Galatians 5:22-23 tells us the fruit which is cultivated in the life of trusting Christ. Nine aspects of the fruit-bearing life are taught by Paul. The sixth aspect of the fruit of the Spirit is “goodness.” The Greek word for goodness in Galatians 5:22 is found only three other places in the New Testament (Romans 15:14; Ephesians 5:9; 2 Thessalonians 1:11). The Bible teaches that ultimately God alone is good (Luke 18:19). In fact, our English word for “God” comes from the word “good.” An English pastor was fond of saying, “The Lord is good, and does good, for our good.”
Goodness here applies both to a person’s character and his activity. In character, goodness means faultlessness or moral excellence–in other words, a likeness to God himself, in being generous to those who do not deserve it. God is good to all through common grace (giving good things to both the just and the unjust), and good to his people through specific grace (redemption through Jesus Christ).
Goodness flows from a person’s character into his daily living. The one who is good, desires to do good to others, that they may profit by his goodness. He is moved to be generous to It was said of our Lord that “he went about doing good” (Acts 10:38). Jesus commanded us, “Love your enemies, and do them good” (Luke 6:35). Our world should be a better place because Christians are in it.
But to be good and to do good requires our determination and effort. Being and doing good does not ome automatically to fallen humans. Paul exhorts us, “as we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of faith (Galatians 6:10). There is an element of seeking to do good, and to be alert for the occasion in which we can do good.
A human example of goodness is the prophet Daniel. Daniel was a man devoted to his duty and faithful in carrying it out. His enemies could not find any fault with which to charge him, so they contrived to outlaw Daniel’s goodness! In the New Testament, Barnabas was considered to be “a good man” (Acts 11:24), and he is consistently portrayed as one who sought to do good–especially through encouragement–to those in the early church. He was conscious of the Lord’s work in his life and he tried to cultivate the fruit of the Spirit.