“GOODNESS” (GAL. 5:22)

INTRODUCTION:

1. Most of us have seen the new quarters that are being circulated.

2. The next time you receive one of these quarters, you may want to take a look at how it has been minted.

3. At least a few of these quarters were improperly minted.

4. It is believed the coins with the errors on them will be very, very valuable.

I. IF YOU WANT TO TELL IF A NEW QUARTER WAS IMPROPERLY MINTED, HOLD IT OUT IN FRONT OF YOU SO THE HUMAN HEAD IS POINTED UP. THEN FLIP THE QUARTER OVER BY TURNING THE HEAD AWAY FROM YOU. IF THE BACK SIDE OF THE QUARTER IS ALSO UPRIGHT, SPEND IT. IF THE BACK SIDE IS UPSIDE DOWN, COIN COLLECTORS SUGGEST YOU KEEP IT.

A. The quarters with and without the minting error are similar but not identical.

B. In Gal. 5 there are two words that are “similar” but not identical.

C. When Gal. 5 was read, we heard the word “kindness”.

D. We also heard the word “goodness”.

E. On a day-to-day basis, we may use these two words as synonyms.

F. We may not see much difference between “kind” and “good”.

G. God used both words in a list so He must see a distinction.

H. Tonight we will explore and learn what that distinction is.

I. The first thing to consider is our definition of “good/goodness”.

J. To us the word “good” means many things.

(1) We might say, “This is a good animal.”

(2) This might be said to show that the food from the animal is good to eat.

(3) In another conversation, “a good animal” might mean it is good for breeding.

(4) “This is a good animal” might mean the creature is good for racing or farming.

K. We use the word “good” to describe actions and conditions.

(1) A student is “good” in math;

(2) Athletes are “good” in sports;

(3) Some have “good health”.

L. The words “good” and “goodness” mean many things in our language.

M. What does the Bible mean when it uses the word “goodness”?

(1) Let’s start with the word before “goodness” which is “kindness”.

(2) Earlier we found that “kindness” is also used in Matt. 11:30.

(3) Jesus said His yoke is “kind” (gentle).

(4) The Lord’s yoke is not like a rough yoke that has not been sanded.

(5) It is easy; pleasant; gentle; smooth and benevolent.

(6) “Kindness” denotes behavior that is sweet and loving.

(7) Mellowness, mildness and leniency are described by “kindness”.

N. The world understands kindness and it expects Christians to be kind.

(1) When the people of the world look at Christians, they want to see people who are easy going and pleasant.

(2) The world expects mellowness and mildness.

(3) The world says to Christians, “Be lenient. Be soft and easy on people. This is what the book you live by says to do.”

O. As Christians, we certainly have these obligations.

P. Kindness means everything I have just described.

Q. The Bible does not stop with “kindness”.

R. Inspiration added another “fruit” to the Christian’s basket.

S. God’s people are also to be persons who possess “goodness”.

T. “Goodness” is like some of the new quarters.

U. It is similar to kindness but it is not the same.

V. While “kindness” means that we are easy, pleasant or gentle; “goodness” does not necessarily include these things.

(1) Both of these words require acts that are good.

(2) Both of them mean we want the best for people.

(3) Both of these words indicate that we help people.

(4) These are the similarities.

W. The difference is:

(1) “Goodness” can be somber.

(2) Our “goodness” can be depressing; sad; gloomy or painful.

(3) “Goodness” means that although we do good to people our goodness may have a sternness to it.

(4) Our “goodness” may include correction and punishment.

II. AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF THIS COMES FROM MATTHEW 21.

A. Jesus was entering into the city of Jerusalem.

B. People were in front of Him and behind Him. (v. 9)

C. Many said the prophet Jesus had come. (v. 11)

D. What did the prophet from Galilee do? (v. 12-13) READ.

E. Did Jesus do a “good” thing? Can this action be labeled as “goodness”? Yes.

F. The clearing out of the temple cannot be called “kindness”.

(1) This was not gentle and it certainly was not easy.

(2) Matthew says Jesus “cast” people out of the temple.

(3) These people were not asked to leave; they were removed.

(4) Jesus overturned the tables that were being used. He turned over the chairs.

(5) Nothing about this event was passive or calm.

(6) We cannot look at this event and say it was “kind”.

(7) The Lord was anything but lenient.

(8) While we cannot properly use the word “kind” to describe His actions, we can say this event was a time when “goodness” was shown.

(9) Earlier the statement was made that “goodness” can have some sternness to it.

(10) Goodness may include punishment and correction.

G. If this is hard to grasp, let’s look at the secular world.

(1) A mother hears her baby crying.

(2) She attends to her child’s needs.

(3) We refer to the mother’s care as “kindness”.

(4) Years later the same child misbehaves.

(5) The mother says, “I must punish you.”

(6) She adds, “This if for your own good.”

(7) Is the mother doing “good” to the child? Yes.

