Only God is Good and Holy

Mark 10:17-22

Recently, I was asked to give my comments on a booklet the subject of which was a refutation of the Deity of Christ. One of the many sections of Scripture used by the author, as support for his doctrine, was the above reading-particularly verses 17-18.

I can well understand his use of these verses to validate his argument, as it appears on the surface that when Jesus said to the rich young ruler, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but One, that is, God", He was denying His equality with God, who is indeed good. However, it is to be noted that on many occasions during Christ's ministry, when He was confronted by a question, instead of giving a direct answer He instead asked another question, as if He were trying to provoke deeper thought on the subject. I personally believe that when Jesus answered the rich young ruler this way, He was more or less saying that yes, he had addressed Him correctly and was asking him if he recognised who indeed it was he was speaking with.

Only One is good-God (Psalm 25:8), even as "there is none holy like the Lord" (1 Samuel 2:2). As God the Father is infinitely good and holy, so likewise Jesus Christ the Son who said, "I am the good shepherd" (John 10:11; compare Psalm 23). Also He (Christ) is called the Holy One and the Just (Acts 3:14)-the One who knew no sin, who was without sin and without spot, holy, harmless, undefiled and separate from sinners (Hebrews 7:26).

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth and all that was in them and when He saw everything that He had made He saw that it was very good indeed. However, because of what happened as recorded in Genesis 3, mankind fell from God's goodness and became spoilt and lost. But because of God's great love for His creation, He provided the way, through Jesus Christ the Holy One of God, as the Good Shepherd who gave His life for the lost sheep, by which they could be saved. Can we therefore forego the riches of this world, take up our cross and follow Him? If we can, not only will we have treasure in heaven, but we will taste and see the Lord is good indeed (Psalm 34:8).