God's Goodness
We are told to come to the Lord Jesus just the way we are, yet it’s the goodness
of God that leads us to repentance (Romans 1:29-32, 2-4) “being filled with all
unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of
envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity, whisperers. Backbiters, haters of God,
despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents.
Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable,
unmerciful. Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such
things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that
do them. Or despise you the riches of His goodness and forbearance and
longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance”.
Repentance is not just being sorrow for your sins, but it is turning away from sin.
God showed His goodness to us, while we were yet sinners (Ephesians 2:1-10)
“and you has He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins. Wherein in
time past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the
prince of the power of the air (the devil), the spirit that now works in the children
of disobedience. Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in
the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desire of the flesh and of the mind; and were
by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy,
for His great love wherewith He loved us. Even when we were dead in sins, has
quickened us together with Christ, (by grace you are saved). And has raised us
up together, and made us to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His
kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are you saved through
faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not of works, less any man
should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good
works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them”.
II Corinthians 5:17 tells us that old things are past away, behold all things
become new, and all things are of God.
The apostle Paul explains this to us in Ephesians chapter 4, we are told to put
off the old man and to put on the new man; listen to verses 22-32 which says
“that you put off concerning the former conversation the old man which is corrupt
according to the deceitful lusts. And be renewed in the spirit of your mind. And
that you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and
true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his
neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be you angry, and sin not; let not
the sun go down upon your wrath. Neither give place to the devil. Let him that
stole steal no more; but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing
which is good, that he may have to give to him that needs. Let no corrupt
communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of
edifying, that it may minister grace to the hearers. And grieve not the Holy Spirit
of God, whereby you are sealed to the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and
wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all
malice. And be you kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another,
even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you”.
He doesn’t just tell us to do this, without telling us how, and in Ephesians 5:1-8 it
says “be you7 therefore followers of God as dear children. And walk in love, as
Christ also has loved us, and has given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice
to God for a sweet smelling savor. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or
covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becomes saints. Neither
filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient, but rather
giving of thanks. For this you know that no whoremonger, nor unclean person,
nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of
Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words, for because of
these things comes the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not
you therefore partakers with them. For you were sometimes darkness, but now
are you light in the Lord; walk as children of light”.
The Lord Jesus is our good shepherd and He says in John 10:14 “I am the good
shepherd and know My sheep and am known of Mine”. Jesus also said “why call
Me, Lord, Lord and do not the tings which I say”. In Matthew 7:21-23 Jesus says
“not everyone that says to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of
heaven, but he that does the will of My Father which is in heaven. Many will say
to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name? And in
Your name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess to them, I never
knew you, depart from Me, you that work iniquity”. In Matthew chapter 25, Jesus
separates the sheep from the goats; the goats go their own way, but the sheep
follow their shepherd. Jesus told many “go and sin no more”.
The apostle Paul ask us a good question in Romans 6:1-2 “what shall we say
then? Shall we continue in sin, hat grace may abound? (he answers) God
forbid, how shall we that are dead to sin, live any longer therein”? He repeats it
in verse 14-16 “for sin shall not have dominion over you; for you are not under
the law, but under grace. What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under
the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know you not, that to whom you yield
yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are to whom you obey, whether of
sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness”?
We are told to “be you holy, for I am holy”, and warned that without holiness we
will not see God (Hebrews 12:14-15) says “follow peace with all men, and
holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. Looking diligently less any
man fail of the grace of God; less any root of bitterness springing up trouble you,
and thereby many be defiled”. Verses 25-29 continues to say “see that you
refuse not Him that speaks, for if they escaped not who refused Him that spoke
on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from Him that speaks
from heaven. whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised,
saying, yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. And this
word, yet once more, signifies the removing of those things that are shaken, as
of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace,
whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our
God is a consuming fire”.
Titus 2:11-14 says “for the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to
all men. Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live
soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world. Looking for that blessed
hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ.
Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify to
Himself, a peculiar people, zealous of good works”.
Notice that the apostle Paul would pray for those who were coming to Christ, that
their eyes would be open to know God (Ephesians 1:14-19, Colossians 1:9-14).
He knew that once they were enlightened to see the goodness of God, that they
would want to change their ways. We change our ways by asking God to take
away that temptation and help us to overcome it.
The apostle Paul warns of the danger of not changing their ways, speaking to
believers in (I Corinthians 5:1-2, 9,11) Paul says “it is reported commonly that
there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named
among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife. And you are puffed
up, and have not rather mourned, that he that has done this deed might be
taken away from among you. I wrote to you in an epistle not to associate with
fornicators. But now I have written to you not to keep company, if any man that
is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater; or a railer, or a
drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat”.
The apostle Peter writes in I Peter 2:9, 11-16 “but you are a chosen generation,
a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people, that you should show forth
the praise of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvellous light.
Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly
lusts, which war against the soul. 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. Submit
yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake; whether it be to the
king as supreme. Or to governors, as to them that are sent by him for the
punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them tat do well. For so is the will
of God, that with well doing you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.
As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the
servants of God”.
