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Name of Assembly: United Apostolic Church
Type of service: Bible study
Date: March 31, 2020
Teacher: Brother Leon J. Gordon
Topic: Fruit of the Spirit
Lesson 7: Goodness: Virtue and Integrity of Character

“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

“A good man out of the treasure of the heart bringeh forth good things:” Matthew 12:35 (KJV)

I. Introduction

The word ‘goodness’ is derived from the Greek word, agathosune, pronounced ag-ath-o-soo-nay. The word refers to active goodness. Goodness as it is used in Galatians 5:22, is more than gentleness (chrestotes) which is a mellowing of character. Goodness is character energised, expressing itself in active good. A Christian may display his goodness in rebuking, correcting or chastising. The righteous indignation of Jesus Christ in the temple as described in St. John 2:13-17, demonstrated His agathosune, but not His chrestotes, gentleness. Agathosune, goodness does not spare sharpness and rebuke if they will have the effect of producing good. The word is used in Romans 15:14, Ephesians 5:9, and 2 Thessalonians 1:11.

A. Goodness has often been linked together with the word kindness.

B. While on the surface these two words could be said to mean the same thing, when we dig deeper into the Galatians 5:22 definition of goodness, we find something much deeper.

1. Here, the word means to be morally pure, pleasing to God and to others.

C. There are two components to this goodness:

It is interesting to note that before listing the fruit of the Spirit, Paul listed the works of the flesh. Galatians 5:19-21: “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” (KJV)

1. Moral Goodness

a) This is living after the law of God and His principles.

b) It refers to moral excellence.

c) This is a Godly control of our morals and lifestyle.

d) It would be ridiculous to claim to be filled with the Holy Ghost and to have corrupt morals and lifestyle.

2. Practical Goodness

a) Practical goodness is when we apply those Godly morals and lifestyles in our dealings with other people.

b) Many people profess to have good morals but live a lifestyle that is exactly the opposite.

Proverbs 23:6-7: “Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats: For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.”

c) What you really are inside will manifest itself outwardly.

Matthew 12:34: “...for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh...”

d) When Paul said that the works of the flesh are manifest, he was saying that they are publicly known.

e) By exhorting us to manifest the fruit of the Spirit, he is exhorting us to make this fruit publicly known.

D. Goodness speaks of virtue and having integrity of character.

  1. This immediately lest us know that it is not defined by the good acts that we do.
  2. Rather, it is defined by what motivates those actions.
  3. We see then that goodness goes way beyond outward good actions.
  4. There is a difference between doing good and being good.
  5. The Bible says that the value of a woman who has virtue and integrity of character is more than precious jewels. Proverbs 31:10 “Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.” KJV.
  6. He is ill clothed who is bare of virtue. Benjamin Franklin.

II. How Goodness is Developed

A. To develop goodness, we must first understand that there is none good but God.

  1. The rich young ruler was admonished as to this fact when he approached Jesus about inheriting eternal life.
  2. When he complimented Jesus by calling Him Good Master, Jesus immediately questioned him as to why he was calling Him good.
  3. He further stated that there is none good but God.

B. We must also realise that any goodness we have, we received from God.

  1. Matthew 7:11, “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?”

C. We develop goodness by proper study and implementation of the word in our life.

  1. Psalm 119:9, “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word.” (KJV)
  2. Psalm 119:11, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (KJV)

III. How Goodness is Expressed

A. The only way that we can hope to manifest goodness in our life is to first allow God to develop it in us.

This happens when we:

a) Obey His word.
b) Submit to Him.
c) Yield to His Spirit.
d) Live according to His will

B. Goodness is a progression of purity that begins in your inner man, and then manifests itself toward God and your fellow man.

  1. This is what the Word refers to as “good works” or, the expression of goodness.
  2. If a man is truly good on the inside, then this goodness will be automatically expressed outwardly.

C. Matthew 12:35, “A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things.”

If the heart is not good, then no good will come forth in the life.

James 3:11-12, “Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain yield both salt water and fresh.” (KJV)

D. There are Biblical precepts that guide us in expressing goodness.

  1. We were created to manifest the ways of God through good works in the world.
    Ephesians 2:10, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (KJV)
  2. When we do good, we are expressing to the world that we are of God.

E. We express goodness by helping those in need.

The story of the Good Samaritan is a prime example of manifested goodness.
Luke 10:33-35, “But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him. And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow, when he departed, he took out two-pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.”

i. He took the time to recognise the need.
ii. He bound up his wounds.
iii. He took him to a safe place.
iv. He provided for his care.
v. He was willing to do even more.

Closing Illustration:

A story comes from long ago of a King who organised a great race within his kingdom. All the young men of the kingdom participated. A bag of gold was to be given to the winner, and the finish line was within the courtyard of the King’s palace.

The race was run, and the runners were surprised to find in the middle of the road leading to the King’s palace a great pile of rocks and stones. But they managed to scramble over it or to run around it and eventually to come to the courtyard.

Finally, all the runners had crossed the finish line except one. But still the King did not call the race off. After a while, one lone runner came through the gate. He lifted a bleeding hand and said, “O King, I am sorry that I am so late, but you see, I found in the road a pile of rocks and stones, and it took me a while, and I wounded my self in removing them.” Then he lifted the other hand, and in it was a bag. He said, “But great King, I found beneath the pile of rocks this bag of gold.”

The King said, “My son, you have won the race, for that one runs best who makes the way safer for those who follow.”

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