Is it possible for non-Christians to do good things?

from the old testament

• The definition of what is "good" is important. Unbelievers do not do anything that is spiritually "good," i.e., pleasing to God. Speaking about the state of humanity in its rebellious state, David wrote, “They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good. The LORD looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one” (Psalm 14:1b–3; cf. Genesis 6:5; Ecclesiastes 7:20).
• Human beings are born sinners by nature and by choice. Genesis 8:21 says, “the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth." This is why we cannot please God and need Christ's righteousness.
• No work apart from faith is "good" to God. Isaiah 64:6 says, “We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.”
• Despite the sinful motives often behind human actions, God uses even unsaved humanity to display His goodness on the Earth. He does this by restraining the evil people could do (Genesis 20:6) and providing rescue (Isaiah 45:1–4) and deliverance (Exodus 2:5–10).
• The only reason humans are capable of recognizing and performing certain earthly good acts is that we are created in God’s image (Genesis 1:26–27). Though fallen, that image remains, meaning humanity still reflects aspects of God’s moral character and retains a basic awareness of right and wrong. While this does not make our works righteous before God, it is the basis of our ability to perform genuinely good actions to others.

from the new testament

• Paul, quoting from Psalm 14 and other Old Testament passages, taught, “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one” (Romans 3:10–12).
• "Without faith it is impossible to please him [God], for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him" (Hebrews 11:6). It is "impossible to please" An unbeliever, by definition, does not believe in God nor His Son Jesus, so he has no faith and can't please God in a saving or righteous sense.
• However, even unbelievers do things that are truly good on a human level. Jesus, while explaining that the Father gives good gifts, commented that, “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:11).
• Even though humankind is evil, we still know how to do good things. This is because God has written His law on our hearts (Romans 2:14–15). Our conscience, even though in rebellion against God, knows deep down what is truly good, so we're capable of doing good in an earthly sense.
• Theologians call this general good in the world despite humankind's evil God's “common grace.” Jesus noted that God “makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45). He satisfies “hearts with food and gladness” (Acts 14:17b). Additionally, God works through sinful men and women to bring good things into this world.
• Only believers can do truly righteous works of the type that please God because they have the indwelling Holy Spirit. Indeed, believers are “his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). But, again, apart from Christ we can do nothing (John 15:5).

implications for today

A carpenter needs a saw. A racecar driver needs a racecar. A bread baker needs flour. Having the ability to do something often depends on something outside of us. In the case of believers, though, our ability to do good is dependent on what is inside us. Unbelievers might volunteer at a homeless shelter, donate to relief efforts, and speak to others about the horror of abortion. These actions are "good" in an earthly sense but fruitless when it comes to pleasing God to earn salvation. Those who wish to please God must accept Christ as Savior.

Those who find it hard to accept this may point to examples of unbelievers in history who have provided a general good for humanity—doctors who created cures for diseases or humanitarians who devoted their lives to feeding the poor. Yes, God uses even unbelievers to do good things for humanity. However, while those good works are good and reflect the common grace of who God is and how He has revealed Himself in the world, they do not earn eternal rewards or salvation. Instead, they show God's perfect goodness despite humanity’s rebellion.

Those who accept Christ as their Savior have been made into new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17) and can please God with their good works. The Holy Spirit lives within us, and we are given a new nature that can live to please Him—not perfectly, but seeking what is good and true. In fact, He has specifically given us works to do (Ephesians 2:10).

Still, we must remember that we please Him in what we do only because He sees us in light of what Jesus did. Ultimately, it is our faith that pleases Him and His Spirit that allows us to do good so our good works honor Him.

How should this impact us? We should humbly respond in gratitude for God transforming us form the kingdom of darkness—living for sin and self—into the kingdom of life—living for Him. We should praise God for His common grace and thank God that neither the world nor people are devoid of seeing His goodness. We should also tell unbelievers about how they can please God by accepting His Son as Savior.

And perhaps the most thought-provoking question of all: if the world can glimpse God’s goodness in the acts of those who don’t yet know Him, how much more should it shine from believers who have been redeemed?