Pearls of the Word

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Only God is good

by Jean-Louis Coraboeuf

"Jesus replied to him: Why do you call me good? There is no-one good save God alone" (Luke 18:19).

Only God is good, for He is that by his very nature, and everything He created is good (1 Timothy 4:4). Yet throughout the Bible, God expresses His preference for 'upright' men rather than 'good' men. The truth is that 'good' men do not believe they are sinners, precisely because of their own goodness, and they do not recognise the need to repent and submit themselves to God.

Jesus seeks just men ("in whom there is no guile", Nathaniel in John 1:47) who have a sincere heart (Hebrews 10:22), in order to make true disciples of them (John 8:31) and true worshippers of the Father (John 4:23). For there is more joy in the heavens for one sinner who repents, than for ninety-nine righteous men (righteous in their own eyes) who do not need repentance (Luke 15:7).