Goodness is the quality and mindset to do good. A good person is generous in what they do for others. Of course, it is a gift from God. More importantly, it was God’s goodness that led you to repentance (Romans 2:4)! Let’s explore this precious gift together.

Goodness Says: I Have A Great Outlook On Life!

Generosity and goodness in the Lord’s light: Learn about the gift of God and how to practice it in everyday life. Read this revised Bible lesson!

STM Bible Lesson

Lesson focus: 2 Peter 1:3 and 5. Bible lesson background 2 Peter 1:1-11: Peter gives encouragement to know God and what He has done for us. We should realize the fact that God gave us
what we need to be holy. So each of us must keep trying to live to please God at all times. If we do, then we will live with Him forever.

2 Peter 1:3 and 5 [read 2 Peter 1:1-11 (3 and 5)]

3 God’s power has given us everything we need to lead a godly life. We have come to know the God who called us by his own glory and goodness. 5 So make every effort to add goodness to your faith. Then to goodness, add knowledge. (RAD)

KJV: 3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

Live as Children of the Light

Bridgeway Bible Commentary: If the lives of Christians are pure, they will show up the sins of others, just as light shows up dirt.

Ephesians 5:8-9 [read Ephesians 5:8-14 (8-9)]

In the past you were full of darkness, but now you are full of light in the Lord. So live like children who belong to the light. 9 Light brings every kind of goodness, right living, and truth. (ICB)

KJV: For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

Think about this

Does goodness from the Holy Spirit help you become a better good person? Are you absolutely (unquestionably) good without the goodness that comes from God’s Spirit? You believe you are good, but do you do good things without expecting something in return? Help the poor and others in need.

Key Points:

Do good deeds

What you do for others is important. The Holy Spirit produces goodness, which produces good deeds from the heart.

Luke 8:15 [read Luke 8:11-15 (15)]

The seeds that were planted on good ground are people who also hear the word. But they keep it in their good and honest hearts and produce what is good despite what life may bring. (GW)

KJV: But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

Say good things

Do you use good words? The goodness that comes from the Holy Spirit will help you say good things.

Matthew 12:33 and 35 [read Matthew 12:33-37 (33 and 35)]

A good tree gives good fruit. A bad tree gives bad fruit. A tree is known by its fruit. 35 A good man will speak good things because of the good in him. A bad man will speak bad things because of the sin in him. (NLV)

KJV: 33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. 35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

Think good thoughts

Do you think good thoughts? If not, it is time to change.

Romans 12:2 [read Romans 12:1-2 (2)]

Don’t follow the ways of this world; instead be transformed by the spiritual renewal of your mind so you can demonstrate what God’s will really is—good, pleasing, and perfect. (FBV)

KJV: And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Be with good people

Since believers and non-believers should be very different from one another, it should be difficult for them to be in close relationships.

2 Corinthians 6:14-15 [read 2 Corinthians 6:13-18 (14-15)]

Stay away from people who are not followers of the Lord! Can someone who is good get along with someone who is evil? Are light and darkness the same? 15 Is Christ a friend of Satan? Can people who follow the Lord have anything in common with those who don’t? (CEV)

KJV: Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

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Fruit of the Spirit

Galatians 5:22-23 [read Galatians 5:16-26 (22-23)]

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things. (CSB)

KJV: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

G19 The ‘fruit of the Spirit’ “goodness” comes from the Greek word ἀγαθωσύνη agathosune (ag-ath-o-soo’-nay) n. 1. goodness, i.e. virtue or beneficence. 2. uprightness of heart and life, goodness, kindness.

There are three qualities of the Holy Spirit with the primary benefit being that it is meant for others. They are kindness, goodness, and gentleness. So ask yourself: Am I kind, good to, and gentle with others?

A good way to understand the purpose of this and each quality is to associate it with the works (fruit) of the flesh; see Galatians 5:19-21. What do people do that goodness from the Holy Spirit will help them overcome?

Works of flesh

For example, look at goodness as a virtue. Behavior showing high moral standards. The opposite behavior is immorality. Adultery, fornication, lasciviousness (uncontrolled sexual urges or activity), drunkenness, and reveling (wild partying) are typically considered immoral for God’s children. If you struggle with sexual and other moral sins, then goodness will help you live in victory.

Other words

There are many English translations, revisions, or versions of the Bible. Here are some other words used for goodness in Galatians 5:22. In my opinion, generosity takes goodness to a different level.

generosity” [11*] ♦||♦ “well doing” [BBE] ♦||♦ “beneficence” [MACE] ♦||♦ “benevolence” [Riverside and WEY] ♦||♦ “kindness” [MPSNT] ♦||♦ “good” [CEV, NIRV and NLV] ♦||♦ “being good” [BWE and WE].

NOTE: the Bible translations that use these words are enclosed in square brackets.

Definition

The quality of being good in any of its various senses; excellence (being very good); virtue (honest goodness); kindness; benevolence (goodwill); as, goodness of character, of disposition (mood), of conduct (ways), etc.

