The Fruit of the Holy Spirit – What is Goodness?
Goodness is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23. It refers to moral excellence, virtue, and genuine inner righteousness that comes from the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
Definition of Goodness
The Greek word translated as “goodness” in Galatians 5:22 is agathosune. It means uprightness of heart and life. Vines Expository Dictionary defines goodness as “uprightness of heart and life.” It is goodness motivated by God’s divine love.
Goodness is the quality of being morally good or virtuous. It is associated with kindness, generosity, and mercy. A good person is full of compassion and lives a life of moral excellence. The goodness that comes from the Holy Spirit is not motivated by what people think but what God commands. It stems from a transformed heart that seeks to please and obey God.
Characteristics of Goodness
Some key characteristics of biblical goodness include:
1. Integrity – A good person is the same on the inside and outside. There is no pretense or hypocrisy. What you see is what you get (Psalm 15:2).
2. Generosity – Goodness expresses itself in generosity and kindness. A good person is willing to give and share with others (Psalm 112:5, Acts 9:36).
3. Righteous living – Goodness leads to righteous and moral living. A good person seeks to live according to God’s commands and standards (Ephesians 5:8-10).
4. Sincerity – A good person is authentic and pure in their motives. They are not pretentious but sincere in all their dealings (1 Corinthians 5:8).
5. Justice – Goodness seeks to promote justice, equality and fairness. It cares for the rights of others (Micah 6:8).
6. Mercy – Goodness is full of mercy and compassion. It is kind and forgiving rather than harsh and judgmental (Luke 6:35-36).
7. Self-control – A good person exercises restraint and self-control. They are not controlled by sinful desires and passions (2 Peter 1:5-6).
8. Wisdom – Biblical goodness involves applying godly wisdom in everyday life. A good person seeks to live wisely and make wise choices that honor God (James 3:17).
In summary, the goodness that comes from the Holy Spirit enables a person to live a life characterized by integrity, generosity, righteousness, sincerity, justice, mercy, self-control and wisdom. It conforms the person’s character and conduct to the image of Christ.
Bible Verses about Goodness
Here are some Bible verses about goodness:
– “For the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true.” (Ephesians 5:9)
– “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8)
– “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.” (Luke 6:35)
– “Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor.” (Proverbs 21:21)
– “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” (James 3:17)
– “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.” (Matthew 12:35)
– “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21)
– “And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” (Hebrews 13:16)
– “Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work…” (Titus 3:1)
– “So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith.” (Galatians 6:10)
These verses instruct us to pursue goodness, live righteously, show generosity and compassion, overcome evil with good, and use every opportunity to do good works and bear good fruit. They show that goodness comes from a transformed heart.
How to Develop Goodness
The goodness that comes from the Holy Spirit is not something we can develop in our own strength. It is produced in us supernaturally as we yield to God. However, there are some practical ways we can cooperate with the Holy Spirit’s work to cultivate goodness in our lives:
1. Study God’s Word: By studying the Bible, we discover God’s standards for goodness and righteousness. We learn how God wants us to live (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
2. Pray for it: We should ask God to fill our hearts with His goodness and align our desires to His will. Pray for strength to live rightly (James 1:5).
3. Crucify the flesh: We have to crucify our sinful nature and resist temptation through the Spirit. This allows room for goodness to grow (Galatians 5:16-17, 24-25).
4. Renew your mind: We are transformed as we meditate on God’s truth and allow it to shape our thoughts and attitudes (Romans 12:2).
5. Obey God: A lifestyle of walking in obedience to God’s Word nurtures goodness (James 1:22-25).
6. Follow Christ’s example: As we emulate Christ’s life and character, we will manifest the same goodness He demonstrated (1 John 2:6).
7. Do good works: As we have opportunity, practicing good works toward others reinforces goodness in our lives (Galatians 6:9-10).
8. Give thanks: Maintaining an attitude of gratitude to God reminds us that all good things come from Him (James 1:17).
9. Fellowship with other believers: Spending time with other Christians encourages and inspires goodness through their example (Hebrews 10:24-25).
10. Receive correction: Being open to rebuke and correction helps purge the bad fruit and makes room for the good (Proverbs 15:31-33).
As we yield to the Holy Spirit and cooperate with His transforming work, the fruit of goodness will increasingly grow in our lives. It is a lifelong process that requires commitment and perseverance.
Manifestations of Goodness
The goodness produced by the Holy Spirit manifests itself in various virtues and Christlike qualities:
Love – Biblical goodness is motivated by sincere, unselfish love for God and others (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).
Kindness – Expressing patience, compassion and tenderness to others (Colossians 3:12).
Faithfulness – Being reliable, trustworthy and consistent in every area of life (Proverbs 20:6).
Gentleness – Handling ourselves and others with care and sensitivity (Philippians 4:5).
