God's Goodness
God's Goodness
Romans 11:22 speaks of both the goodness and the severity of God. While in bygone years our ancestors reputedly heard many sermons about the severity of God, "hellfire and brimstone" preaching, perhaps we hear more today about God's goodness.
We are informed in Isaiah 59:2 that each person's sins separate him from God. Romans 2:4 says that God's goodness leads men to repentance. These two passages illustrate the necessity of knowing how God is good so we can meditate upon His goodness and be willing to repent.
God's goodness is shown in the salvation He offers. I have often heard people say that so-and-so was given something which he or she did not deserve. Well, nobody deserves salvation from hell because each of us has been guilty of transgressing God's laws and deserves to be punished (Romans 6:16,21,23). God's goodness, His love, is shown "in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for the ungodly" (Romans 5:6). Repentant sinners can confess faith in Christ and be saved through putting Him on in baptism (Romans 10:9-10; 6:1-6). Thus is His salvation accepted.
God's goodness is shown in His longsuffering with men. 2 Peter 3:9 says, "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise [that Jesus will return a second time - MH], as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." Also notice verse 15: "and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation..." So, we see that our loving Father is patient with us, giving us time to determine to serve Him rather than Satan. Although He can justly condemn us to hell for our sinfulness, He has chosen to offer us forgiveness for all our past lawlessness and to give us another opportunity to mend our ways.
God is indeed good...to me....and to you.
by Michael Hurst