A Good Man

PSALM 37:23

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.”

Words are used in many ways to express thoughts. In the absolute sense, there has only been One good man who has walked upon this earth. The One who came down from heaven to redeem all mankind. The Lord from Heaven who became man, the God-man, God in the flesh, God incarnate. He fulfills to perfection all God intended us to be. In the absolute sense, this description can only refer to Him.
But God also speaks, in His Word, of a good man in a relative sense, that is, as he relates to his fellow man. A good man in this sense has experienced the new birth and is walking in the ways of God, doing the will of God. He is a good man by grace through faith and obedience, though not a prefect man. He is a man with clean hands, thus blameless, and with a pure heart, by daily cleansing.
A man is also called a good man in a relative sense, if he is a devoted father and husband; if he is a hard working man who gives a days labor for a days wages; if he is a good neighbor and does good things for his neighbors; if he is honorable, noble, and moral; if he is a God-fearing man. Such a man was Cornelius (Acts 10) to whom Simon Peter was sent with the glorious gospel. Such a man was Nicodemus, the seeking Pharisee, who sought the Lord at night.
So, a man in a relative sense can be better than his peers and yet fall far short of God’s standard. I have known men who lived by some Biblical principles, men who were kind, compassionate, men who offered hospitality to all, however, they were not born from above and no man is good enough to get to Heaven without the new birth. It is called “the good that is not good enough.” “Except a man be born again, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God,” Christ said; so there is a goodness that is relative. A man may be somewhat better morally than his peers, or he may be more honorable and noble by setting strong standards for himself and strong discipline to keep them, and still not go to Heaven. Such a man has ignored his primary need. He is deceived into believing his goodness is good enough for God to accept, but it is never so. It is, indeed, deception. For if that was possible, Christ need not have come. We must declare ourselves completely void of righteousness, so that we can seek for His righteousness put to our account. God saves sinners and only sinners. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, and he will save all that come to Him.
Under His wings,
Pastor Ed Bowen

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