Our goodness is a gift from God.

God did not save us because of our goodness but because of his own kindness and mercy. Thanks to the saving work of Jesus Christ our Savior, God can declare us good. Our goodness is a gift from God. We cannot work for it. We cannot earn it. We do not deserve it.

The Bible calls this work of Christ justification. That is a big word that simply means God says you are okay because of what Jesus did for you. When you put your trust in Christ, God gives you a new nature. (It is like starting over; that is why it is called being, “born again”). Then God not only gives you the desire to do good, but also gives you the power to do good. Philippians 2:13 says, “It is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure”. He gives you the desire and the power to do what is right. That is one of the ways you know you are a Christian.

By God’s grace and power we are re-created as good people, and then we are given the ability to do good deeds. God works from the inside out, not from the outside in. he says, “Let me change you on the inside, and the outside will fall into place.” Now, what does that mean? Does it mean that a Christian never sins? Of course not. All of us make mistakes. All of us sin. What it means is that now that I am a Christian, I have a new power and a new desire to do what is right. God solved the problem of my old selfish nature by giving me a new Chrsitlike nature.

Evangelical Word

"One of our troubles is we are not willing to humble ourselves. We are not willing to give up our opinions as to how things should be done. We want a revival to come just in our way. You never saw two revivals come just alike. We must let them come in God's way. People are ashamed to admit they need a revival. If you are not willing to take the shame on yourself, you then let it remain on Jesus Christ. You must bear the reproach of your sinful state of indifference, or the cause of our Master must bear it." - Mordecai Ham

Thought

God washes the eyes by tears until they can behold the invisible land where tears shall come no more.

Henry Ward Beecher