The Goodness of God

Many people live their lives with little regard to the goodness of God. They are unaware of how gracious God has been and is willing to be toward them. So I wonder if you have given much thought to the goodness of God...? All the blessings He bestows on us.

One passage of Scripture that ought to give us pause is the one written in Romans 2:4-11, in which Paul expounds upon "The Goodness Of God." From verse 4, we can glean some important things about...

THE NATURE OF HIS GOODNESS

HIS RICHES...
1. He is rich in grace - Ephesians 1:7
2. He is rich in mercy - Ephesians 2:4
3. He is rich in supplying need - Ph 4:19
4. He is rich in giving things to enjoy - 1 Ti 6:17
5. He is rich in the strength He provides the believer - Ephesias 3:16,21

HIS LONGSUFFERING...
1. "Longsuffering" this describes "a slowness in avenging wrath"
2. We see God suffering long...
a. In the days of Noah, prior to the flood - cf. 1 Peter 3:20
b. In our present day, prior to the Day of Judgment - 2 Peter 3:9-15a

The Psalmist summarizes well the nature of God's goodness: "But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth." (Psalms 86:15). As we return to our text in Romans, we are told of...


THE PURPOSE OF HIS GOODNESS

SHOULD LEAD US TO REPENTANCE...
1. God's goodness is intended to cause humanity to repent - Roman 2:4
2. Based on Paul's description of repentance elsewhere, God's goodness should produce...
a. Godly sorrow which leads to repentance - 2 Co 7:9-10
b. A change of mind (the actual meaning of metanoia, repentance)
c. A turn from sin to God (as evidence of repentance) - 2 Co 7:10-11

SHOULD LEAD US TO DO WHAT IS GOOD...
1. As just described, an indication of true repentance - 2 Corinthians 7:11
2. As later described in our text, it should lead to doing good...
Seeking glory, honor, immortality - Romans 2:7b
1) Glory and honor that will come at the revelation of Jesus Christ - cf. 1 Pe 1:7; 2 Co 4:16-18
2) Immortality (incorruption) that will be given at the same time - 1 Co 15:51-54

So here’s the deal, "eternal life" will be given to those who are properly motivated by God's goodness to repent and do good (Romans 2:7). Our call is to display His glory in such a way that we live worthy of the eternal life given to us by way of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We need to always be thinking about turning our thoughts toward this idea of the mercy of God, to recognize immediately that mercy is entirely the result of and the effect of God’s goodness. It comes not from any other cause, nor any other source, nor from any other reason, except from God’s own goodness.

Both goodness and greatness meet in God.