Synonyms

Other words with the same meaning as goodness.

• Beneficence: the practice of doing good; active goodness, kindness, or charity (love).
• Benevolent – having a disposition to do good; being kind; charitable.
• Just – upright; honest; having principles of uprightness; righteous; impartial (not biased or open-minded); honorable and fair in one’s dealings; consistent with the moral right.
• Obedient – submissive to authority or control; yielding willingly to commands, orders, or injunctions; performing what is required, or abstaining from what is forbidden; obeying or carrying out a request, command, or the like.
• Pious – having or showing reverence and earnest compliance in the observance of religion; devout; zealous in the performance of religious obligations; having or showing a sense of duty and loyalty to God, parents, family, friends, etc.
• Real – authentic; genuine; not artificial or spurious; {spurious defined: lacking authenticity or validity; counterfeit; false}; not pretentious.
• Right – morally good; genuine; by or conformable to justice, law, morality, or another standard.
• True – faithful; loyal; constant; reliable; conforming to an original, pattern, rule, or standard.
• Virtuous – having or characterized by moral right action or thinking; chaste; pure; righteous.

♥ Question for ‘Goodness’: Do you practice doing good to be noticed by others or is it from your heart?

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Using Goodness

How to use Goodness

Look at 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 to get a few examples of being God-pleasingly good (using goodness). Combine kindness, goodness, and gentleness as you do your good works. In other words, be kind, good, and gentle when dealing with others.

1 Thessalonians 5:14-15 [read 1 Thessalonians 5:12-22 (14-15)]

We [earnestly] urge you, believers, admonish those who are out of line [the undisciplined, the unruly, the disorderly], encourage the timid [who lack spiritual courage], help the [spiritually] weak, be very patient with everyone [always controlling your temper]. 15 See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek that which is good for one another and for all people. (AMP)

KJV: Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. 15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

Reject false teaching and embrace godly teaching

Stay away from sin (evil); avoid doing things that even look like you are doing wrong.

1 Thessalonians 5:20-22 [read 1 Thessalonians 5:12-22 (20-22); compare Romans 12:9 and 21; 1 Thessalonians 5:22; 3 John 1:11]

Do not look down on prophetic messages. 21 Put everything [i.e., speakers and their messages] to the test, [then] hold onto what is good. 22 Avoid [the practice of] every kind of evil. (AUV)

KJV: Despise not prophesyings. 21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.

Live for God

Be mindful of what you do and how you do it. I remind you that your actions and attitude are important.

1 Peter 2:11-12 [read 1 Peter 2:11-12]

Dear friends, you are like visitors and strangers in this world. So I beg you to keep your lives free from the evil things you want to do, those desires that fight against your true selves. 12 People who don’t believe are living all around you. They may say that you are doing wrong. So live such good lives that they will see the good you do, and they will give glory to God on the day he comes. (ERV)

KJV: Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

What you do affects others since you are a child of light (Ephesians 5:9). Be encouraged to always do good.

Do good to everyone

Galatians 6:9-10 [read Galatians 6:6-10 (9-10)]

Do not let yourselves get tired of doing good. If we do not give up, we will get what is coming to us at the right time. 10 Because of this, we should do good to everyone. For sure, we should do good to those who belong to Christ. (NLV)

KJV: And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

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Goodness wrap-up

2 Thessalonians 1:11 [read 2 Thessalonians 1:3-12 (11)]

So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do. (NLT)

KJV: Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:

Full of Goodness

Romans 15:14 [read Romans 15:14-21 (14)]

My brothers and sisters, I am sure that you are full of goodness. You are filled with knowledge and able to teach one another. (NIRV)

KJV: And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.

Can others make a statement like that about you? Are you full of goodness? Do you have all the knowledge you need to do good and please God?

Philippians 4:8-9 [read Philippians 4:8:9]

Finally, brothers and sisters, fill your minds with beauty and truth. Meditate on whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is good, whatever is virtuous and praiseworthy. 9 Keep to the script: whatever you learned and received and heard and saw in me—do it—and the God of peace will walk with you. (VOICE)

KJV: Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Ephesians 2:10 [read Ephesians 2:1-10 (10)]

God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing. (NCV)

KJV: For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

So, my friends, live a life overflowing with and full of goodness and be blessed in Jesus name. Goodness from God—are you absolutely (completely) good without it? Thank you for taking the time to read this Bible lesson. I urge you to make full use of it. Blessings to you and your loved ones—♥ Tim. ☺

Related studies, lessons, and snacks for further spiritual growth:

Fruit of the Spirit; Helpful Qualities Just For You! – an estimated 19-minute read.

The Truth About Calling Things Into Existence (Your Life) – an estimated 8-minute read.

Joy from the Spirit; Now Make Heaven Your Hope – an estimated 22-minute read.

Kindness: A Quality All Christians Should Show To Others – an estimated 19-minute read.

Gentleness: Learn How to Use This Godly Quality Better – an estimated 13-minute read.