What Does it Mean That God is Good?

What Does it Mean that God is Good? Questions, Motivation
good news of jesus

Often in our time, it is said that if God is good, then there would no evil in the world. However, there is evil in the world so how can people believe in a good God? What do Christians believe on this topic and what does it mean that God is good? This is a heavy topic and one I come across often in misunderstanding the positions Christian’s take. Saying that in the Bible God is good and humans are bad can be confusing because God created humans. I have written this for a very basic understanding of the Christian position on this.

If I can help further, please do not hesitate to reach out, I’m available often and can be found online at SteepleLess Church. Cuurio also has many questions that may help further as well. Feel free to reach out at anytime at johnjr@steeplelesschurch.com. There also is a sermon that relates to this topic, if you are interested in watching it please click here.

5 Common Questions about Being Good

1. What is Goodness?

When we speak about goodness in humans what we mean is moral goodness. Moral goodness is a scale between what is right and wrong. All humans have a sense of right and wrong and while they may differ, 99% of people agree that morality is something that humans have and should follow. The Bible declares that God is righteous, holy, and perfectly morally good. In fact, the Bible declares that God’s nature is the standard for morality. Therefore, God cannot do evil because He can only do what is within His nature.

So, Christians believe that following God and trying to follow His will is the only way that we can truly be good. The world, without God, supposes that moral goodness was a product of natural evolution. This means that ultimately morality is unnecessary for humans because if God isn’t real then one day everyone and everything will be gone. No one can tell you that you are morally good or evil because in reality, it is just a byproduct of human survival. Since humans do not have to be bound by morality because it is ultimately just to help humans survive, it can be easily dismissed.

2. Did God Create Evil?

The Bible says that God created time, space, and matter. However, the Bible also says that He has given both angels and humans free will. Because of this allowance to commit morally good or evil acts, God is not responsible for the free will of humans. I have an in-depth discussion of free will on questions 5 & 6 in this paper. God created beings who were capable of doing good and evil because, without free will, life would be absurd.  God created everything but everything He created was good. When humans rebelled against Him, humanity and the earth were plunged into a “fallen state”. This means that creation is good but without God evil can happen. Therefore, Satan, his fallen angels, humans, and possibly other heavenly beings created by Him can create evil because they act against His will.

3. Who is God Good to?

The Bible says that God made everything, and creation was very good. When He created Adam and Eve, He formed them with His hands. He gives all humans extreme value, even going as far as dying to show us how much He loves us. He is good to everyone, but He made us with free will. With free will, we can choose to receive the blessings that He gives us or not. The Bible says that once a person becomes a Christian that everything that they experience will be used for good. So, while God is good to everyone by allowing them to experience the fullness of life, the person must also choose whether they want to follow God’s will or do what they want to do in life instead. You can choose anytime to come to God if you repent of your sins and put your faith in Him.

4. What did Jesus Mean When He said that no one is Good but God?

Often this verse is used by non-Christians to claim that Jesus is not God. However, the Bible is extremely clear that He is, so why would Jesus say this? Jesus said this to point out to the man that while he followed the commandments he did not do so out of faith. Jesus was showing the man that he was not good enough to go to heaven because he followed the commandments. The man forgot that the greatest commandment was to love the Lord your God. The man did these things because he thought it would make him good and when Jesus made it clear that no one was good but God the man left sad because he knew he didn’t truly follow Him and didn’t want to because he would have to give up everything to follow God.

5. How Can I be Good?

You can be good by following the source of goodness, God. To follow Him you must give up your own will for His will. This means that you must believe in God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, repent of your sins, and accept His salvation by putting your faith in Him. There is a prayer below that when prayed with belief and faith will save you from sin. If you are a Christian the best way to follow Him is by following what He says to do. The first thing to do after salvation is baptism.

Baptism, nor any other work, can save you. Only putting your faith in Jesus as your Lord and savior can save you. Baptism is an action that shows others that you are a Christian. After baptism the Christian can best do the will of God by loving Him and loving others as yourself. To best love Him and others praying, reading the Bible, and spending time with other Christians should be the first things you do. In doing these things you will grow in faith and understanding of God.

Here at SteepleLess Church, we love to help people better understand God. I am the associate pastor and can be contacted at any time. I would love to help you better understand the Bible, pray for you, or just be a friend in times of need. Please reach out at any time at johnjr@steeplelesschurch.com. God bless.

We invite you to watch the “Great News” video on this page and find out more about God’s love for you and how you can receive forgiveness and eternal life – today!

good news of jesus

The Prayer of Salvation

Jesus, I don't know You, and I don't know what Your plan is for me. But thank you for coming to die in my place. I'm sorry for anything I've ever done wrong in my life. I don't understand how You could ever forgive me, but if You really would, I would like to accept your free gift of grace and complete forgiveness. Please come into my life and take control, and help me trust You. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

I Prayed the Prayer

If you prayed this prayer, please click below and let us know. We'd love to give you some "next steps" in your new life with God.
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