GS: "Good" People

[bcbs...@yahoo.com]

"Good" People

Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" So Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God." Lk 18:18,19 Not that Jesus is denying being good. But to call Jesus good is to call him God. For only God is good. Everyone else characteristically sins. But Jesus "has been tempted in every way, just as we are— yet was without sin." Heb 4:15b

"There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." Rom 3:10-12

Where are the truly "good" people in the Bible? Moses murdered an Egyptian in cold blood and later in the desert he sinned so severely that God didn't allow him into the promise land. King David committed adultery and murder. In the New Testament the apostle Paul characterized his pre-Christian life as being the chief of all sinners. What about Cornelius? It says, "He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly." Acts 10:2 and that "He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people" Acts 10:22 Yet "an angel appear in his house and said, ‘Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved.'" Acts

11:13,14 Despite all his good deeds this righteous, God-fearing man was going to hell apart from hearing and believing the gospel. For one is never good enough from God's perspective if one is not good continually. If you're as good as Cornelius was, righteous, God-fearing, praying regularly, generous, but have yet to hear and believe the gospel, you're on your way to eternal damnation. Not that people are condemned for attempting to be good. Rather God will condemn people for not always being good.

The Berean Christian Bible Study Resources

Follow on Quora