Title: Good Line (Matt 12:35)
Contents 1) Among all the fruits of the Spirit, <goodness> is closest to the attributes of God. When a certain ruler called Jesus "Good Teacher", Jesus said, "No one is good except God" (Luke 18:18,19).
2) The word <goodness> can be used only for God in an absolute sense.
No matter how good a person is, he is only good in a relative sense.
3) If evil is the fruit of darkness, good is the fruit of light (Ephesians 5:8, 9). If human words and actions belong to evil, they will bear evil fruit, and if they belong to a good God, they will bear good fruit (Matt 12:35).
4) Goodness has the power to make Christians treat people with love and serve the welfare of others. The result of such goodness ultimately brings happiness to those who do good.
5) However, although humans may desire good, they do not have the power to carry out it. Man's desires bind man, and God made him live by doing good, but he has turned into evil in man.
6) Only Jesus Christ can root out the root of evil and overcome evil in the human heart. This is because the Lord was not only without sin, but was obedient to the point of death on the cross and gave his life.
7) The Lord sent the Holy Spirit to human beings so that they may live doing good as the fruit of the Spirit. Human beings are transformed by this grace to do good (Galatians 6:9-10), act good (Matthew 5:16), and overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21).
8) In order to do the good that is given as the fruit of the Spirit through the Lord, "sell what you have" (Mt 19:21), "Follow Christ" (Mt 10:38), "Forsake yourself and take up your cross" (Mt 16:24) You must walk the path of self-giving.