Relationship Between God's Goodness Mercy and Holiness
God's goodness, mercy, and holiness are distinct yet interconnected attributes of His character, often presented in Scripture as working in concert. Goodness is a fundamental perfection of God, encompassing His benevolent nature and His actions toward His creatures [1]. Mercy, a specific manifestation of goodness, is compassion shown to those in misery [1, 4]. Holiness, in its highest sense, belongs uniquely to God and signifies His absolute purity and separation from evil [3].
The goodness of God is described as great, rich, abundant, satisfying, enduring, and universal [6]. It is the underlying attribute from which other perfections flow [1]. For instance, God's goodness is seen in His provision for temporal needs, His care for the poor, and His forgiveness of sins [6]. It is so central to His being that when Moses asked to see God's glory, God responded, "I will make all my goodness pass before thee" (Exodus 33:19) [9]. This goodness is not merely an abstract quality but is actively demonstrated in His dealings with humanity, leading to repentance [6].
Mercy is a particular expression of God's goodness, specifically directed towards those who are suffering or undeserving [1, 4]. It is described as "compassion for the miserable" [4]. The Bible frequently highlights God's tender mercies and loving-kindnesses, emphasizing their abundance and everlasting nature [5, 11]. The exercise of God's mercy is made possible through the atoning sacrifice of Christ, which harmonizes mercy with the demands of truth and righteousness [4]. As Psalm 85:10 states, "Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other" [2]. This verse is often interpreted as referring to Christ, in whom God's grace and truth converge [10]. John Gill notes that while there was no mercy shown to Christ as the surety for His people, as Mediator, the special mercy of God is with Him [7]. Adam Clarke further clarifies that God's mercies flow from His goodness, and forgivenesses flow from His mercies [13].
Holiness, in contrast to goodness and mercy, emphasizes God's absolute moral purity and His distinctness from all creation, especially from sin [3]. Isaiah 6:3 and Revelation 15:4 declare God's holiness. While goodness and mercy are often directed outward, holiness speaks to God's intrinsic nature. However, these attributes are not isolated. God's holiness ensures that His goodness and mercy are always righteous and just. The "holy righteous God cannot in honour be at peace with a sinner while he continues under the guilt of sin" [8]. This implies that while God is good and merciful, His holiness requires a just resolution to sin, which is provided through Christ [8].
The relationship between these attributes is one of unity and mutual reinforcement. God's goodness is the broad foundation, His mercy is a specific application of that goodness towards the distressed, and His holiness ensures the integrity and righteousness of both. They are not contradictory but rather different facets of the same divine character. For example, God's loving righteousness means He loves righteous persons and works, and hates iniquity [12]. This demonstrates how His goodness (loving righteousness) and holiness (hating iniquity) are perfectly integrated. The divine attributes are not in conflict; rather, "Goodness and justice are the several aspects of one unchangeable, infinitely wise, and sovereign moral perfection" [1].
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Goodness of God — A perfection of his character which he exercises towards his creatures according to their various circumstances and relations (Ps. 145:8, 9; 103:8; 1 John 4:8). Viewed generally, it is benevolence; as exercised with respect to the miseries of his creatures it is mercy, pity, compassion, and in the case of impenitent sinners, long-suffering patience; as exercised in communicating favour on the unworthy it is grace. "Goodness and justice are the several aspects of one unchangeable, infinitely wise, and sovereign moral perfection. God is not sometimes ”
- Psalms “Psalms 85:10 (Webster) — Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed [each other].”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Holiness — In the highest sense belongs to God (Isa. 6:3; Rev. 15:4), and to Christians as consecrated to God's service, and in so far as they are conformed in all things to the will of God (Rom. 6:19, 22; Eph. 1:4; Titus 1:8; 1 Pet. 1:15). Personal holiness is a work of gradual development. It is carried on under many hindrances, hence the frequent admonitions to watchfulness, prayer, and perseverance (1 Cor. 1:30; 2 Cor. 7:1; Eph. 4:23, 24). (See [280]SANCTIFICATION.)”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Mercy — Compassion for the miserable. Its object is misery. By the atoning sacrifice of Christ a way is open for the exercise of mercy towards the sons of men, in harmony with the demands of truth and righteousness (Gen. 19:19; Ex. 20:6; 34:6, 7; Ps. 85:10; 86:15, 16). In Christ mercy and truth meet together. Mercy is also a Christian grace (Matt. 5:7; 18:33-35).”