Study by: Harriet Bond
Date: September 6, 2011
We are told to come to the Lord Jesus just the way we are, yet it’s the goodness
of God that leads us to repentance (Romans 1:29-32, 2-4) “being filled with all
unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of
envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity, whisperers. Backbiters, haters of God,
despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents.
Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable,
unmerciful. Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such
things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that
do them. Or despise you the riches of His goodness and forbearance and
longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance”.
Repentance is not just being sorrow for your sins, but it is turning away from sin.
God showed His goodness to us, while we were yet sinners (Ephesians 2:1-10)
“and you has He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins. Wherein in
time past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the
prince of the power of the air (the devil), the spirit that now works in the children
of disobedience. Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in
the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desire of the flesh and of the mind; and were
by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy,
for His great love wherewith He loved us. Even when we were dead in sins, has
quickened us together with Christ, (by grace you are saved). And has raised us
up together, and made us to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His
kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are you saved through
faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not of works, less any man
should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good
works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them”.
II Corinthians 5:17 tells us that old things are past away, behold all things
become new, and all things are of God.
The apostle Paul explains this to us in Ephesians chapter 4, we are told to put
off the old man and to put on the new man; listen to verses 22-32 which says
“that you put off concerning the former conversation the old man which is corrupt
according to the deceitful lusts. And be renewed in the spirit of your mind. And
that you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and
true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his
neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be you angry, and sin not; let not
the sun go down upon your wrath. Neither give place to the devil. Let him that
stole steal no more; but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing
which is good, that he may have to give to him that needs. Let no corrupt
communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of
edifying, that it may minister grace to the hearers. And grieve not the Holy Spirit
of God, whereby you are sealed to the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and
wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all
malice. And be you kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another,
even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you”.
He doesn’t just tell us to do this, without telling us how, and in Ephesians 5:1-8 it
says “be you7 therefore followers of God as dear children. And walk in love, as
Christ also has loved us, and has given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice
to God for a sweet smelling savor. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or
covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becomes saints. Neither
filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient, but rather
giving of thanks. For this you know that no whoremonger, nor unclean person,
nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of
Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words, for because of
these things comes the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not
you therefore partakers with them. For you were sometimes darkness, but now
are you light in the Lord; walk as children of light”.
The Lord Jesus is our good shepherd and He says in John 10:14 “I am the good
shepherd and know My sheep and am known of Mine”. Jesus also said “why call
Me, Lord, Lord and do not the tings which I say”. In Matthew 7:21-23 Jesus says
“not everyone that says to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of
heaven, but he that does the will of My Father which is in heaven. Many will say
to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name? And in
Your name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess to them, I never
knew you, depart from Me, you that work iniquity”. In Matthew chapter 25, Jesus
separates the sheep from the goats; the goats go their own way, but the sheep
follow their shepherd. Jesus told many “go and sin no more”.
The apostle Paul ask us a good question in Romans 6:1-2 “what shall we say
then? Shall we continue in sin, hat grace may abound? (he answers) God
forbid, how shall we that are dead to sin, live any longer therein”? He repeats it
in verse 14-16 “for sin shall not have dominion over you; for you are not under
the law, but under grace. What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under
the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know you not, that to whom you yield
yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are to whom you obey, whether of
sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness”?
We are told to “be you holy, for I am holy”, and warned that without holiness we
will not see God (Hebrews 12:14-15) says “follow peace with all men, and
holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. Looking diligently less any
man fail of the grace of God; less any root of bitterness springing up trouble you,
and thereby many be defiled”. Verses 25-29 continues to say “see that you
refuse not Him that speaks, for if they escaped not who refused Him that spoke
on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from Him that speaks
from heaven. whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised,
saying, yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. And this
word, yet once more, signifies the removing of those things that are shaken, as
of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace,
whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our
God is a consuming fire”.
Titus 2:11-14 says “for the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to
all men. Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live
soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world. Looking for that blessed
hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ.
Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify to
Himself, a peculiar people, zealous of good works”.
Notice that the apostle Paul would pray for those who were coming to Christ, that
their eyes would be open to know God (Ephesians 1:14-19, Colossians 1:9-14).
He knew that once they were enlightened to see the goodness of God, that they
would want to change their ways. We change our ways by asking God to take
away that temptation and help us to overcome it.
The apostle Paul warns of the danger of not changing their ways, speaking to
believers in (I Corinthians 5:1-2, 9,11) Paul says “it is reported commonly that
there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named
among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife. And you are puffed
up, and have not rather mourned, that he that has done this deed might be
taken away from among you. I wrote to you in an epistle not to associate with
fornicators. But now I have written to you not to keep company, if any man that
is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater; or a railer, or a
drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat”.
The apostle Peter writes in I Peter 2:9, 11-16 “but you are a chosen generation,
a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people, that you should show forth
the praise of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvellous light.
Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly
lusts, which war against the soul. 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. Submit
yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake; whether it be to the
king as supreme. Or to governors, as to them that are sent by him for the
punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them tat do well. For so is the will
of God, that with well doing you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.
As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the
servants of God”.
Study by: Harriet Bond
Date: September 6, 2011
