What Does Good Mean When God Says It?

"So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God." -  Matthew 19:17

In the previous verse a young man had called Jesus "good" and then asked what good thing he needed to do to have eternal life. Jesus essentially told him there is nothing he could DO. Then Jesus walked through some of the commandments and the young man said - I suspect proudly - that he did all of those things.

But when Jesus said that he must give up the god the young many worshipped which was money - the young man went away sad. He was unwilling to obey the commandment to have no other gods that he was devoted to. In favor of the only true God. Jehovah. Contrast that young man's response with the disciples who laid down their nets and their trade to follow Jesus without hesitation. 

The young man thought it was by works - doing good things" that he would have eternal life. God says it is by faith and a devoted heart not works. But, good works will follow a devoted heart.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." - Ephesians 2:8-10

What is it the you imagine will make you acceptable to God? It is not a denomination. It is not a church building. It is not doing good things. It is not refraining from certain things. "I don't smoke and I don't chew and I don't go with girls who do!" Or "Lips that touch wine will never touch mine!" 

Jesus said: "Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also." - Matthew 23:24-26

Being right with God starts with the heart - and goes from the inside out, not the other way around. When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was He answered.

"Teacher [Jesus], which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." - Matthew 22:36-40

The second greatest commandment is dependent upon the first greatest commandment. Being nice to people is not good enough. How you treat others must be born out of your total devotion to God. Read the 10 commandments in Exodus 20. You will see that the start with your relationship with God and End with your relationship with others.

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Confess it - Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone