Reflecting on each reference I came up with four main points that cover what Paul said.  1. Some are unfit to do anything good.  2. God wants us to be ready to do what is good.  3. God’s ultimate objective is that we are eager to do what is good.  4. We need to teach other believers what is good and how to do it. 

Chapter 1 concludes with Paul saying unbelievers are unfit for doing good.  This is why Paul said all his good deeds before he was a Christian amounted to nothing more than a heap of rubbish.  Isaiah 64:6 says the same thing.  God, however, wants us to do what is good.  How can we get ready to do what is good? 

First, we need to believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior.  Then we need to devote ourselves to doing what is good.  For that, we need mature believers to teach us: older women teaching younger women and mature men teaching younger men, primarily by example.  Once we learn how, we need to devote ourselves to doing what is good as a way of life. 

The more “doing what is good” becomes a way of life you’ll find yourself eager to do what is good.  In fact, you’ll begin loving to do what is good.  This is the level of growth required for being an Elder in the church.

In our next visit we’ll share some thoughts about teaching others what is good and how to do it.