One of God’s characteristics is His goodness. When we become a new creation and the Holy Spirit dwells in us, then we shall also bear the fruit goodness. Throughout the Bible, we read about God’s goodness and His mercy. His goodness is very well described in Psalm 107. It shows the great mercy of God; His goodness and how the Lord saves (redeem) man all the time. It didn’t matter in what situation His people were in, as soon as His people cried out to the Lord in their trouble and asked Him for help, He always there to help them. What does the Bible say about the fruit goodness?
The goodness of God
God is full of goodness and always willing to save people, and to rescue them out of their trouble, when they call and reach out to Him. Throughout the Old Testament, we read about God’s goodness:
- The LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison (Gen 39:21)
- The LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth (Ex 43:6)
- Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations; (Deu 7:9)
- I have trusted in Thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in Thy salvation (Psa 13:5)
- Oh how great is Thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear Thee; which Thou hast wrought for them that trust in Thee before the sons of men! (Psa 31:19)
- He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord (Psa 33:5)
- For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee. (Isa 54:10)
- But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD (Jer 9:24)
- Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. (Mic 7:18)
The goodness of Jesus
In the New Testament, we see the same character of God in Jesus Christ. This is no coincidence, because after Jesus was baptised, the Spirit of God; the Holy Spirit, descended and came upon Jesus, and dwelled in Him.
Jesus had received Gods nature in Him, including His goodness. His goodness was revealed in the fact, that He forgave the sins of man, healed all those who were sick, and casted out devils. Yes, Jesus redeemed people from the oppression of the devil, whether they deserved it, or not.
Jesus came to the earth to do good. He came to the earth to fulfill the work of His Father. Jesus was a reflection of God. Everything Jesus did, He had seen His Father do; God was Jesus His example.
God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are One. They can’t operate independently. They are bound to each other forever.
There was only moment, when they were separated from each other and that was during the crucifixion. When Jesus carried all the sins and all iniquities of the world. At that moment, Jesus was separated from God, because God couldn’t have communion with sin and therefore God left Jesus. If you would like to read more about this, you can read the following post: ‘it is finished‘.
Jesus came to do good and showed His goodness
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord (Luk 4:18-19)
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him (Act 10:38)
Jesus could not fulfil His work, until He was cleansed, anointed, and baptist with the Holy Spirit. The word anoint comes from the Greek word ‘chriõ’ (G5548 Strong Concordance) and means: to smear or rub with oil, that is, (by implication) to consecrate to an office or religious service: – anoint
He was anointed, which means that He was put into a position to fulfil Gods plan.
Jesus came in the flesh, but walked after the Spirit
Jesus came in the flesh and received Gods nature; the Holy Spirit. Jesus came in the flesh, but He walked after the Spirit and not after the flesh. Although He had the ability to walk after the flesh.
But Jesus loved His Father, and walked in His commandments. Therefore Jesus walked after the Spirit, and produced the fruit goodness. Jesus went about doing good, and healed all that were oppressed of the devil, for God was with Him.
Just like God redeemed and rescued man in the Old Testament, Jesus also redeemed man in the New Testament.
Remember: The New Covenant came into being, when Jesus went into the Holies and sat down on the mercy-seat on the right hand of the Father (Read also ‘What is Ascension Day?’)
When Jesus had fulfilled His mission on the earth, sat down on the mercy-seat, and when the Holy Spirit was send to the earth, it became possible for humanity to become born again in the Spirit and become a new creation, by believing in Jesus Christ, making Him Saviour and Lord, and receive the Holy Spirit.
The goodness of the new creation
The born again believer, who has become a new creation, has laid down his life in the water (baptism) and is raised in newness of life, not to pick up his old life again, but to start walking after the Spirit. The old life; walking after the flesh is over, and now it’s time, to walk after the Spirit. God’s nature abides in the new creations.
Therefore, when we have His nature abiding in us, we should live according to His commandments and His will. When we live after His will, we will automatically fulfil the law of the Spirit.
There is no more rebellion against Him, and against the Word of God. Because we have what God has; His Spirit and we belong to Him. Just like God and Jesus, the new creation shall also walk after the Spirit, doing good and walking in goodness, and bear the fruit goodness.
Jesus fulfilled the will of His Father
Just like Jesus fulfilled the will of His Father, shall fulfil the will of Jesus, which is the same will as the Father. When we bear the fruit goodness, and walk in goodness, we deliver people from the oppression of the devil, just like Jesus did and just like God did.
Jesus even promised us, that we should do greater things than He did. One of these greater things could be that we are able to give eternal life. Jesus couldn’t do that yet, He could only forgive sins, because He was not crucified yet, His work was not yet completed.
He had not taken the keys, from dead and hell; He had not taken the authority from the devil and bound the strong one yet.
But when He took the keys from dead and hell, He got all authority in heaven and on earth.
When we live and abide in Him (the Word), we have the power over the devil, dead and hell and we will give life to the people.
When we walk after the Spirit and bear the fruit goodness, we will love our neighbour. We will deliver people who are oppressed by the devil, we will heal them, deliver them from evil spirits, forgive their sins and give life.
Jesus came to serve people
That is the goodness, that the Bible is talking about. Jesus came to serve people, He didn’t came to walk in pride and fame; showing of everyone, that He was the Son of God. We are not standing above our Master, so we should also serve the people and deliver them from any oppression, and not reign over people.
We can only do good, and walk in His goodness, when we walk after the Spirit and not after the flesh.
Jesus made His flesh submissive to His Spirit, and therefore He walked after the Spirit. We should follow His example, and submit our flesh to the Spirit, so that we shall walk after the Spirit and become like our Master.
When we renew our mind with the Word of God (which is our Example), we will become like the Word and shall walk like Jesus walked.
We have no more excuse, to not become like Him, because we have His nature dwelling inside of us; His Holy Spirit.
The fruit goodness
The fruit goodness is part of the nature of the new creation. Therefore if you have become a new creation, you shall also produce the fruit goodness. Which means that you love your neighbour as yourself and hand out His goodness to them. Don’t look at the fact, whether they deserve it or not, if they want it, just give it to them.
You didn’t deserve the goodness of the Lord neither, but you got it anyway when you asked for it. That’s the grace of God.
When someone is mistreating you, don’t hold them responsible. Forgive that person and remit his/her sin(s), you have the power to do that. Let the devils nature don’t get hold on you and possess you, but let Gods nature reign in you, so that you bear the fruit goodness, and walk in His goodness.
‘Be the salt of the earth’
