Topical Bible: Character of Christ: Good

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The character of Jesus Christ is central to Christian theology and is often described as the epitome of goodness. The goodness of Christ is not merely an abstract quality but is demonstrated through His actions, teachings, and the fulfillment of His divine mission. This entry explores the various dimensions of Christ's goodness as depicted in the Bible.

1. Goodness in Nature and Essence

The goodness of Christ is rooted in His divine nature. As the Son of God, He embodies the perfect goodness of God Himself. In Mark 10:18, Jesus says, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone." This statement underscores the intrinsic goodness of God, which is fully present in Christ. His divine nature ensures that His actions and intentions are inherently good.

2. Goodness in Teaching

Christ's teachings reflect His goodness and provide a moral compass for His followers. The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) is a prime example, where Jesus outlines the Beatitudes, emphasizing virtues such as mercy, purity of heart, and peacemaking. In Matthew 5:16, He instructs, "In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." His teachings consistently encourage goodness and righteousness.

3. Goodness in Compassion and Healing

The Gospels are replete with accounts of Christ's compassion and healing, demonstrating His goodness through acts of mercy. In Matthew 14:14, it is recorded, "When He stepped ashore and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them and healed their sick." His miracles, such as healing the blind, the lame, and the lepers, are manifestations of His goodness and His desire to alleviate human suffering.

4. Goodness in Sacrifice

The ultimate demonstration of Christ's goodness is His sacrificial death on the cross. In John 10:11, Jesus declares, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep." His willingness to suffer and die for the sins of humanity is the pinnacle of His goodness, offering redemption and reconciliation with God.

5. Goodness in Truth and Justice

Christ's goodness is also evident in His commitment to truth and justice. He fearlessly confronted hypocrisy and injustice, as seen in His interactions with the Pharisees and His cleansing of the temple (Matthew 21:12-13). In John 18:37, Jesus affirms, "For this reason I was born and have come into the world: to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to My voice."

6. Goodness in Love

Above all, Christ's goodness is characterized by His love. His commandment to love one another as He has loved us (John 13:34) encapsulates His teaching and example. In Romans 5:8, the Apostle Paul writes, "But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." This sacrificial love is the essence of His goodness.

The character of Christ as good is a foundational aspect of Christian belief, providing a model for believers to emulate in their own lives. His goodness is not only a testament to His divine nature but also a call to live in accordance with His teachings and example.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Matthew 19:16
And, behold, one came and said to him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Of the Fact that Matthew, Together with Mark, had Specially in ...
... Hence, also, even David himself, whose son He is, not without good reason, more ... taken
it in hand to give an account of the kingly character of Christ, had a ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter iii of the fact that.htm

Christ the Good Shepherd.
... should bear the character of a good shepherd ... to the comforting advent of Christ,
liken the ... Ezechiel also prophetically portrayed the Saviour's character when he ...
/.../callan/the shepherd of my soul/i christ the good shepherd.htm

Man's Own Character no Ground of Peace
... It is not what he has, but what he lacks of good that draws him to God; and it is ...
They will not take confidence from God's character or Christ's work, but ...
/.../bonar/gods way of peace/chapter ii mans own character.htm

God's Character Our Resting-Place
... of ourselves is only evil; that which he shows us of God is only good. ... the NAME of
the great Jehovah, unfolded in and by Jesus Christ; the character of him ...
/.../bonar/gods way of peace/chapter iii gods character our.htm

How to Become Like Christ.
... of life with us, and that our prospect of good in any future life will certainly
vary with the resemblance of our character to that of Jesus Christ, which is ...
/.../dods/how to become like christ/how to become like christ.htm

Of the Reason Why Forty Generations (Not Including Christ Himself) ...
... himself the task of commending the kingly character in Christ ... it behoves us to be
ruled by Christ in accordance ... holy hill of Zion!" [687] For the good, too, are ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter iv of the reason why.htm

The Test of Discipleship
... children of God, yet they realize that their character is imperfect ... to Him, He that
hath begun a good work in ... will carry it forward to the day of Jesus Christ. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/steps to christ/chapter 7 the test of.htm

Black-Balled by Man, Saved by Christ.
... recommend him, so they inquired and found there was no good in his ... in reporting the
matter, he said he "came to Christ without a character, and Christ ...
/.../moody/moodys anecdotes and illustrations/black-balled by man saved by.htm

God's Love for Man
... This was His work. He went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed
by Satan. ... Such is the character of Christ as revealed in His life. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/steps to christ/chapter 1 gods love for.htm

The True Spirit of Missions.
... of the true missionary character. How slow we are to make real sacrifices for the
good of others! It was not so with Christ. He chose, for our good, to become ...
/.../dibble/thoughts on missions/chapter i the true spirit.htm