God is Good

By Pastor Miles
September 18, 2011

1. No one is good in the way God is good.

All have turned away,
they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
not even one." (Romans 3:12 NIV)

For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. (Romans 7:18, 19 NIV)

"Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! (Matthew 7:9-11 NIV)

"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good—except God alone. (Mark 10:18 NIV)

2. "God is good" does not mean that God does what you think is good.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,"
declares the Lord. (Isaiah 55:8 NIV)

What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? (Matthew 16:26 NIV)

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33 NIV)

3. "God is good" means God is for you.

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31 NIV)

They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:10, 11 NIV)

I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living. (Psalm 27:13 NIV)

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, whot have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. (Romans 8:28, 29 NIV)