(8) The “good” is probably not “kind” because punishment is being given.

(9) It is improper to say, “I am going to be kind and punish you.”

(10) Mothers do say about punishment, “This is for your own good.”

III. THIS IS THE KEY DISTINCTION BETWEEN GOODNESS AND KINDNESS. UNFORTUNATELY THIS DISTINCTION IS ONE THAT SOME DO NOT WANT TO RECOGNIZE.

A. When the world looks at the church, the view seems to be that Christians are only to be kind;

(1) Christians must always be easy and lenient;

(2) Christians are not to oppose anyone or anything – they must always be “Mr. Nice Guy”.

(3) When the people of the world hear of Christians reproving and rebuking, they say, “You people are supposed to be loving and caring. Let him without sin cast the first stone.”

(4) The world says:

(a) “You live by a book that says, “Judge not lest ye be judged.”

(b) “You are to be tolerant and forbearing; you should never object to anything.”

(5) We all know and believe the verses cited by the world.

B. Balanced with these references is the word “goodness”.

C. This fruit of the Spirit includes reproof and correction.

(1) This is why Jesus was able to run people out of the temple.

(2) His actions were not kind but they were good.

D. When the world objects to our correcting sin and error;

E. When they tell us that doing these things is wrong;

F. They say that Christians should set aside a Bible responsibility.

G. Though the world claims it understands Christianity, their objection to our correction of error and wrong shows that they do not fully understand the Bible.

H. The world has failed to grasp the fact that goodness is in the Bible.

I. Furthermore, many in the world seem to be clueless that goodness has a place in the home.

(1) Most of us have heard some modern day psychology experts discuss reproving, correcting,

and punishing children.

(2) A fairly common view is that punishment is wrong and should be avoided;

(3) Children should be showered with love and praise;

(4) Discipline is bad; reproof is wrong; spanking is out of the question.

(5) Some modern day parenting experts have taken kindness and stressed it to the exclusion of everything else.

(6) Christians and good-hearted parents have bought into this lie.

(7) Kindness is a must but kindness is not all there is to the program.

(8) The Bible, side by side with kindness, adds goodness.

(9) Goodness includes reproof, correction and punishment.

J. SMU stands for Southern Methodist University.

(1) Last month this university made an announcement: This school has a 1.5 million dollar endowment.

(2) Just under 2 million dollars is going to be used to establish a faculty chair in Jewish studies.

(3) SMU is a religious school.

(4) As a “Christian” school, there should be some beliefs about Jesus Christ.

(a) They should believe that Jesus is the Son of God.

(b) Christ is the only way to heaven. Jno. 14:6

(5) Judaism rejects Jesus as the Son of God.

(6) According to Judaism, Jesus is not the Messiah.

(7) Though Judaism rejects the Son of God, SMU has said, “We will establish a chair in Jewish studies. We will spend 1.5 million dollars for this program. We want you to be with us.”

(8) Why would a religious school welcome a religion that opposes Jesus Christ?

(9) The chaplain at SMU gave this answer. “The church (Methodist) doesn’t seek to be the arbiter in different forms of truth.”

K. This man is kind.

(1) He speaks of “different forms of truth”.

(2) This idea is never found in the Bible.

(3) In scripture, truth is spoken of objectively.

(4) Truth is spoken of as a body of doctrine.

(5) Rom. 6:17 is one example of this. QUOTE.

(6) SMU exemplifies kindness.

(7) They are peaceable and friendly, gracious and broadminded.

(8) These people are welcoming the Jewish faith with open arms.

(9) If goodness were being practiced, this would not be done.

CONCLUSION:

1. We will not go to heaven if we lack kindness. We must have this trait.

2. However, some think kindness is all they need.

3. If people are kind, truth does not matter. This is the view that some have.

4. God says truth sets us free. Jno. 8:32

5. Our kindness must be mixed with truth.

6. Another key ingredient is goodness.

A. Sometimes the truth requires us to correct someone.

B. Sometimes bad behavior limits our ability to be kind.

C. Goodness is the word that authorizes us to correct people.

D. If officials at SMU understood and applied goodness, they would have spent their money on

something else. They would have opposed a religion that opposes Jesus.

7. What I wish for us to take home tonight is this point:

A. Christians are not to be people who always give in or cave in and never stop being Mr. Nice Guy.

B. There are times when goodness means that we must clean out the temple; there are times when

we need to register our opposition.

C. James said to pray for wisdom. We need to do that.

D. Wisdom will help us know when to be kind and when to be good.

E. Some never reprove (kindness); others never stop reproving (goodness).

F. Christians can use these two words nearly every day.

H. For those who are not Christians, we want to be both kind and good to you.

(1) We want to be kind in the sense that we are gentle and easy. We want to be thoughtful

towards you.

(2) We also desire to show goodness.

(3) A time of judgment is coming and you must be warned.

(4) We want to warn you and tell you in all seriousness that if you do not become a Christian, you will be lost.