The Goodness of God: Declared to Be: Enduring
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The enduring nature of God's goodness is a central theme throughout the Scriptures, reflecting His unchanging and eternal character. The Bible consistently affirms that God's goodness is not fleeting or temporary but is steadfast and everlasting.

Scriptural Affirmations of Enduring Goodness

1. Psalm 100:5 · "For the LORD is good, and His loving devotion endures forever; His faithfulness continues to all generations." This verse highlights the perpetual nature of God's goodness, emphasizing that His loving devotion is not limited by time or circumstance.

2. Psalm 136:1 · "Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good. His loving devotion endures forever." The repetition of this phrase throughout Psalm 136 underscores the eternal aspect of God's goodness, inviting believers to recognize and give thanks for His unending mercy.

3. Lamentations 3:22-23 · "Because of the LORD’s loving devotion we are not consumed, for His mercies never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!" Here, the prophet Jeremiah reflects on the continuous renewal of God's mercies, which are a manifestation of His enduring goodness.

4. James 1:17 · "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow." This passage affirms that God's goodness is consistent and unchanging, unlike the shifting shadows of the world.

Theological Implications

The enduring goodness of God assures believers of His reliable and constant nature. It provides a foundation for trust and hope, knowing that God's benevolence is not subject to the fluctuations of human experience or the passage of time. His goodness is an intrinsic part of His divine nature, reflecting His perfect love and faithfulness.

Historical and Doctrinal Perspectives

Throughout church history, theologians have emphasized the enduring goodness of God as a cornerstone of Christian doctrine. The early church fathers, such as Augustine, spoke of God's immutable nature, asserting that His goodness is an essential attribute that remains unchanged. The Reformers, including John Calvin, also highlighted God's enduring goodness as a source of comfort and assurance for believers, emphasizing that God's promises are reliable because of His unchanging character.

Practical Applications

Understanding the enduring goodness of God encourages believers to live with confidence and gratitude. It calls for a response of worship and thanksgiving, recognizing that every blessing and act of kindness from God is a reflection of His eternal goodness. This understanding also inspires believers to emulate God's goodness in their interactions with others, striving to reflect His love and mercy in a world that often lacks these qualities.

In summary, the enduring goodness of God is a profound truth that permeates the biblical narrative, offering assurance and hope to all who trust in Him. It is a testament to His unwavering love and faithfulness, inviting believers to rest in the knowledge that God's goodness will never fail.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Psalm 23:6
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 52:1
Why boast you yourself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endures continually.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

On Justice and Goodness.
... of those who separate justice from goodness, but had been instructed by that God,
and illuminated ... just; and speaking by whose Spirit he declared that the ...
/.../origen/origen de principiis/chapter v on justice and goodness.htm

God's Love to Fallen Man
... we remain in the body, is plainly declared by the ... was alike the justice but the
unspeakable goodness of God. ... of men, are in the language of God styled blessings ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 59 gods love to.htm

On Christ.
... 1955] He is also styled First-born, as the apostle has declared: "who is ... and the
glory, and the everlasting light, and the working, and the goodness of God. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/origen/origen de principiis/chapter ii on christ.htm

Calvin -- Enduring Persecution for Christ
... Now, if in His infinite goodness He puts all ... people who have deliberately resolved
to fight against God? ... if Jesus Christ had not distinctly declared (Matthew 8 ...
/.../various/the worlds great sermons volume i/calvin enduring persecution for.htm

The First Great Deception.
... and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth ... referring to the
state of the dead, declared: "I confess ... in, or the elect angels of God are in. ...
/.../33 the first great deception.htm

The First Great Deception
... and gracious, long-suffering and abundant in goodness and truth ... referring to the
state of the dead, declared: "I confess ... is in, or the elect angels of God are in ...
/.../white/the great controversy/chapter 33 the first great.htm

Wesley -- God's Love to Fallen Man
... we remain in the body, is plainly declared by the ... not only the justice, but the
unspeakable goodness of God. ... of men, are in the language of God styled blessings ...
/.../kleiser/the worlds great sermons volume 3/wesley gods love to.htm

Edited by the Rev. CH Spurgeon.
... our eyes." Under a deep sense of God's goodness, his heart ... thou knowest that there
is a God, though with ... a contrite spirit, and who has declared that therewith ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/edited by the rev c.htm

The Voice in the Wilderness
... that we are favored on account of some goodness in us! God cannot do for us that
which He longs to do ... John declared to the teachers of Israel that their pride ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 10 the voice in.htm

Treatise ix. On the Advantage of Patience.
... and long-suffering, not knowing that the patience and goodness of God ... and repeated
conflicts, nor the blessing of God withheld from being declared in the ...
/.../cyprian/the treatises of cyprian/treatise ix on the advantage.htm

Resources
The Fruit of the Holy Spirit What is goodness? | GotQuestions.org

How can I believe in the goodness of God when there is so much evil in the world? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean that God is good? | GotQuestions.org

Goodness: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Subtopics

Goodness

The Goodness of God is Part of his Character

The Goodness of God: Declared to Be: Abundant

The Goodness of God: Declared to Be: Enduring

The Goodness of God: Declared to Be: Great

The Goodness of God: Declared to Be: Rich

The Goodness of God: Declared to Be: Satisfying

The Goodness of God: Declared to Be: Universal

The Goodness of God: Manifested in Doing Good

The Goodness of God: Manifested in Forgiving Sins

The Goodness of God: Manifested in Providing for the Poor

The Goodness of God: Manifested in Supplying Temporal Wants

The Goodness of God: Manifested: Despise Not

The Goodness of God: Manifested: Leads to Repentance

The Goodness of God: Manifested: Magnify

The Goodness of God: Manifested: Pray for the Manifestation of

The Goodness of God: Manifested: Recognize, in his Dealings

The Goodness of God: Manifested: Reverence

The Goodness of God: Manifested: The Wicked Disregard

The Goodness of God: Manifested: To his Church

The Goodness of God: Manifested: Urge Others to Confide In

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The Goodness of God: Declared to Be: Abundant
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