Good and Loving God

Lesson Twelve - Our Good and Loving God

O LORD God, You have loved us with an everlasting love, and with lovingkindness You have drawn us (Jeremiah 31:3). Graciously grant that we come to know Your great goodness and Your everlasting love toward us in Christ Jesus, that we might trust in You, love You, and show Your goodness and love to others. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

My Dear Children,

We think that we know true goodness and true, self-giving love; but we do not find true goodness or perfect love in this world, except in God. As Jesus said, "No one is good but One, that is God" (Matthew 19:17); and as John writes, "In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins" (1 John 4:10). Human goodness and human love (even among Christians) fails and comes short. It is infected by our sinfulness and fails to reflect the perfect goodness and love of God, our Father. To know goodness and love, we look to God; for God is good (Psalm 86:5; 118:1 ), and "God is love" (1 John 4:16).

1. In Psalm 145:9, the Bible says, "The LORD is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works." What does this passage say of God’s goodness? Read also Matthew 5:43-48. How is God good to all?

2. Psalm 33:5 says, "The earth is full of the goodness of the LORD." How is this so? What examples can you find in Psalm 33?

3. In Psalm 86:5, David writes: "For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You." How does this passage describe God’s goodness? What comfort can we sinners find in this passage of God’s Word?

4. Psalm 34:8 says, "Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!" What does this psalm encourage us to do? How can we do this? Read verses 9-10 of this psalm. What do these words tell us of the LORD’s goodness.

5. Read Nahum 1:7. "The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him." How is the goodness of the LORD toward us described here? What comfort can we take from these words?

6. Read Romans 2:4. To what is the goodness of the Lord to lead us? Why is God good to us and to all people?

7. In Jeremiah 31:3, the LORD Himself says: "Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you." Does God’s love ever run out? How does God draw us with lovingkindness?

8. Read John 3:16 and 1 John 4:9-10. What do these passages teach us of God’s love? What did God’s love for us sinners move Him to do?

9. Romans 5:8 says, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Are we deserving of God’s love or of Christ’s death for our sins? Why did God send His Son, and why did Christ die for us?

10. Read Ephesians 2:1-10. What else did God do for us because of His great love?

11. Read Romans 8:31-39. What does this Word of God tell you of God’s love for you in Christ Jesus?

12. Read 1 John 3:1. What does this passage say of God’s love for us sinners?

13. Read 1 John 4:7-11. What should God’s great love for us move us to do?

GOD

We believe that there is only one true God (Isaiah 44:6; I Corinthians 8:4). This God (called the LORD or JEHOVAH) is one divine Being or Essence, but three distinct Persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (thus the name, Triune or Three/One God), each being eternal and equal in power and majesty, because each Person is the LORD God (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; I John 5:7; Isaiah 48:16-17; John 1:1; Colossians 2:9; I Corinthians 3:16; Hebrews 9:14; I Peter 4:14). We believe that no one can worship or serve the Triune God except he believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God and the Savior of mankind from sin and its consequences (John 3:18,36; 5:23; 14:6; I John 2:23; 5:11-12). Hence, all who deny the Trinity of God (that God is three Persons) or the Unity of God (that God is one divine Being), or who do not trust in Jesus Christ, the Son, for salvation, do not worship and serve the true God.

Please Memorize: Psalm 145:9; Psalm 34:8; Psalm 86:5; 1 John 4:10; Romans 5:8.