Is God Good or is He Great?

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God is both Good and Great

In the Bible, God’s Word, He reveals to us that He is both good and great. Yet some would say “Hey brother, God is GREAT, not just good!” True, yet there is a difference between GOOD and GREAT. The LORD is both GREAT and GOOD. Meditate on this beloved of God. Great has to do with divine omnipotence (all-powerful) while goodness speaks of the divine disposition toward His creation, namely mankind which He created in His own image (Genesis 1:26-27). When the LORD informs us that His nature is “good,” He’s conveying that His intentions, His desires toward us are not to do us evil but rather to do us good!!!! His disposition toward His people is goodness.

“For thou, Lord, art GOOD, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. … But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.” Psalms 86:5, 15

The divine intent towards His people was expressed to us by the Holy Spirit via the prophet Jeremiah:

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Jeremiah 29:11

Jesus Christ is “the GREAT Shepherd of the sheep” for whom He died:

“Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,” Hebrews 13:20

This redemption truth expresses just how GREAT God’s GOODNESS is to us!

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” James 1:17

No greater greater love, kindness, and goodness could ever be expressed than that which was displayed by our heavenly Father when He crucified on Calvary’s cruel cross His only begotten Son for the sins of the whole world.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” John 3:16-17

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13

He Found Us in Our Sin and Saved Us to Himself by His Sheer Mercy and the Blood of His Only Begotten Son

“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth (displayed) his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.” Romans 5:6-9

“For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:3-7

Repeatedly the LORD tells His people that He is good and that His desire is “to do you good.”

“And it shall come to pass, that as the LORD rejoiced over you to do you good, …” Deuteronomy 28:63

Is God really good “all the time”? Yes, even and perhaps especially when He’s convicting, purging, chastening, and rebuking you.

“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” Revelation 3:19

It’s important for us to see God for who He really is – GOOD. The LORD reflects back to us as we choose to see Him (Numbers 13-14; Psalms 18:24-26).

God is not only GOOD and GREAT, He is also HOLY and JUST and will punish for eternity (in hell) those who behold His GOODNESS and don’t obey Him. Hear this severe warning. Using the example of His judgment on the Jews, the LORD warns us Gentiles to fear and obey Him lest we also be “cut off” (judged):

“Well; because of unbelief they (the Jews) were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: 21 For if God spared not the natural branches (Jews), take heed lest he also spare not thee (Gentile believer). 22 Behold therefore the GOODNESS and SEVERITY of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, IFFFF thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.” Romans 11:20-22

FEEDBACK:

MESSAGE RECEIVED:

“I read the new post titled ‘Is God Good or is He Great?’ So good. Love Ps. 86:5 & 15! Like the statement too, of Him showing us how GREAT is His GOODNESS. And that Scripture calls Jesus the GREAT shepherd. Thanks for pointing that out. Hadn’t paid attention to that adjective — will now! Will be looking for it throughout the Word.” Debbie Lord

REPLY:

Ahhhhh yes amen.

This type stuff which simply underscores what GOD says in His Word of Himself (divine attributes)…. This is what greatly enhances our reading of Scripture from that point on….. Things begin to come together in our understanding. Jesus is so GREAT and GOOD!

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7 Ways to Forgive [podcast]

PRAY

“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;” Matthew 5:44

LOVE AND DO GOOD TO THE OFFENDER

“Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.” Romans 12:9

REFUSE TO SPEAK EVIL OF THE OFFENDER

“Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.” Romans 12:14

RELEASE THEM FROM YOUR PUNISHMENT

“Recompense (repay) to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” Romans 12:17-19

DON’T CELEBRATE THEIR FAILURES

“Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: 18 Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.” Proverbs 24:17-18

TREAT THEM THE WAY YOU WANT TO BE TREATED

“And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.” Luke 6:31

STOP DWELLING ON THE PAST

“Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.” Isaiah 43:18

The blessedness of being merciful to others:

“Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” Matthew 5:7

The only way to prevent holding a grudge, is to simply forgive them – as God freely forgave you through the infinite price Christ paid for your sins on the cross, of which you don’t deserve (Psalms 103:10).

“Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. 8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. 9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.” James 5:7-9

“And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:30-32

Being kind and forgiving towards others becomes simple as we look in the mirror and declare with Paul the apostle: “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing.” (Romans 7:18)

“He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.” Psalms 103:10

Forgiveness becomes easy when we look in the mirror to see the person (us, me) who needs God’s mercy more than any other person alive on the earth! Memorize Ephesians 4:32 now. KJB

“For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.” James 1:20

“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.” Colossians 3:12-14

Forgiveness Quotes

Forgiveness is ultra important to God. If you don’t forgive all others, you are not forgiven of your own sin and are as sure for hell as if you were already there. If you refuse to forgive you damn your own soul, non-negotiably. irrevocably.

“Forgiveness does not mean what happened is okay. It means not letting what happened take any more of your happiness.” Michelle Maros

“There is no love without forgiveness, and there is no forgiveness without love.” Bryant McGill

“Love is an act of endless forgiveness. Forgiveness is me giving up my right to hurt you for hurting me. Forgiveness is the final act of love.” Reinhold Niebuhr

“Holding a grudge doesn’t make you strong; it makes you bitter. Forgiving doesn’t make you weak; it sets you free.” unknown

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It’s one thing to claim we are with Christ and He with us, and it’s another thing to prove we are with the Savior by adhering to His words. Jesus told us that those who are “of God” hear and obey His words (John 8:47).

If one chooses not to love Jesus enough to obey His stated terms, such a man has rejected the Son of God for the love of sinful self and will perish in his own corruption (Matthew 22:37-40; Luke 9:23-24; 14:33; 17:33; John 14:15; 1 John 2:3-6, etc.).

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Only the counterfeit will get upset at this Gospel message because such a rebel wants nothing to do with taking personal responsibility for his sin, the denial of self, the crucified life to be set apart, holy, and having the Savior reign!

Notice how Jesus knits the denial of self, the daily cross, the putting off the deeds of the body, of keeping under the body (the iniquitous fallen nature) with the destiny of the eternal soul.

“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. 25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?” Luke 9:23-25

Jesus made it clear here that the cross is an original Gospel essential, an absolute imperative to eternal glory with Him!

Each of us proves exactly who we love the most by the way we are living! – God or self!

Everything that is happening in your life now is being allowed by God in order to get you down low into the death and burial with Christ. Read 2 Corinthians 4.

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.” 2 Corinthians 4:7-12

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