Here is something worthy of meditation:
But when the goodness of God and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us--not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. He poured out this Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that having been justified by His grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life (Titus 3:4-7).
I recently heard someone say, "Mercy is us not getting what we deserve." I don't know where that line originated, but I found it intriguing. Paul states pretty much the same thing here. We were saved, not by our works of righteousness, but "according to His mercy." In spite of all of our sin, God still had compassion on us.
This is all an act of God's grace. Every blessing that accompanies new life is ours in Christ Jesus. He has bound us to himself in love, and he will not let us go. In Christ, the goodness of God is manifest. His love has been demonstrated. Now, it must be embraced.
He has made us, who believe, new creations. We are justified before God. We are washed of our sin by the Holy Spirit. We are heirs with hope of eternal life. Grace has been shown to us in abundance, and that is something to think about.
Showing posts with label God's Goodness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label God's Goodness. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
God is Good
"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever" (Ps. 136:1, ESV).
Here the psalmist reminds us that the Lord is worthy of continual praise. Gratitude should be the heart response of every believer. We should have a song of thanksgiving always issuing from our hearts, because the Lord is good and his steadfast love endures forever.
What does it mean to say that God is good? The concept of God's goodness can be fleshed out as we draw on what he has revealed of himself through the Scriptures. We know that God cannot tempted with evil, he cannot lie, and he cannot break his word. We know that by his very nature he defines righteousness; God can only do what is right. God is perfect in all way imaginable. He is holy and merciful, just and kind, all-powerful and gentle. God's goodness is captured in his willingness to rescue his people. He longs for their good and his glory.
Closely related to his goodness, actually inseparable from, is God's steadfast love. His love is loyal and true. It is unshakable. The love that God has revealed by sending Christ into the world to die for sinners, is non-retractable. God cannot revoke it, not because he is compelled by some outward force, but because he cannot violate who he is. God is love, and he demonstrates his love toward us through Christ's atoning death. As Paul reminds us nothing can remove his love from us (see Rom 8:31-39).
In light of these truths it is fitting that we thank the Lord. He is worthy of all praise, honor, and glory. His goodness is unquestionable, as is his love. His love endures forever, and upon this rock we must build our trust. His loving goodness are our refuge in the storm, and our joy in the day of blessing. So, "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever."
Here the psalmist reminds us that the Lord is worthy of continual praise. Gratitude should be the heart response of every believer. We should have a song of thanksgiving always issuing from our hearts, because the Lord is good and his steadfast love endures forever.
What does it mean to say that God is good? The concept of God's goodness can be fleshed out as we draw on what he has revealed of himself through the Scriptures. We know that God cannot tempted with evil, he cannot lie, and he cannot break his word. We know that by his very nature he defines righteousness; God can only do what is right. God is perfect in all way imaginable. He is holy and merciful, just and kind, all-powerful and gentle. God's goodness is captured in his willingness to rescue his people. He longs for their good and his glory.
Closely related to his goodness, actually inseparable from, is God's steadfast love. His love is loyal and true. It is unshakable. The love that God has revealed by sending Christ into the world to die for sinners, is non-retractable. God cannot revoke it, not because he is compelled by some outward force, but because he cannot violate who he is. God is love, and he demonstrates his love toward us through Christ's atoning death. As Paul reminds us nothing can remove his love from us (see Rom 8:31-39).
In light of these truths it is fitting that we thank the Lord. He is worthy of all praise, honor, and glory. His goodness is unquestionable, as is his love. His love endures forever, and upon this rock we must build our trust. His loving goodness are our refuge in the storm, and our joy in the day of blessing. So, "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever."
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