"THE FLESH AND THE SPIRIT"  
  
                   The Fruit Of The Spirit - Goodness  
  
INTRODUCTION  
  
1. At this point in our study on "the fruit of the Spirit", we are   
   examining those graces which relate especially to our dealings with  
   our fellowman...  
   a. Longsuffering, defined as "that quality of self-restraint in the  
      face of provocation which does not hastily retaliate or promptly  
      punish." (VINE)  
   b. Kindness, defined as "the sympathetic kindliness or sweetness of  
      temper which puts others at their ease, and shrinks from giving  
      pain" (PLUMMER)  
   c. And now we come to goodness...  
  
2. The Greek word is agathosune {ag-ath-o-soo'-nay}...  
   a. This word is perhaps the most difficult to define, for it is so  
      general in nature  
   b. The difficulty is seen in that the word "goodness" takes it   
      meaning from its context  
      1) E.g., we might say "that is a good animal", or "he is a good  
         man"  
      2) But good in what way?  The context defines the sense...  
   c. The problem with its use in Ga 5:22  is that there is little in  
      the context to guide us  
  
3. But there may be at least two ways we might be able to come to a  
   proper understanding of this word...  
   a. Comparing it to the words "just" and "evil"  
   b. Considering two examples in the New Testament of "good" people  
  
[Let's begin by...]  
  
I. COMPARING "GOODNESS" TO THE WORDS "JUST" AND "EVIL"  
  
   A. THE GREEKS OFTEN COMPARED "GOODNESS" WITH "JUSTICE"...  
      1. BARCLAY writes of how the Greeks compared these words:  
         a. "Justice, they say, is the quality which gives a man what  
            is due him;"  
         b. "...goodness is the quality which is out to do far more   
            than that, and which desires to give a man all that is to  
            his benefit and help."  
      2. Again, BARCLAY writes:  "The man who is just sticks to the  
         letter of his bond; the man who is good goes far beyond it."  
      -- This suggests that the primary idea of goodness is  
         "generosity"  
  
   B. IN THE NT, THE WORD FROM WHICH "GOODNESS" COMES IS OFTEN  
      CONTRASTED WITH "EVIL"...  
      1. In a few places, the words "evil" and "good" have particular  
         meanings  
      2. In the parable of The Laborers (Mt 20:15 ), "evil" means   
         "envious", while "good" is used for "generous"  
      3. In Mt 6:19-23 ...  
         a. The context speaks of an "evil" (or "bad") eye which is   
            begrudging and ungenerous - cf. Pr 28:22   
         b. In contrast to the eye that is "good" which lays up   
            treasure in heaven (by being generous to others, cf. 1 Ti 6:17-19   
            )  
  
   C. NOW WE CAN BEGIN TO DEFINE "GOODNESS"...  
      1. The person who displays goodness is not like the person who is  
         simply just...  
         a. The person who is simply just gives only to another what he  
            has earned  
         b. Whereas the person who is good is generous to give what was  
            not deserved  
      2. The person who displays goodness is not like the person who is  
         evil...  
         a. The person who is evil begrudges everything he has to give  
         b. The person who is good is open-hearted and open-handed,   
            i.e., generous  
  
[It has been said that goodness "is easier to recognize than to   
define".  With that in mind, consider...]  
  
II. TWO EXAMPLES OF "GOOD" PEOPLE  
  
   A. BARNABAS WAS A "GOOD" MAN - Ac 11:24   
      1. He was generous with his possessions  
         a. Cf. Ac 4:32-37   
         b. This is consistent with our definition above, that one who  
            is good is generous to give to others what is not deserved  
      2. He was happy to see the progress of others; i.e., he was not  
         envious  
         a. Cf. Ac 11:23   
         b. Again this is consistent with our definition; he was not  
            begrudging another's success  
      3. Barnabas was an encourager of others  
         a. Cf. Ac 11:23   
         b. He was liberal with his good words, which is how he got his  
            name - cf. Ac 4:36   
  
   B. DORCAS WAS A "GOOD" WOMAN - Ac 9:36   
      1. She was "full of good works and charitable deeds"  
      2. Even in her death, her goodness was being felt  
         a. Cf. Ac 9:39 , where the widows were showing tunics and   
            garments she had made  
         b. I doubt they were praising her ability to sew, but rather  
            her charity in making such clothes for others (such as the  
            widows)  
  
CONCLUSION  
  
1. All those who are truly led by the Spirit of God will produce the  
   quality of "goodness" - cf. Ep 5:8-9   
  
2. That is, doing kind things beyond what is expected or required  
   a. Such was the case of Barnabas and Dorcas  
   b. Paul was confident such was true of the brethren in Rome - Ro 15:14   
        
   -- Would he have written the same of us?  
  
3. That we should be "full of goodness" is only natural...  
   a. For God who is our Father demonstrated His own "goodness"  
   b. This He did by giving His Son to a sinful world undeserving of   
      such grace - Ti 3:3-7   
     
Have you submitted to His saving mercy, that "washing of regeneration and  
renewing of the Holy Spirit"? - cf. Jn 3:5 ; Mk 16:16 ; Ac 2:38   
  
If not, then why not do so today, and then heed Paul's call to   
"goodness"...  
  
   "This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm  
   constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful  
   to maintain good works.  These things are good and profitable to  
   men." (Ti 3:8 )