Goodness Says: I Have A Great Outlook On Life!

Goodness is the quality and mindset to do good. A good person is generous in doing 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.

Summary

Ephesians 5:8-11

for you people were once darkness [i.e., when living in sin], but now you are light in [fellowship with] the Lord. [So], live like people who belong to light [i.e., who live godly lives], 9 (for the product of light consists of everything good and right and true). 10 Then you will demonstrate [or, “learn about”] a life that is very pleasing to the Lord.

11 Do not have fellowship with [people who practice] worthless deeds of darkness [i.e., sinful living], but expose them instead. (AUV)

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:

1. Good deeds

   What you do for others is important. The Holy Spirit produces goodness which produces good deeds from the heart. But the seed on the good ground are those, who in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience [Luke 8:15 (RKJNT)].

2. Your words

   Do you use good words? The goodness that comes from the Holy Spirit will help you say good things. 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 [Matthew 12:33 and 35 (NLV)].

3. Good thoughts

   Do you think good thoughts? If not it is time to change. And you people must not be conformed to [the values and standards of] this age, but you should become transformed [i.e., changed in attitude and action] by having your mind renewed [i.e., to think in a totally different way]. Then you will be able to determine [and practice] God’s will, the thing that is good, and acceptable and perfect‘ [Romans 12:2 (AUV)].

4. Your behavior

   The way you act or conduct yourself is also important. I say this to you: Let the Holy Spirit lead you in each step. Then you will not please your sinful old selves. 17 The things our old selves want to do are against what the Holy Spirit wants. The Holy Spirit does not agree with what our sinful old selves want. These two are against each other. So you cannot do what you want to do [Galatians 5:16-17 (NLV)].

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Fruit of the Spirit

Galatians 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 Gentleness, self-control: against such things there is no law. (RKJNT)

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 meant for others. They are kindness, goodness, and gentleness. So ask yourself, am I kind and 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 an example look at goodness as virtue. A behavior showing high moral standards. The opposite behavior is immorality. Adultery, fornication, lasciviousness (uncontrolled sexual urges/activity), drunkenness, and revellings (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; kind; charitable.
• Just – upright; honest; having principles of uprightness; righteous; impartial (not biased, open-minded); honorable and fair in one’s dealings; consistent with 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; in accordance with or conformable to justice, law, morality, or another standard.
• True – faithful; loyal; constant; reliable; conforming to an original, pattern, rule, 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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Use it

How to use Goodness

Look at 1 Thessalonians 5:14-15 and 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.

14 and 15

Warn the believers that will not work (idle, unruly; 2 Thessalonians 3:10-11); if anyone would not work, neither should he eat.

Encourage and comfort those who want to give up (the feebleminded). ♦ Help and give support to the [spiritually] weak.

Be patient with everyone. ♦ Do good things to and for others as often as you can.

21 and 22

Put everything [i.e., speakers and their messages] to the test, [then] hold onto what is good [verse 21 (AUV)].

♦ Stay away from sin (evil); avoid doing things that even look like you are doing wrong. (Romans 12:9 and 21; 1 Thessalonians 5:22; 3 John 1:11)].

1 Peter 2:11-12

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

Dear friends, your real home is not here on earth. You are strangers here. I ask you to keep away from all the sinful desires of the flesh. These things fight to get hold of your soul. 12 When you are around people who do not know God, be careful how you act. Even if they talk against you as wrong-doers, in the end they will give thanks to God for your good works when Christ comes again. (NLV)

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

Galatians 6:9-10

And we should not become tired of doing good things, for eventually we will receive [never ending life] if we do not give up. 10 So then, we should do the right thing toward every person whenever we have the opportunity, and especially toward people who are part of God’s family [i.e., those making up “the faith”]. (AUV)

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Goodness wrap-up

2 Thessalonians 1:11

That is why we always pray for you. We ask our God to help you live the good way he wanted when he chose you. The goodness you have makes you want to do good. And the faith you have makes you work. We pray that with his power God will help you do these things more and more. (ERV)

Full of Goodness

My brothers and sisters, I know without a doubt that you are full of goodness and have all the knowledge you need. So you are certainly able to counsel each other” [Romans 15:14 (ERV)]. 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?

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 [Philippians 4:8-9 (The Voice)]. 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 [Ephesians 2:10 (NCV)].

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?

I love you—♥ Tim ☺.

Outline

Note: parenthesis (#) enclose the key verses.

Summary: Ephesians 5:8-11; Luke 8:11-15 (15); Matthew 12:33-37 (33 and 35). Romans 12:1-2 (2); Galatians 5:16-26 (16-17).

Fruit of the Spirit: Galatians 5:16-26 (19-23).

Use it: Ephesians 5:8-11 (9); 1 Thessalonians 5:12-22 (14-15 and 21-22); 1 Peter 2:11-12; Galatians 6:6-10 (9-10).

Wrap-up: 2 Thessalonians 1:3-12 (11); Romans 15:14-21 (14); Philippians 4:8-9; Ephesians 2:1-10 (10).

Related studies/lessons/snacks for further Spiritual growth:

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

Help the Needy; Show People the Love of God – an estimated 21-minute read.

Follow 3 Simple Keys for True Followers of Jesus – an estimated 5-minute read.

♥ Final question for “Goodness”: Are you doing good things for and to others as often as you can?

See what is available on the Sound Truth Ministry website.

Copyright information:

(ERV) Taken from the HOLY BIBLE: EASY-TO-READ VERSION © 2001 by World Bible Translation Center, Inc. and used by permission. || (NCV) Scripture taken from the New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. || (The Voice) The Voice Scripture taken from The Voice™. Copyright © 2008 by Ecclesia Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Sources

G19 studybible.info || Antonyms – antonymsfor.com || Thesaurus – merriam-webster.com

Footnote

* the 11 translations that use the word ‘generosity’ (Galatians 5:22) are ALT, AUV, KNOX, MOF, MRINT, NAB, NRSV, OEB, OJB, PNT and TCNT.