Message Notes

INTRODUCTION

1. Goodness is another wonderful virtue

2. Nuances of the word “goodness”

a) Moral uprightness

b) Good wholesomeness

A QUICK REVIEW OF THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

Galatians 5:22

1. Love

2. Joy

3. Peace

4. Longsuffering

5. Kindness

THREE WORDS TRANSLATED AS “GOOD”

1. Good (αγαθος)

a) An adjective

b) Substantive

c) Numerous usage

2. Καλος

a) A close synonym

b) Good and beautiful

c) Also numerous usage

3. Goodness (αγατηοσυνη- agathosune)

a) A little rarer

b) Where the idea of goodness is highlighted

A DESCRIPTION OF THE ROMAN CHRISTIANS

“Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.”   Romans 15:14

1. Confidence of the Apostle Paul expressed

2. Qualities highlighted:

a) Full of goodness

b) (Having been) filled with all knowledge

c) Able also to admonish one another

A CHALLENGE TO THE EPHESIAN CHRISTIANS

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),”   Ephesians 5:8-9

1. The Past

a) It was a sinful past

b) A past marked by darkness

2. The Present

a) Light in the Lord

b) Walk as children of light

3. Bearing fruit of the Spirit

a) In all goodness

b) Righteousness

c) Truth

A PRAYER FOR THE THESSALONIAN CHRISTIANS

“Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”   2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

1. Praying always

a) To be counted worthy of God’s calling

b) To fulfil God’s pleasure of His goodness

c) Work of faith with power

2. Goal and Result

a) The name of the Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified

i) In the Thessalonians

ii) In the Lord

b) According to the grace of

i) God the Father

ii) The Lord Jesus Christ

CONCLUSION

1. Goodness is a fruit to be cultivated

2. It will reflect the Pure Goodness of God

3. It will take the Spirit of God to produce this fruit

4. We need to seek to be filled with the goodness of God