Don Stewart :: Is God Good?

One of the characteristics of God is His goodness. The Bible makes it clear that God is good. Jesus said.

No one is good but One, that is, God (Mark 10:18).

The psalmist wrote.

He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord (Psalm 33:5).

In a wide sense, the goodness of God include all of His positive moral attributes. The Bible gives specific areas in which the goodness of God is manifest.

God Watches Over His Creation

God demonstrates His goodness to us in a variety of ways. One way is that He grants mercy to His creation. This is known as common grace. This common grace extends to believer and unbeliever alike. Jesus said.

He makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust (Matthew 5:45).

He Provides What Is Necessary

The Apostle Paul stated that God provides for His creation the things necessary for existence.

Nevertheless He did not leave himself without witness, in that he did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness (Acts 14:17).

He Gives Good Things To Believers

God also grants His goodness to the particular individuals who believe in Him.

Whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16).

His goodness is not only demonstrated by the granting of salvation to all who believe, but the loving care in watching over His people.

The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin (Exodus 34:6,7).

Jesus said.

Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith (Matthew 6:30).

God Is Patient With Humanity

God's goodness is also exhibited in His patience. He waits for people to come to Him by faith by giving them time to repent of their sins.

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).

Paul wrote.

Or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing the goodness of God leads to repentance (Romans 2:4).

God's Grace Expresses His Goodness

God's grace is an expression of His goodness. Grace is the opposite of justice. When we deserve judgment God extends His grace and mercy.

Summary

God's goodness, which is the total of His moral attributes, is demonstrated to us in a number of ways. He provides for all humankind by keeping the universe running in an orderly fashion. He gives special privileges to those who put their faith in Him. Finally, God is patient with the unbeliever giving them many chances to repent of their sins.