HOW GOOD DO I HAVE TO BE?

READING: Ps 37:23-31 23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. 25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. 26 He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed. 27 Depart from evil, and do good ; and dwell for evermore. 28 For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off. 29 The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever. 30 The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment. 31 The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide. I. I FEAR GOD. A. As commanded. 1. Eccl 8:12 Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God , which fear before him: 2. Eccl 12:13-14 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. 3. Rev 14:6-7 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. II. I AM DEVOUT. DEVOUT: "pious," "dutiful," "reverential," devoted to God. A. As exemplified in the Scriptures. 1. Luke 2:25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. 2. Acts 8:2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. 3. Acts 22:12-15 And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there, Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him. And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. III. I AM JUST. A. As described in Gods Word. 1. Gen 6:9 These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God. 2. Prov 4:18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

B. Striving to be as Christ is. 1. Acts 22:14 And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou [Saul/Paul] shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. IV. I ALWAYS PRAY. A. As God commands. 1. Luke 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; 2. Luke 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. 3. 1 Thess 5:17 Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. V. I HELP THE NEEDY. A. Even helping those who oppose me. 1. Matt 5:44-45 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. B. Especially those of the church. 1. Gal 6:9-10 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. VI. I AM A GOOD INFLUENCE ON MY FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND ACQUAINTANCES. A. I know that people are watching me, to see if I do good. 1. Matt 5:13-16 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. B. I encourage my mate. 1. 1 Cor 7:16 For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife? VII. I AM RESPECTED IN THE COMMUNITY. A. As are some mentioned and commended in the Bible. 1. 1 Tim 3:7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. 2. 3 John 12 Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true.

NOW, let us consider Acts 10:2, 22. Was Cornelius good? Was he devout? Was he just? Was he a praying man? Did he help the needy? Was he a good influence on his family, friends, and acquaintances? Was he respected in the community? Acts 10:1-2 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. Acts 10:22 And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee. ****What had to happen before he was saved? Acts 10:47-48; Acts 22:14-16; Acts 2:37-38. ****Acts 10:47-48 [re Cornelius] 47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days. ****Acts 22:14-16 [To Saul/Paul] And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. ****Acts 2:36-41 [To the crowd in Jerusalem at Pentecost] 36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. 37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. 41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.