Joy – Having inner gladness and delight that is not dependant on circumstances (Romans 14:17).
Peace – Being inwardly secure and tranquil, exuding calmness (Isaiah 26:3).
Patience – Persevering through difficult times without complaining or losing hope (Romans 5:3-4).
Self-control – Demonstrating restraint over one’s impulses, emotions and desires (Proverbs 25:28).
Humility – Having an accurate view of oneself before God and men (Philippians 2:3-4).
Compassion – Showing empathy, care and practical concern for the needy (Colossians 3:12).
Integrity – Adhering to moral principles consistently in public and private (Psalm 25:21).
Excellence – Using one’s gifts and abilities well to glorify God (Colossians 3:23-24).
As we walk in step with the Spirit, He produces these virtuous qualities in our lives. They mark the presence of goodness and shape how we relate to God and our fellow man. Our lives become useful vessels that bring honor to the Lord.
Hindrances to Growing in Goodness
While God’s desire is for us to exhibit the fruit of goodness, there are certain attitudes or mindsets that can hinder us from maturing in moral excellence and virtue:
1. Pride – When we become arrogant and self-righteous, we no longer see our need for God’s goodness (James 4:6-7).
2. Complacency – Getting spiritually comfortable and content can make us apathetic about pursuing goodness (Revelation 3:14-18).
3. Unforgiveness – Refusing to forgive others infects our hearts with bitterness and blocks God’s goodness (Matthew 6:14-15).
4. Deception – When we deceive ourselves that some sin is not serious, we open the door to more sin and corruption (Hebrews 3:13).
5. Unresolved bitterness – Holding on to offenses leads to a critical spirit that sabotages our growth in goodness (Hebrews 12:15).
6. Prayerlessness – Neglecting prayer and God’s Word leads to being out of step with the Spirit and His goodness (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
7. Wrong influences – Spending excessive time with people who do not share our values dilutes our pursuit of what is good (1 Corinthians 15:33).
8. Worldly entertainment – Fillings one’s mind with impurity and immorality through various media cannot produce good fruit (Philippians 4:8).
9. Ignorance of God’s Word – We need to know God’s standards for goodness. Biblical illiteracy leaves us without moral discernment (Hosea 4:6).
10. Quenching the Spirit – Resisting and grieving the Holy Spirit inhibits His work of cultivating goodness in our lives (1 Thessalonians 5:19).
We need to guard our hearts against such pitfalls through prayer, wisdom and vigilance. Sin and compromise have a corrupting effect that diminishes true goodness. As we walk in the light and depend on the Spirit, we can bear fruit that honors God.
Fulfilling Our Call to Do Good
All believers have a fundamental calling to be zealous for good works. Here are some ways we can actively fulfill this calling:
1. Make doing good a priority – We should schedule regular times for doing good just like other priorities (Titus 3:14).
2. Use your gifts to serve others – God gave us abilities not just for personal gain but to serve others and meet needs (1 Peter 4:10).
3. Look for everyday opportunities – We can do good in small yet meaningful ways every day as we interact with people (Galatians 6:10).
4. Get involved in a local church – Churches provide numerous ways for us to engage in doing good works together (Hebrews 10:24-25).
5. Volunteer in your community – Find places like charities, hospitals, schools etc. that need help and support their work.
6. Donate wisely – We can give financially to ministries and people who are doing good works around the world.
7. Speak words of encouragement – Our speech should build others up and communicate value to them.
8. Be generous with your time – Making ourselves available to help others is a sacrifice that pleases God.
9. Stand up for what is right – We can champion justice, defend the weak and promote good values in our sphere of influence.
10. Address needs – Look for pressing needs around you and try to meet them as God enables you.
As we step out in faith, the Holy Spirit empowers us for every good work God calls us to (2 Timothy 1:7-8). We have endless opportunities to share God’s goodness with others through serving, helping and giving.
Verdict on Goodness
In conclusion, the goodness that comes from the Holy Spirit enables believers to fulfill their calling to live upright and righteous lives. It conforms their character to the image of Christ who perfectly reflected the Father’s goodness. This goodness goes beyond surface level kindness – it flows from the life-changing work of the Holy Spirit within.
As Christians cultivate spiritual disciplines like prayer, fellowship and obedience, the Holy Spirit nurtures goodness in their lives. It bears fruit that brings light and flavor to the world around them. Though imperfect, the presence of goodness testifies that God’s transforming work is alive within a believer. Their life is marked by integrity rather than hypocrisy as they cling to what is good and shun evil.
While the darkness of sin, pain and evil is very real, the goodness of God still prevails in this fallen world. The Holy Spirit is actively enabling men and women to exemplify goodness in their homes, workplaces, churches and communities. As Christians walk in step with the Spirit, they can be assured that His supernatural goodness will be made manifest through them. They have the unfathomable privilege of being the conduits of God’s goodness to the world.