The Manifestation of God’s Goodness
Dr. Stephen Yuille has been married to Alison for thirty-three years. They have two daughters and one grandson. Dr. Yuille is a Content Director/Editor at Reformation Heritage Books, while also serving as a Professor of Church History and Spiritual Formation at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. He has over thirty years of ministry experience and is currently the preaching pastor at Fairview Covenant Church in Granbury, Texas. He has published an extensive list of academic articles and books in Puritan studies. He has also published several popular works in biblical studies.
The following article is adapted from Week 8 of Gospel Realities: Lessons from Galatians, “Crucified with Christ.”
Gospel Realities: Lessons from Galatians is an 8-week multimedia Bible study by Dr. Stephen Yuille that guides us through the book of Galatians to help us grasp the sole sufficiency of Christ, applied by the Holy Spirit, to justify us before God and give us all we need to live lives of obedience.
“But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy” (Titus 3:4). Christ is the full manifestation of God’s goodness. He demonstrates it by healing the sick, freeing the demoniac, and raising the dead. He proclaims it by willingly laying down His life to ransom sinners.
Christ’s claims are full of goodness. “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35). “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10).
Christ’s promises are full of goodness. “Whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst” (John 6:35). “Whoever comes to me I will never cast out” (John 6:37). “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water’” (John 7:38). “Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).
Christ brings “good news to the poor” (Luke 4:18). What makes it “good” is that it corresponds to our greatest need. If I have a broken arm, I do not need cough medicine. Similarly, if I am a sinner who stands condemned in God’s sight, I do not need self-help recipes or how-to seminars. I need a Savior. The good news is that we do not need to earn our way to God because Christ has earned it for us. The good news is that, because of Christ, God is willing to say to us: “Your sins are forgiven” (Luke 7:48). God forgives instantly, completely, and freely. “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Ps. 147:3). The gospel extends great hope, for where there is conviction for sin, God promises mercy; where there is weariness for sin, He promises rest; where there is repentance for sin, He promises forgiveness.