My Goodness

“And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.” Matt 19:16,17.

This man wanted to know how much good he had to do, so as to be good enough to deserve heaven. He believed himself to be pretty good, perhaps even nearly perfect. Jesus made it clear that “goodness” is not something that the man possessed, but only God is good. However, the fact remained, if the man was going to receive eternal life, he would need to be keeping the commandments.

Many lessons can be drawn from this man's encounter with Jesus, but we will focus on how it is possible for us, who possess no natural goodness, to keep the commandments and enter into life. How do we become good, or righteous? The Jews in the time of Christ were confused about this, but we need not be.

Jesus said to the Pharisees, “O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.” - Matt 12:34,35.

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead mens bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.” - Matt 23:25-28.

“Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.” - Matthew 12:33.

It is evident that what we do and say is a direct product of what we have on the inside. What we do doesn't, or rather, can't change who we are at heart. The Pharisees were able, by working at it, to “appear righteous” unto men, but this was not able to make them actually good. Despite their best efforts they were not righteous before God.

“For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” - Matthew 5:20.

After saying this, Jesus proceeded to show that the law demanded more than mere outward compliance. The inward thoughts are to be in harmony with the law too.

If we're going to be good, we'll have to get our goodness from God. There is none good but God. We must receive the righteousness of Jesus as a gift. He is the source of it, and there is no other way to obtain it. This will clean the inside of the cup and platter, so to speak. This will make us “good” people, who will be able to bring good things out of the heart. Our righteousness will exceed that of the pharisees, because it will be the very righteousness of God dwelling in us.

“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” - Matt. 5:6

Notice that this verse doesn't say “blessed are they which manage to manufacture enough righteousness to fill themselves, for they will be saved”. No, God fills those who crave righteousness with His own righteousness. He says “they shall be filled”. The Pharisees did not know this. Paul describes their situation this way:

“For they being ignorant of Gods righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.” - Romans 10:3

“What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; as it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.” - Romans 9:30-33.

“Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.” - Gal 3:21.

The bottom line is, keeping the law can't possibly produce righteousness. If law keeping had been able to do that, God would have chosen it as the official method of salvation. But He knew it was not possible, and that some other plan was needed. The righteousness that we receive by faith is not materially different from that sought by the Jews, but the method employed to obtain it is very different. Their method doesn't work - ours does.

“For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” - Romans 8:3,4.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” - Romans 1:16,17.

Isn't it just like God to devise a plan that would actually work? The Gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation. In it the righteousness of God is revealed – and this righteousness comes from God. When we receive this righteousness from God by faith, we are enabled to keep the law. It is this righteousness living in us that produces right words and actions.

“Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner.” - Proverbs 13:6.

“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” - John 15:5.

Every day, and as often as necessary, we should ask God for a new supply of righteousness and grace to make us good people – able to do good. We should soak up the words of Jesus every day, and we will become like Him in character.

Luke's gospel tells us about a woman named Mary who “sat at Jesus feet, and heard his word.” Jesus said “one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” (see Luke 10:38-42).

One thing is needful - to sit at Jesus' feet and hear His word. That kind of hearing that leads to doing is the sort of hearing we want to do.

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” - Matthew 6:33.

“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” - Matt. 5:6

“And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” - Luke 11:9.

These promises are true. Dare to believe them, and you will see the salvation of God.