Today’s Scripture ReadingToday’s Scripture Reading

Ephesians 5:8-10Ephesians 5:8-10

Real Christians Are Real Christians Are GOODGOOD

Ephesians 5:8-10Ephesians 5:8-10

Name That Good Person:Name That Good Person:

•There seems to be a bit of confusion There seems to be a bit of confusion in the world as to what real in the world as to what real “goodness” is all about. Can you name “goodness” is all about. Can you name these “good” people?these “good” people?

““I've known (him) a long time. I can tell I've known (him) a long time. I can tell you…he is a good man, he is not a racist. I you…he is a good man, he is not a racist. I mean, it sounds pitiful to have to say mean, it sounds pitiful to have to say something like that, but he's a good man.” something like that, but he's a good man.” (Quote from Mike Barnicle)(Quote from Mike Barnicle)

And who is this good man?And who is this good man?

And How About This Good Person?And How About This Good Person?

“(He is) a good young man trying to do what's best for Cuba. We should extend

him a hand.“ Harry S. Truman

And who was the “good young man”? You guessed it!

So where do we find true So where do we find true goodness?goodness?

There is, of course, only one place to find out about real goodness. That is the Bible.

From the Bible we can answer the question: “How good do I need to be?”

Our goodness reflects the SOURCE of all goodness. Let’s examine together the expectations of goodness and see that real Christians truly are GOOD!

God’s Goodness as a Model:God’s Goodness as a Model:

We can’t look to ourselves to see what is We can’t look to ourselves to see what is good…good…

As it is written: As it is written:    "There is no one righteous, not even    "There is no one righteous, not even

one; one;   there is no one who understands,   there is no one who understands,

      no one who seeks God.       no one who seeks God.  All have turned away,  All have turned away,

      they have together become       they have together become worthless; worthless;

   there is no one who does good,    there is no one who does good,       not even one."      not even one."

Romans 3:10-12Romans 3:10-12

Are We Hampered By The Devil Are We Hampered By The Devil Inside?Inside?

To Find True Goodness We Must To Find True Goodness We Must Look To God:Look To God:

““Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that salvation, now that you have tasted that

the Lord is good.”the Lord is good.”1 Peter 2:2-31 Peter 2:2-3

•We can “taste” that God is good.We can “taste” that God is good.

Moses Got To See All Of God’s Moses Got To See All Of God’s Goodness…Goodness…

““And the LORD said, "I will cause all my And the LORD said, "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will goodness to pass in front of you, and I will

proclaim my name, the LORD, in your proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. But," he said, whom I will have compassion. But," he said,

"you cannot see my face, for no one may "you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.”see me and live.”

Exodus 33:19-20Exodus 33:19-20

……but not with unshielded eyes!but not with unshielded eyes!

How Great IS God’s Goodness?

““How great is your How great is your goodness, goodness,        which you        which you have stored up for have stored up for those who fear those who fear you, you,        which you        which you bestow in the sight bestow in the sight of men of men        on those who        on those who take refuge in take refuge in you.”you.”

Psalm 31:19Psalm 31:19

God’s Goodness Is Manifested InCountless Ways!

• In blessings

• In compassion

• In comfort and strength

• In forgiveness

• In mercy

• In grace

Good Christians?Or Christians Who are Good?

• Good Tree/Bad Tree Narratives

Just Because You Are a TreeDoesn’t Mean You’re Good!

Matthew 3:8, 10:

“Produce fruit in keeping with repentance…. The ax is already at

the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will

be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

John prepared his disciples for genuine John prepared his disciples for genuine goodness.goodness.

You Will Know Them By Their Fruit!

•Matthew 7:17-19 – “Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

Good Fruit Proceeds From Good Hearts

• Matthew 12:33-35"Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a

tree is recognized by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say

anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man

brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out

of the evil stored up in him.

Our Goodness Is Evident From Our Actions

• Titus 1:15-16

To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not

believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are

corrupted. They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him.

They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.

The Path To Genuine Goodness

We must overcome EVIL with GOOD

• Ephesians 5:8-10

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.

Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and

truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.

Romans 12:21

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

• We must plan to not be influenced by evil.

• We must plan to defeat evil with good.

• We must refuse to sink to the level of Satan and must rise to the level of our Lord!

Watch Your Companionships

1 Corinthians 15:33

Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character."

Accept God’s Assignment

Ephesians 2:10

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good

works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Remember Godly Sacrifice

Hebrews 13:16

And do not forget to do good and to And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices share with others, for with such sacrifices

God is pleased.God is pleased.

Remember Your Example Before Others

1 Peter 2:12

Live such good lives among the pagans Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds wrong, they may see your good deeds

and glorify God on the day he visits us. and glorify God on the day he visits us.

Don’t Grow Weary

Galatians 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, Let us not become weary in doing good,

for at the proper time we will reap a for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.harvest if we do not give up.

Look Forward To Your Reward

John 5:28-29

Do not be amazed at this, for a time is Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those will hear his voice and come out—those who have done good will rise to live, and who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be those who have done evil will rise to be

condemned.condemned.