A Church Full Of Goodness
Van C. Ledbetter
De Queen, AR
10/28/98
A Church Full Of Goodness
I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another. Romans 15.14
Good and
goodness are words that ring throughout the New Testament. They are usually translated from two Greek words,
agathos and
kalos. The first means benevolent, kind, generous, upright, honorable. The second is from a root which means beautiful, meaning noble, praiseworthy, wholesome. Both words describe Christians. They speak of what God expects of His people.
We Are To Be Good.
My advice to our young folk going away to college is,
be good! It’s really a negative exhortation meaning don’t do ungodly things; keep yourself pure. Stay from sinful people, sinful practices, and sinful places. Be good. It applies not only to the young, but also to every follower of Christ at any point in life.
Neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure. 1 Timothy 5.22.
Feel Good.
One of the beautiful things about being God’s child is that we can rejoice with joy unspeakable.
Yet believing, you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. Peter 1.8. And that always...
Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, rejoice. Philippians 4.4. We Christians can, and should, be serene, positive, and hopeful. It should show on our faces and in our demeanor. The joy that is in Christ should define our personalities.
Do Good.
After all, that’s why we are created in Christ Jesus.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2.10. This is the positive side of Christian character, to do good unto all men.
As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6.10. Peter wrote,
having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. 1 Peter 2.12.
On that last verse Mr. Thayer says that
good means beautiful by reason of purity of heart and life, and hence praiseworthy; morally good, noble.
Full of goodness! That’s God’s people in the Lord’s church.
—Van C. Ledbetter
De Queen, AR
