“And behold, one came and said, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why do you call me good? There is none good but one — that is, God. But if you will enter into life, keep the commandments.” (KJV Matthew 19:16-17, NC Matthew 9:22)
When it comes to adults who are accountable, you are either evil, or you repent from being evil. None are good. But God is merciful to those who repent. None can, of themselves, merit anything that qualifies as being “good” on an eternal scale. The “good” that man can do everyday is only on a temporal scale. But that which is eternal, is of a different nature all together.
This sobering thought is not to make anyone take a depressing view of himself or one another, though it should bring humility. The contrast is intended to expand the view of what is actually “good” to extend into an eternal realm which man hardly comprehends. God is good in an eternal sense. His goodness is far beyond what man normally considers. In fact, the great goodness of God often appears as darkness to man. It just isn’t comprehended. So his goodness goes unappreciated and even considered as not being good at all. Man is so concerned about temporal things so as to be blinded to that which is eternal, even though the eternal is present in the very moment and with every breath he takes.
After Moses’s view of eternal things was greatly expanded, he exclaimed, “Now for this once I know that man is nothing, which thing I never had supposed.” (NC Gen. 1:2, LDS Moses 1:10).
Before Jesus had fulfilled his mission and accomplished the atonement, he confessed that, “Truly, truly I say unto you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father do; for whatever things he does, the Son likewise does these also, for the Father loves the Son and shows him all things that he himself does.” (NC John 5:4, see KJV John 5:19).
If Jesus could do nothing of himself, except what the Father showed him, how could any of us expect anything different? If we are going to do anything good at all, it can only be under the direction of God and doing His will. Again, Jesus said, ”I can of my own self do nothing, because I seek not my own will, but the will of the Father who has sent me.” (KJV John 8:38, NC John 5:5).
There is a difference between being good and doing good. None are good of themselves. But if one will do good, they will do so working by the power and gifts of God, which is not of themselves.
“And now I speak unto all the ends of the earth, that if the day cometh that the power and gifts of God shall be done away among you, it shall be because of unbelief. And woe be unto the children of men if this be the case, for there shall be none that doeth good among you, no not one; for if there be one among you that doeth good, he shall work by the power and gifts of God. And woe unto them which shall do these things away and die, for they die in their sins and they cannot be saved in the kingdom of God. And I speak it according to the words of Christ, and I lie not.” (LDS Moroni 10:24-26, NC Moroni 10:5)
The natural, normal state of man is better understood as “fallen man”. In this state, man can merit no good thing of himself. The temporary nature of man makes it impossible for any man, of himself, to do anything that is good in an eternal sense. Temporal beings, don’t do eternal things except by borrowing from One who is eternal. An Eternal Being can use a temporal being to bring about something good. When that happens, it is not the temporal being which has done it, but the One that is eternal. It is not something that man can merit of himself. It is truly by the mercy and grace of God for a temporal being to be a part of and to witness the works of God first hand.
“And since man had fallen, he could not merit anything of himself. But the sufferings and death of Christ atoneth for their sins, through faith and repentance, etc., and that he breaketh the bands of death that the grave shall have no victory, and that the sting of death should be swallowed up in the hopes of glory.” (LDS Alma 22:14, NC Alma 13:9)
It is the merits of Jesus Christ, who was born into the flesh, that make it possible for any good, (again, when I say “good” here, I mean in an eternal sense), to come upon man. Anything that is good that comes upon man, comes by way of the merits of Christ and his mark upon this earth both before and after his mortal life upon it.
“And behold, there were divers ways that he did manifest things unto the children of men which were good, and all things which are good cometh of Christ; otherwise, men were fallen and there could no good thing come unto them.” (LDS Moroni 7:24, NC Moroni 7:4).
Anything that is good, will naturally bring with it at witness of Christ because he has made it and his fingerprints are all over it. He is the creator of it. As such, it inevitably shows signs of him. If his fingerprints are all over it, it will witness of him.
“For everything which inviteth to do good and to persuade to believe in Christ is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ. Wherefore, ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.” (LDS Moroni 7:16, NC Moroni 7:3)
If it does not witness of him, but seeks honor unto itself, it is not of him. That which is from him, bears his marks and honors him. If it does not bear the marks of his character, nor honor him, it is because it is not from him.
Each may ask himself, “Do I bear the marks of Christ in my own character? Do my words and actions, make a persuasive case to believe in and honor Christ? Do I work by the power and gifts of Christ? Do I bring honor to his name?”
A person who does these things is one who repents. It can come no other way. He is merciful and gracious to those who willingly repent and delights to honor those who serve him by acting according to His righteousness and truth. He truly is good.