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God is Good, God is Love, and I think most of us would agree on that. I would think most every church goer would agree that God is Good, and they all know it already!

If everyone who goes to Church knows that God is Good, what purpose would a sermon serve, if the message is all about God who is Good, God who is Love? In what way would such a sermon serve any purpose for which God created the Church?

Is there any Kingdom fruit coming in the lives of people who hear what they already know? Is Christ growing in anyone who only hears that God is Good? Does this message lead any sinner to repent and turn away from his wicked ways and surrender his life to the Lord to be saved?

Is the message that God is Good, a part of the Gospel anyway? How is that a part of a Gospel that proclaims that anyone who will not believe in the Gospel as that they may be redeemed by the Blood of Jesus, will burn forever in the Lake of Fire?

God is Good, but those who will not receive His free gift of salvation through the suffering of His own Son, whom God sent out of His Goodness to save mankind from Death, will not escape from God’s Wrath but will be tormented forever in the place called Hell.

Most everyone who believe that “God cannot possibly send people to Hell because He is Good”, have come to this conclusion because of the message that God is Good and God is Love, yet lacking the vital information of the Gospel, which is that apart from redemption through Christ’s suffering, no one shall escape from the Wrath of this Good and Loving God.

His Goodness and His Love have a very particular expression, in that He sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross so that all who believe in Him and His atoning sacrifice on the cross may escape from the grip of Sin and live a life of freedom in Christ, and, may live and not die.

So, what is more important? Or, what is even important at all? That we preach sermons from the pulpit which simply repeat what everyone already knows? That our shallow and fruitless sermons caress the emotions to draw everyone’s consent and applause? Is that important? Or, does it even go so far as to become a false message that nullifies the message of the Gospel?

Can it be that what is really important is

HOW we STAND before God,
HOW we WALK according to His calling, that is to say,
IF we walk WORTHY to be His witnesses; in other words, to be His MANIFESTATION, the living proof that He is alive, that He is the Lord who dwells in us, and manifests through us (?)

How we walk after we believed in the Lord reveals the secrets of our heart; makes known who is the One who rules in us; from whom our words and actions proceed. God is Good but that fact alone will do nothing to change our heart, our choices, or to put our carnality to death.

By examining what Ap. Paul was teaching his disciples, I failed to find any scriptures in which Paul placed unbalanced emphasis on God’s Goodness. In fact, when He did make mention of God’s Goodness, he said it in the context of giving a warning of impending judgement.

Romans 11:21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. 22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.

Ap. Paul was not promoting God’s Goodness; he was more concerned about Christ becoming formed in those who believed in Him, so he said:

Galatians 4:19 My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you

Ap. Paul taught the things that mattered, things of value that would bring forth a good result in the lives of his disciples. He did not tickle their ears with empty and fruitless sentimentalisms which cause believers to fall into slumber and drive them to passivity and falling away. Paul was very aware of the dangers of believers who would fail to grow in Christ after they believed.

Colossians 1:9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Ap. Paul wanted to activate, to encourage, to mobilize his disciples, and us all, that we may:

– be filled with the knowledge of His will,
– walk worthy of the Lord,
– please Him fully,
– be fruitful in every good work,
– increase in the knowledge of God!