodness in our lives is God’s nature reflected to the world. We are not called to manufacture goodness, but to abide in Christ so that His goodness flows through us. Sharing this fruit—through service, generosity, and love—lets others see and experience the goodness of God for themselves. [32:33]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:34] - Introduction to the Fruit of the Spirit
• [01:17] - Galatians 5:22 and the Nine Fruits
• [01:57] - God’s Direction in the Series
• [03:02] - God’s Definitions vs. The World’s
• [04:02] - Apples as a Symbol of Goodness
• [06:17] - The Subjectivity of “Good”
• [07:00] - Quality, Benevolence, and Satisfaction
• [09:29] - Comparing Goodness: The Crayon Drawing Analogy
• [12:31] - Goodness as Benevolence
• [14:18] - Goodness as Satisfaction
• [15:31] - God’s Goodness: Not Ours, But His
• [16:11] - God’s Goodness Is Who He Is
• [18:27] - The Perfection of God’s Goodness
• [19:47] - God’s Goodness in Creation
• [21:10] - Humanity: God’s Masterpiece
• [23:01] - Practicing the Fruit of Goodness
• [23:42] - God’s Benevolence and Grace
• [24:26] - Experiencing God’s Goodness
• [25:33] - Moses and the Goodness of God
• [26:48] - Reflecting God’s Goodness to Others
• [27:25] - Satisfaction: God’s Justice and Mercy
• [28:43] - The Cross: Justice and Mercy Converge
• [31:51] - God’s Goodness Revealed and Reflected
• [32:33] - Application: Sharing the Fruit of Goodness
• [33:46] - Serving as an Expression of Goodness
• [34:57] - Invitation to Serve and Closing Prayer

Bible Reading

Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV) — > But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Psalm 34:8 (ESV) — > Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

Romans 3:25-26 (ESV) — > whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Observation Questions

1. According to Galatians 5:22-23, what are the nine fruits of the Spirit, and where does “goodness” fit in the list? ([01:17])
2. In Psalm 34:8, what two actions are we invited to do in relation to God’s goodness? ([24:26])
3. In Romans 3:25-26, what does Paul say Jesus’ sacrifice accomplished regarding God’s justice and mercy? ([28:43])
4. The sermon compared our attempts at goodness to a child’s crayon drawing next to a masterpiece. What point was the pastor making with this analogy? ([10:43])

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon says, “God’s goodness is not just something He does, it’s who He is.” Why is it important to understand goodness as God’s nature rather than just His actions? ([16:11])
2. How does comparing our own goodness to others lead to either pride or discouragement, according to the sermon? ([11:59])
3. The pastor said, “You cannot manufacture goodness. It only comes from God Himself because that’s who He is.” What does this mean for how we try to live out goodness in our daily lives? ([21:56])
4. The cross is described as the place where God’s justice and mercy meet. How does this shape our understanding of what true goodness looks like? ([28:43])

Application Questions

1. The sermon challenged us to move from just knowing about God’s goodness to actually “tasting and seeing” it for ourselves. What is one way you have personally experienced God’s goodness? If you haven’t, what is holding you back from seeking that experience? ([24:26])
2. When you think about your own life, do you tend to define goodness by comparing yourself to others, by your actions, or by how satisfied you feel? How might shifting your focus to God’s standard of goodness change your perspective? ([09:29])
3. The pastor said, “When people look at your life, are they more impressed with you or with what God has done through you?” What do you think people see when they look at your life right now? ([22:30])
4. The fruit of goodness is meant to be shared, not hoarded. What is one practical way you can let God’s goodness shine through you to someone else this week? ([32:33])
5. The sermon talked about serving as a way to share the fruit of goodness. Is there a specific area—at church, at home, or in your community—where you feel God nudging you to serve? What’s one step you can take toward that this week? ([33:46])
6. The cross shows that God’s goodness is not compromised by evil but triumphs over it through sacrificial love. Is there a situation in your life where you need to trust God’s goodness even when things don’t look “good” by your standards? ([28:43])
7. The pastor said, “It’s time to let others see the fruit of goodness in your life.” What is one barrier that keeps you from sharing God’s goodness, and how can you ask God to help you overcome it? ([34:57])