The Goodness of God

Its Definition - Its Working

The “goodness of God” is a divine attribute that encompasses both mercy and grace. In the 23rd Psalm we find, “surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.” It could well have said “grace and mercy. . .” The following definitions may broaden our understanding:

“God’s mercy, of which the more passive forms are pity and compassion, is the divine goodness exercised with respect to the miseries of His creatures, feeling for them, and making provision for their relief, and in the case of impenitent sinners, leading to longsuffering patience.”

“The grace of God is His goodness seeking to communicate His favours, and above all, the fellowship of His own life and blessedness, to His moral creatures, who as creatures, must be destitute of all merit; and pre-eminently His electing love securing at infinite cost the blessedness of its objects, who, as sinful creatures, were positively ill deserving.”

(A. A. Hodge)

What do we have here? “God’s mercy - in the passive - is pity and compassion.” “God’s mercy - is the divine goodness - exercised - feeling for His creatures - most especially impenitent sinners - making provision for their relief.”

God’s goodness - His grace - communicating His [unmerited] favors; communicating His fellowship - His Life - His blessings - to sinful creatures, ill-deserving, destitute of all merit - securing to Himself - at infinite cost - the blessedness of it’s objects.

“For God so loved the world” [His mercy, pity, compassion.] “that he gave his only begotten Son” [the exercise of His divine goodness] “that whosoever believeth in him should not perish [impenitent sinners - making provision for their relief] “but have everlasting life.” [God’s goodness, His grace, communicating His fellowship, His life.]

The Application.

"Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. . .And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me, a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justifiedrather than the other" Luke 18:13. Our Lord declared this man to be justified. The obvious is obvious: God was indeed most merciful to the publican! So what occurred here? God in mercy, passively showed pity and compassion. He further exercised His goodness by making provision for the poor sinner’s relief. God and man beheld as it were, the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. The publican believed God, and even as it was with Abraham, his faith was imputed to him for righteousness. And herein lies the grounds for his justification! My dear publican brother, “the goodness of God [mercy and grace] leadeth thee to repentance!” Rom. 2:4.

Although as yet unseen, this Old Testament believer was by faith, "Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.” Even as Abraham and the patriarchs, he saw the promises; he was persuaded of them, he embraced them, he confessed them. (Heb. 11:13)

If Mercy be defined only as the divine purpose of God being wrought in withholding judgment from a hell-deserving sinner, can Mercy alone render one just in the eyes of the Law of Righteousness? How can a Holy God hold back the sentence upon the unjust - yea declare him to be justified? Can He cancel His judgment against sin without compromising His own righteousness? Of course, we, by the grace of God, know the answer.

"But God, who is rich in Mercy, for His great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by Grace ye are saved;") Eph. 2:5.

God was [is] rich in mercy “even when we were dead in sins.” Even when we were dead in sins, He was rich in mercy and His love was great toward us. God, who is rich in mercy, has quickened us together with Christ. Let’s apply our definitions: “God’s mercy - in the passive - is pity and compassion.” God’s mercy - is His divine goodness - exercised - feeling for His creatures - impenitent sinners - making provision for their relief.”

(by grace are ye saved.) God’s goodness - his grace - communicates His [unmerited] favors; His fellowship - His Life - His blessings - to sinful creatures, ill-deserving, destitute of all merit - securing to Himself - at infinite cost - the blessedness of it’s objects.”

“God is rich in mercy. . .by grace are ye saved."

It would appear that Mercy and Grace have clasped hands: Mercy reaches far beyond the bounds of "judgment withheld;" it is equated with Grace; though spoken of as separate, yet are they sewn, woven together in unity. By the grace of God the publican was shown mercy; by mercy he was shown the Grace of God.

"Surely [the goodness of God - Grace and Mercy] shall follow me all the days of my life . . .Ps. 23. If we are free from the Law of Sin and Death; if "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus," then what purpose is there in Mercy following the believer, IF its only work is to withhold judgment? No, Grace and Mercy are attributes of God, traveling companions, guardians (as it were) dispatched from the Father: and they'll never leave us, nor forsake us! Glorious mystery! Who can fathom it?

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” Heb. 4:16. Where is the throne of grace? Just a prayer away! And what is to be found there? The “goodness of God,” mercy and grace. Once again, there is to be found “pity and compassion, the exercise of divine goodness in making provision for our relief; the communicating of His favor, His fellowship, His life, His blessings.” “But my God shall supply all your need [provision for our relief (including forgiveness and cleansing, Peace, comfort), His favor, His fellowship, His life, His blessings.”] The Way of acceptance before the throne of grace? “according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” Phil. 4:19. “To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved” Eph. 1:6.

Oh Lord God, according to your lovingkindness and longsuffering patience, forgive our unthankful hearts that are so often turned aside after other cares. Enlarge our hearts unto a greater capacity for Christ. “That I may know Him.”