If we believe the evaluations that make of men, especially after their death, we must conclude that most all men make of men, especially after their death, we must conclude that most all men are good. And I am sure of this one thing, good people do not go to hell! But since the Bible teaches that a great number of people shall perish under the wrath of a Holy God perhaps we need to re-examine this matter of "good."
Good as it is in its true sense can only be applied to God. The Psalmist said, "For thou, Lord, art good" and not only that but "abundant in goodness." God is infinitely, eternally and immutably good. His very name of God reflects "GOOD!" He is good in His essence, His attributes and His actions. "Thou art good and doest good." (Psalm 119:68). He is the source of all good for "every good" comes down from above. God loves good and that's all He does love. God rewards good and only good. But most of all, God requires good! How good does a person have to be to go to heaven? Good as God! He will say to those who enter in that Holy place, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." If God ever accepts anything but absolute and perfect good He will then cease to be good Himself.
Good as it relates to man is another matter entirely. Are there any good men or women? Surely we must admit that some are at least outwardly better than others. That is plain to see.
But what or I should say Who really decides who is good and who is not? This must be decided by God Who alone is good and He tells us in His Word. To an outwardly good young man who thought himself capable of doing good so as to earn eternal life Christ gave this response: "Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is God." We do not know the state of man by what God commands him to do but by what God says that he is! God gave the ten commandments even as the people were breaking them at the foot of the mountain below. Man's inability to keep God's law does not reduce his responsibility to do so.
Paul, the apostle, quotes David in Psalms 14:1-3, 53:1-3 when he writes to the church at Rome in Romans 3:10-12. He tells us under inspiration of the Holy Spirit that there is "none that doeth good, no not one." Solomon also wrote, "For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good and sinneth not." (Ecc. 7:20) To be good, one must be good inwardly in every motive essentially in our nature, and judically under God's law, standards and justice. But God Who knows all hearts and Who cannot lie says that we are not good. Not one!
But then there is Good as it relates to God's gift of good to men! God in sovereign grace and mercy has purposed to give good to those He chose in Christ before the foundation of the world. Since He alone is good, He must give good. God provides the good to His people that He requires. Christ is God's will to give good to men the angels announced. Christ being God in the flesh was already essentially and immutably good yet the scriptures say that He "went about doing good."
This good or righteousness is imputed to those who believe in Him. Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness (good). Christ died for His people to make an end of their sins and He lived for them to provide a perfect good for them. In Christ, they are accepted fully as good in the sight of God.
Would you be good enough for God? Good enough for heaven? I recognize that you may be better than some others but that is not the issue. Are you good enough for God?
Not apart from Christ! You must by faith possess His good. He is God's Good, God's gift of good and there is no good apart from Him.