In what way is goodness a fruit of the Holy Spirit?

TL;DR:

God is good, and goodness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. Through the work of the Holy Spirit in us, God reproduces His goodness in our hearts, and it shows in our lives.

Galatians 5:22–23 is one of the most popular passages in the Bible. It lists the "fruit of the Spirit." The Greek word for goodness, agathosune, doesn't just refer to an attitude or a motivation, but a lifestyle characterized by virtue and helpfulness. The "fruit of the Spirit" describes characteristics we could never have without the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. Each piece of spiritual fruit works in concurrence with the others. Goodness is certainly one of them. Our good works were ordained by God. The natural extension of faith in Christ is good works in Christ's name. God created us, equips us, and completes the good works in us through His Spirit.

from the old testament

The psalmist says in Psalm 31:19, “Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind!” God's goodness is a provision for those who fear Him and take refuge in Him, demonstrating His unwavering faithfulness and care.

from the new testament

To be filled with goodness includes living a life of doing good things for others (Matthew 7:17–18; Luke 6:45).
It is good to be faithful with the blessings God has given us. Being a faithful steward is called "good" (Matthew 25:21, 23).
When Mary chose to sit and listen to Jesus instead of helping Martha in the kitchen, she was commended for doing something good (Luke 10:42).
We are called to be good even to our enemies: "But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you” (Luke 6:27).
We cannot be good on our own. Goodness is defined by God, and, as Jesus said, "No one is good except God alone" (Mark 10:18b).
Goodness cannot come from human effort. Even Paul, a Pharisee of the strictest order, could not force every part of his person to embody goodness (Romans 7:18–19).
Our expressions of goodness can diminish or negate the effects of evil in the world. As the Spirit produces the fruit of goodness in us, we become "salt" and "light" (Matthew 5:13–16).
We were created for good works: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).
We know God will complete His good work in us (Philippians 1:6; Romans 8:28–30).
Goodness will overcome evil (Romans 12:21).

implications for today

"Good," agathosune, here has the taste of righteousness in it. To do a good deed is to treat others justly and to also endorse virtue. It is righteous and beneficial to spend time with Jesus and to learn from Him. When wronged, we are still to do good to those who wrong us; we are not to seek revenge or return in kind. Just as a cup of water will spill water when bumped, a believer who is filled with the Spirit will spill goodness when jostled.

God grows goodness in us, and He will not stop until we are good through and through. When we see Jesus, we will be "like Him," fully characterized by goodness (1 John 3:2). Studying Scripture promotes goodness within us. God inspired the Scriptures in part so that we can be completely equipped "for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16–17). God’s goodness empowers us to live lives characterized by the desire to act righteously and for the good of others. As others see the work of God in us, Jesus said, they will "give glory to your Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16).

understand

Goodness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, reflected in virtuous actions.
Goodness comes from the Holy Spirit, not human effort.
Goodness involves doing good, even to enemies, and overcoming evil by doing good.

reflect

How does the goodness of the Holy Spirit show up in your actions toward others, especially when you're challenged?
How can you allow the Holy Spirit to transform your understanding of goodness to reflect God's character?
What are some specific examples in your life where you've experienced the Holy Spirit empowering you to overcome evil with good?

engage

How does the Holy Spirit’s work in us empower us to love and do good, especially to those who may oppose us?
How can we encourage one another to let the Spirit produce goodness in us more fully?
How does the goodness of the Spirit in us impact our ability to live out God's good works for the world around us?