Are there good people?

The Bible tells us man is sinful and can do all kinds of evil

 Matt 15:19: “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.”

Mark 7:21-23: “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, "thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness." All these evil things come from within and defile a man”

Just as Jeremiah described (Jer 17:9-10)"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.”

Paul gives a lengthy explanation of the state of mankind (this is only a portion)

Rom. 3:10-12: “As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one."

Yet the Bible does say there are people that can do good.

Israel was instructed

Ps 37:3 “Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.

Ps 37:27 “Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell forevermore.

We are to Learn to do good; seek justice, rebuke the oppressor; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow. (Isa 1:17)

God would not tell people to do something they are unable to do.

Without God’s knowledge no one can do good Jer. 4:22: “For My people are foolish, they have not known Me. They are silly children, and they have no understanding. They are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge."

Jesus instructs man to do what is good

Luke 6:27: “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you” In other words don’t repay evil for evil.

Jesus make a distinction of people yet he says that both the good and evil have certain necessary provisions by God. Matt 5:45: “that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

Jesus recognizes that are those who can do good instead of evil despite their sinful nature.

Matt 12:35: “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.” Out of the good treasure of ones spirit means- doing good to others. Good in people means you can find the qualities of them being trustworthy, honest, caring, loving, all of these are part of the image of God in man.

When we are born with God’s Spirit it says we have the power to choose other than evil; we are no longer slaves to what is not of God.

Those who receive the word of God and become fruitful Jesus says have good ground (Matt 13:23), in other words their heart is inclined to the truth, not to reject it.

 3 Jn 1:11: “Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God.”

1 Pet 3:11: “Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.” (also Eccl.3:12; Jer.13:23)

2 Cor. 5:10: “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”

We will all answer for the work we have done in this life.

Our standard of Good is none other than God Himself.

Matt 19:16-17: “Now behold, one came and said to Him, "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life? "So He said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments."

While man can do some good works, God is the only one who is intrinsically good. There is none whose nature is good and is perfect in all they do – but God. Only Jesus could keep the commandments perfectly which makes him both good and God. Matt 20:15: “Or is your eye evil because I am good?”

God’s character, His very being is good and it does not change.

Man who is made in His image is sinful but can still DO good at times. Yes we are depraved in our nature but we are not so corrupted that we cannot do ANY good. None of our work is not meritorious, it does not give us right standing with God nor is it acceptable that we will be rewarded for doing good. We must be in Christ for this to count.

Moses requested from the Lord “Please, show me Your glory.” God said to Moses: “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion” (Exod. 33:19).

It means that Moses saw his beauty and it was exhibited by him explaining of his grace.

Ps. 145:6-9: “Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts, and I will declare Your greatness. They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness, and shall sing of Your righteousness. The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy. The LORD is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works.”

So the answer to- are there any good people? The answer is no, because as fallen man we are sinful creatures. Are there people who can do good- yes. But only God is perfectly good and just all the time and this is why the Bible says there is no one good but God.

“Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust. O my soul, you have said to the LORD, "You are my Lord, my goodness is nothing apart from You” (Ps 16:1-2).

Let us remember apart from Jesus Christ we can do nothing (Jn.15).