How does the goodness of God actually take hold of a world so full of evil and disorder? The answer lies in the character of his providence, which does not merely permit events from a distance but bounds, orders, and governs them toward good ends. God’s goodness takes shape in his providence, by which he works in and through everything toward good ends and purposes. His goals, objectives, methods, plans, tactics, and actions are wholly and perfectly good. His intentions are good, and, even in the face of evil, God directs all things so as to accomplish the good he has in mind.
This is secured by God’s almightiness — his limitless and absolute power. Because he is omnipotent, his goodness is never frustrated. He not only intends what is good but is fully able to bring it about. God does whatever pleases him, and what pleases him is always good. His providence is therefore not passive but active: a deliberate, wise, and sure-handed governance of all things. Nothing falls outside its reach; nothing escapes its purpose. What might otherwise look like a world abandoned to chance is, in truth, a world held firmly and continually in the hand of a Father whose power and goodness are alike without limit.
The Westminster Confession of Faith captures this well, linking God’s goodness with his direction of events, in terms of ‘bounding,’ ‘ordering,’ and ‘governing’:
‘The almighty power, unsearchable wisdom, and infinite goodness of God so manifest themselves in his providence, which extends itself even to the first fall [of Adam], and all other sins of angels and men; and that not by bare permission, but such as has joined with it a most wise and powerful bounding, and otherwise ordering, and governing of them, in manifold dispensation, to his own holy ends; yet so, as sinfulness proceeds only from the creature, and not from God, who, being most holy and righteous, neither is nor can be the author or approver of sin.’1The Westminster Confession of Faith, 5.4; Van Dixhoorn ed., 193, slightly amended (Chad Van Dixhoorn, Creeds, Confessions, and Catechisms: A Reader’s Edition (Crossway, 2022)).
God’s special saving goodness to ‘those who believe’ (1 Cor 1:21; Gal 3:22; cf. John 7:29; 17:20; 20:29; Acts 18:27) is, therefore, ongoing and constant, the soundtrack and background music, as it were, to the believer’s life. God is good as one who is ceaselessly loyal, dependable, trustworthy, and true. His goodness is not intermittent but continuous, expressed in unwavering loyalty to his purposes, his promises, and his people.
This ongoing goodness is closely bound to God’s Word. He remains faithful to the gospel and to all that he has spoken in Scripture. ‘So, with confidence we commend God’s Word to all around us as a good word. God has given us the Bible for our good, collectively as well as individually. It sheds light into the darkness and proclaims life-giving truth to counter ignorance, falsehood, and fear. It brings real freedom.’2Mark D. Thompson, Doctrine of Scripture: An Introduction (Crossway, 2022), 182-83. If the cross of Christ is the supreme expression of God’s goodness, then his providence is its continual outworking in unbroken ‘faithfulness to his purposes, promises, and people.’3Packer, Concise Theology, 46.
This is The Heidelberg Catechism’s beautiful expression: ‘What do you believe when you say, “I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth”? That the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who out of nothing created heaven and earth and everything in them, who still upholds and rules them by his eternal counsel and providence, is my God and Father for the sake of Christ his Son. I trust God so much that I do not doubt that he will provide whatever I need for body and soul, and will turn to my good whatever adversity he sends upon me in this vale of tears. He is able to do this because he is almighty God; he desires to do this because he is a faithful Father.’4The Heidelberg Catechism, Q. 26; Van Dixhoorn ed., 298.
The continuous goodness of God in Scripture — ‘Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever’ (Psa 23:6) — and especially in the good news of the gospel, tell us that ‘Wherever we are and whatever our circumstances may be, the hand of God is upon us, shielding us from harm, bestowing all kinds of blessings on us, and leading us to eternal life in heaven. Everything else proceeds from that, and it is in this daily provision and protection that we come to understand what it means for us to say that God is “good.”‘5Gerald Bray, God is Love: A Biblical and Systematic Theology (Crossway, 2012), 158. In Christ, this goodness becomes not only visible but approachable. The majesty of God, which might otherwise inspire fear, is clothed in grace and fatherly kindness. As a result, we may confidently rely upon God, knowing that he is not distant or hostile, but gracious and for us.6‘The sum of all this is that we may safely call on God, since we know he is propitious to us. This happens … because when Christ accepts us into his faith and discipleship, he covers with his goodness the majesty of God which would otherwise be fearful, so that nothing appears except grace and fatherly goodwill’ (Calvin, Comm Hebrews 4:16; trans. Johnstone, 57).
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- 1The Westminster Confession of Faith, 5.4; Van Dixhoorn ed., 193, slightly amended (Chad Van Dixhoorn, Creeds, Confessions, and Catechisms: A Reader’s Edition (Crossway, 2022)).
- 2Mark D. Thompson, Doctrine of Scripture: An Introduction (Crossway, 2022), 182-83.
- 3Packer, Concise Theology, 46.
- 4The Heidelberg Catechism, Q. 26; Van Dixhoorn ed., 298.
- 5Gerald Bray, God is Love: A Biblical and Systematic Theology (Crossway, 2012), 158.
- 6‘The sum of all this is that we may safely call on God, since we know he is propitious to us. This happens … because when Christ accepts us into his faith and discipleship, he covers with his goodness the majesty of God which would otherwise be fearful, so that nothing appears except grace and fatherly goodwill’ (Calvin, Comm Hebrews 4:16; trans. Johnstone, 57).