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Loving-Kindness of God, The — Is through Christ -- Eph 2:7; Tit 3:4-6. Described as Great. -- Ne 9:17. Excellent. -- Ps 36:7. Good. -- Ps 69:16. Marvellous. -- Ps 17:7; 31:21. Multitudinous. -- Isa 63:7. Everlasting. -- Isa 54:8. Merciful. -- Ps 117:2. Better than life. -- Ps 63:3. Consideration of the dealings of God gives a knowledge of -- Ps 107:43. Saints Betrothed in. -- Ho 2:19. Drawn by. -- Jer 31:3. Preserved by. -- Ps 40:11. Quickened after. -- Ps 119:88. Comforted by. -- Ps 119:76. Look for mercy through. -- Ps 51:1. Receive mercy through. -- Isa 54:8. Are ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Goodness of God, The — Is part of his character -- Ps 25:8; Na 1:7; Mt 19:17. Declared to be Great. -- Ne 9:35; Zec 9:17. Rich. -- Ps 104:24; Ro 2:4. Abundant. -- Ex 34:6; Ps 33:5. Satisfying. -- Ps 65:4; Jer 31:12,14. Enduring. -- Ps 23:6; 52:1. Universal. -- Ps 145:9; Mt 5:45. Manifested To his Church. -- Ps 31:19; La 3:25. In doing good. -- Ps 119:68; 145:9. In supplying temporal wants. -- Ac 14:17. In providing for the poor. -- Ps 68:10. In forgiving sins. -- 2Ch 30:18; Ps 86:5. Leads to repentance. -- Ro 2:4. Recognise, in his dealings. -- Ezr 8:18; Ne 2:18. Pra”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 89:23: But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him,.... The "faithfulness" of God was and is with Christ, in performing promises made to him respecting his work, and strength to do it, as man, and the glory that should follow; and also those made to his people in him, relating to grace here, and happiness hereafter: and though there was no "mercy" shown to Christ, as the surety of his people, but he was dealt with in strict justice; yet, as Mediator of the covenant, the special mercy of God is with him, even every blessing of it, called "the sure mercies of David"; a”
- Romans (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Romans 5:1: The precious benefits and privileges which flow from justification are such as should quicken us all to give diligence to make it sure to ourselves that we are justified, and then to take the comfort it renders to us, and to do the duty it calls for from us. The fruits of this tree of life are exceedingly precious. I. We have peace with God, Rom 5:1. It is sin that breeds the quarrel between us and God, creates not only a strangeness, but an enmity; the holy righteous God cannot in honour be at peace with a sinner while he continues under the guilt of sin. Justific”
- Exodus (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Exodus 33:19: And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee,.... Which is his glory; the glory of the Lord lies in his goodness, and that appears in the works of his hands, in the methods of his providence, especially in the distribution of his sovereign grace and mercy, and particularly in his pardoning grace and mercy, through the blood of Christ; for as it is "the glory" of a man "to pass over a transgression", Pro 19:11 much more it is the glory of God, of which this goodness is afterwards interpreted; and may be understood of Christ himself, who is the goodness of”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 85:10: Mercy and truth are met together,.... Or "grace and truth" (p), which are in Christ, and come by him; and so may be said to meet in him, the glorious Person, the Author of salvation, before mentioned, Joh 1:14, these may be considered as perfections in God, displayed in salvation by Christ: "mercy" is the original of it; it is owing to that that the dayspring from on high visited us, or glory dwelt in our land, or Christ was sent and came to work salvation for us; it was pity to the lost human race which moved God to send him, and him to come, who is the merciful as ”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 25:6: Remember, O Lord, thy tender mercies and thy loving kindnesses,.... Not the providential mercy and kindness of God, in the care of him in his mother's womb, at the time of his birth, in his nurture and education, and in the preservation of him to the present time; but the special mercy, grace, and love of God in Christ: the sense of the petition is the same with that of Psa 106:4; which are expressed in the plural number, because of the largeness and abundance of it, and because of the various acts and instances of it; the Lord is rich and plenteous in mercy, abundant”
- Hebrews (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Hebrews 1:9: Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity,.... Christ loves righteous persons and righteous works, faithfulness and integrity, and a just administration of government, everything that is holy, just, and good; which has appeared in the whole course of his life on earth, in working out a righteousness for his people, and in encouraging righteousness in them, which he leads them in the way of; and his love of justice will still more appear at the last day, when he will judge the world in righteousness, and give the crown of righteousness to proper persons: and he”
- Daniel (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Daniel 9:9: Mercies and forgivenesses - From God's goodness flow God's mercies; from his mercies, forgivenesses.”