TRANSIENT GOODNESS

HOSEA 6:4

A. "O EPHRAIM, WHAT SHALL I DO UNTO THEE? O JUDAH WHAT SHALL I DO UNTO THEE? FOR YOUR GOODNESS IS AS A MORNING CLOUD, AND AS THE EARLY DEW IT GOETH AWAY"
  1. Our text reveals the great truth:
    1. That God never overlooks of ignores the good in man, no matter how faint it may be
    2. "A bruised reed shall He not break and the smoking flax shall He not quench" - Is. 42:3
  2. Here we have some vivid examples:
    1. The woman of Samaria - John 4:17-18
    2. Mary Magdalene - Matt. 26:7-13
    3. Zacchaeus the tax collector - Luke 19:9
    4. Rahab the harlot - Ps. 87:4 B. TRANSIENT GOODNESS, IS HOWEVER, NOT ENOUGH
  3. Note carefully, Bible Christianity is not:
    1. A thing of mere moods and frames of mind
    2. It is not mere emotion, but the power and principle of a new life - Gal. 2:20
  4. This does not mean that a Bible Christian does not have his ups and his downs:
    1. Some of the closest followers of God had their ups and downs; Examples: Elijah, the man who was translated without seeing death had his ups and downs - compare I Kings 18 with chapter 19; the prophet Jeremiah, too, had his ups and downs - Jer. 20:9
    2. But what the Lord desires in our lives is a service of love that is based upon truth - such goodness is not of a temporary nature - Ps. 15
  5. We must ever keep in mind:
    1. That human goodness is a best transitory because man is transitory - Is. 64:6
    2. Just as our opening text states - "A morning cloud" and "the morning dew"
    3. The only goodness that is not transitory is the goodness of the Lord - Ps. 31:19; 52:1
    4. This goodness was manifested in the Son of God - John 1:14
    5. It comes to us as a gift - 1 Cor. 1:30-31
    6. It is added unto us and also implanted in our lives C. WHAT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR THE CHRISTIAN BELIEVER IS TO REMEMBER
  6. That goodness, like all other gifts of heaven are free and yet conditional:
    1. Those conditions are stated plainly in John 15, "If ye abide in Me and I abide in you"
    2. Our intimate relationship with Jesus Christ determines the temper of our goodness
    3. For He and He only is our righteousness - Jer. 23:6; 33:16; Is. 54:17; 1 Cor. 1:30-31
  7. True goodness is the nature of a new born person:
    1. "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things have passed away, behold all things are become new" - 2 Cor. 5:17
    2. "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in" - Eph. 2:10
    3. All of this goodness is the rich gift of the grace of God - Eph. 2:7-8
    4. Peter gives a glowing testimony of how this abiding goodness becomes a part of us - read very prayerfully 2 Peter 1:2-8
  8. It is well for us to keep these truths in our mind, lest we become discouraged:
    1. The term "goodness" as the Bible uses it is not and cannot be of our own making because we have all come short of the glory of God - Rom. 3:23
    2. It is the free love gift of God to all who accept Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour - Rom. 8:1-3
    3. It becomes a part of us thorough the work of the Holy Spirit - Zech. 4:6
  9. Divine goodness comes to the believer through sanctification which is the work of a lifetime
    1. The change of our carnal nature is not the work of an hour or day; no it is the work of a lifetime
    2. By constantly beholding the Lord Jesus and His beautiful character we become changed - 2 Cor. 3:17-18; Is this your experience?


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