Part 7, Becoming Good

California Community Church

Becoming BeYOUtiful YOU
Part 7 - Goodness

“…when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, He will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control…”
Galatians 5:22,23 NLT

“Every GOOD and perfect gift is from above, coming from the Father” James 1:17 NIV

To Live a BeYOUtiful Life, I NEED GOD’S HELP!

First, THE PROOF of the Christian life is in the Fruit

If (that is the conditional part) we let Him control our lives, HE WILL (that is the promise) produce the life in us that we have been created to live.

This is an EXPECTATION for followers of Jesus Christ

“A healthy tree produces good fruit, and an unhealthy tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire.

Yes, the way to identify a tree or a person is by the kind of fruit that is produced. “Not all people who sound religious are really godly. They may refer to me as ‘Lord,’ but they still won’t enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The decisive issue is whether they obey my Father in heaven.”
Matthew 7:18-21 NLT

Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” James 4:17 NIV

THERE ARE TWO FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEMS WHENEVER WE CALL SOMEONE A “GOOD” PERSON-

Here’s part of the problem: We Judge Goodness By the Wrong Standard

Here’s the Other Part of the Problem: No one is good!

“There is no one righteous…”
Romans 3:10 NIV

“All of us have become like one who is
unclean, and all our righteous acts are
like filthy rags…” Isaiah 64:6 NIV

“The Lord is good and does what is right”
Psalm 25:8 NLT

“Taste and see that the Lord is good”
Psalm 34:8 NLT

“For the Lord is good. His unfailing love
continues forever, and his faithfulness
continues to each generation”
Psalm 100:5 NLT

We can’t conclude that we just need a “little help”

Luke 18:9-14 The Pharisee and the Tax Collector

Jesus did not come to earth and die on a cross just to make good people better.

“…I no longer count on my own goodness…but I trust God to save me” Philippians 3:9 NLT

“For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” 2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT

We don’t go to heaven because we are good, but because God is good.

God’s Good Fruit In You Matters-
Because

It Multiplies…
“As we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” Galatians 6:10 NIV

It Attracts People Toward Christ-
“He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord” Acts 11:24 NIV

It Overcomes Evil-
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good”
Romans 12:21 NIV