Romans 2:4 – God Is Good – Bible study

Rom 2:4 God is Good God has gotten a bad reputation by some people. Some think God is evil. They feel that way because evil things have happened to them or to people they know. Things like diseases, accidents, deaths of people they deem to be good folk. Their reaction is if God is a good God, why does He let all of these bad things happen? And that question is a good question to ask although it is not my purpose to answer it this evening. Others might not go so far as to say God is evil but they would think that God is LESS than good. I am here to testify this evening that God is good. God is not just some good. God is not just good to some of the people. God is not just good some of the time. But God is all good to all people all of the timeat least as long as they have breathe. I do not have the time to describe all the goodness of God but let me share with you three areas in which God is good. I. What is good? A. That is not as easy to define as you might think. 1. Most of us define goodness as it relates only to us. 2. For example, some would define goodness as what makes them happy. a. Yet, we all know that is always the case. b. It might make a drug user happy to get some drugs, but it certainly isnt good for him. 3. Then again, real goodness must be more than just good for some. a. The government takes money from one person to buy a cell phone for another. b. That might be good for the one who got the cell phone, but it was not good for the one who had to pay for it. B. So what is real definition of goodness? I would say that goodness is that which glorifies God and is pleasurable to man. 1. There are some things which might be pleasurable to us but doesnt glory God. That is not good. 2. And there are some things which might glorify God but are not pleasurable to man. That is not good. a. Judgment for example. It might glorify God but nobody is going to be having a good time. b. That is not goodness. That is justice. Justice has its place, and I am even thankful for it, but it is not what I would call Gods goodness. C. So what things bring glory to God and give pleasure to mankind? II. God is good in the sins He forbears. A. Our verse describes three attributes of God. 1. Gods goodnessthat is the one that I want to talk to you about. 2. Gods forbearance and Gods longsuffering – Both of these stand on their own and are worthy attributes for which to praise God. 3. But I want us to consider Gods forbearance and longsuffering as an outgrowth of Gods goodness. 4. My contention is because God is good (He glorifies Himself and makes things pleasurable for us), He forbears and suffers long. B. \#Ge 2:16-17\ Ge 2:16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. 1. God defines the boundary of sin and judgment. 2. \#Ge 3:1-6\ – Man crosses that boundary. a. You have to notice that they did not instantly die physically here. b. (They did instantly die spiritually.) c. What happen? Did God lie? No. d. God chose to forbear our sins and to suffer long with them. e. By the way, I think God not only forbears but He also does suffer long. (1) I cant prove it but I believe Gods holy nature is repelled by our sinful actions. (2) Some things repel me: (a) I dont like seeing people chew with their mouth open. (b) I dont like nails on a chalkboard. (c) I dont like to smell a rotting carcass. (3) I think sin repels God and He must endure it, suffer it. (4) If that is so, then no one is as long suffering God because He has been suffering from sins effect since Adam and Eve. 3. So here I see Gods goodness in the sins He forbears and suffers. a. Lets make sure this act qualifies as goodness. (1) Did what God do bring glory to Him? Id say YES. You and I and all the millions that are alive today are living examples of Gods mercy, grace, and goodness. (2) Was not being annihilated by God pleasurable to us? I dont suppose we would have felt anything at all of God had annihilated Adam and Eve but I am sure they feel much better. b. So God is GOOD in the sins He forbears. (1) By the way, by forbearing our sins, God has also had to forbear our death and damnation. (2) There is not a human being on this planet who ought to be alive! We are all on borrowed time. (a) If an accident or illness seems to prematurely kills a person. (b) If a child dies. (c) If a tornado causes massive destruction and death. (d) If a famine or drought starves a region to death. (e) If a war commits genocide against an ethnic group or nation. (3) Even while those very things may be happening to you, God is being good to you! III. God is good in discipline. A. Here is a sore spot for many. They feel that because God has disciplined them, they are somehow cursed. B. \#Heb 12:6-11\ Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. 1. Two important thoughts: a. God approves (even commands) parental discipline. b. Scripture assures us that God will chastise His children. 2. If you call yourself Christian and feel cursed, it may well be because you are living outside Gods will for your life and He is disciplining you! a. You certainly arent the first. (1) Jonah – When he ran away. (2) David – When he had an affair. (3) Samson – When he broke his Nazarite vow. b. How is discipline good? (1) We can figure how discipline might glorify God. (2) But where is our pleasure in the matter? (3) It will feel better for you to have a spanking today and get right than to have to face an angry God in the future. Heb 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. c. Just ask those who have been there! You will stand before God and declare, "God, it was GOOD that you disciplines me back then!" d. However, you can take what God in His goodness is trying to do for you and make it a judgment but not getting right. IV. God is good in what He gives to us. James 1:16 Do not err, my beloved brethren. 17 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. A. The Bible says everything you ever received that was good was from God. 1. We dont even have to verify the definition on that one. 2. If it was from God, it glorified Him and was enjoyable to you. If it did not do those two things, it is not the topic of this verse. B. What kind of things has God given to you? 1. Some of your material things. a. (I would say all but you might have some things that bring you pleasure but do not glorify God. Those you bought yourself.) b. The roof over your head, the clothes on your back, the shoes on your feet, the job you have, the groceries you eat. c. All of the things that glorify Him and bring pleasure to you are a gift from a good God! 2. Some of the people in our lives. a. Again, I say "some" not "all." b. Some of your friends you picked out for yourself. c. They are the ones who are pulling you down and away from God. 3. Some of the health we have. a. We are doing harm to ourselves in the volume of some of the things we eat. b. Everything is good and intended for our good but we need moderation and discipline. 4. Enough of the earthly goods. a. How about salvation? b. How about heaven? c. How about those rewards? d. How about that eternal place of service? I make and restate my title, "GOD IS GOOD!"