The Arvada enterprise. (Arvada, Colo.) 1908-1970, 1919-05-22
IMPROVED UNu0RN INTERNATIONAL
SUlNYSUlO0L
LESSON
By REV. P. b. FITzwATER, d. D..
Teacher Of English Bible in the Moody
Bible Institute Of Chicago.)
Copyright. 1919. by Western Newspaper Union,
LESSON FOR MAY rs.
REPENTANCE.

nGFeNJ ANVe.
LESSON TEXTs-Jonah s:l-l0; Luke Is:
IL; Acts 2:37. S.
GOLDEN TEXT-Repent ye, and be-
lieve the Gospel.-Mark l:l5.
ADDITIONAL MATERIALeIsaiah l:l0-
70: Luke S:l-l<: Acts 1850. 81: 2 Cor. 1911;
. Peter So
PRIMARY ToPIc-God's Willingness to
Forgive.
JUNIOR ToPIc-Ths People of Nine
ven Repent.
INTERMEDIATE TOPIC - Turning
From Sin to God.
SENIOR AND ADULT ToPIC-Ths
Nature and Fruit Of Repentance.
|. The Repentance Of the People Of
hinsveh S:1.1O).
The following steps are noted in
their conversion:
l. Hearing the Word Of the Lord
wv. 1-4).
The Lord commanded Jonah to 60 to
Nineveh, a great and wicked city, and
there preach the preaching" that he
babe him. Jonah's runaway expert
ence (see chapters l, p was such that
he was willing to obey God. His
chastisement was severe. but by Gods
grace he was now ready to execute the
commission. "Jonah arose and went
unto Nineveh according to the word
Of the Lord" ". 81. So great was the
city Of Nineveh that 1t required three
days to compass 1t; that is. to visit Its
very centers Of activity. Jonah. COM
ing from Palestine, doubtless entered
the city from the south. and during
an entire day going from center to CEN
ter cried. "Yet forty days and Nineveh
shall be overthrOwn" ". ~. Since
the kings palace seems to have been
In the south part Of the city Jonah's
message soon found its way to him. II
every preacher would preach what God
bids him there would be more cities
turning to God.
2. Believing God ". 81.
They not only believed God would
visit judgment upon them. but believed
In God. and put their trust In him for
mercy and salvation.
3. Repented wv. SOY.
Their penitence was shown In ~
cloth wv. SD. These marks OF hui
initiation were shown by all, from the
king on his throne to the most humble
man. (2) Cried nightly to God ".
81. In the midst of their humiliation
they cried with intensity to God. (3)
Turned from their evil ways ". ~.
The final test OF penitence il turning
from sin; It il hating sin badly enough
to quit 1t.
4. Accepted by God ". 10Y. When
the Ninevltes turned from their evils
God refrained from executing doom
upon them. II averted judgment. God
10 Interchangeable. His holy nature In
unalterably opposed to sin. When men
repent from their sins his wrath II
turned aside. This IL what Is meant
by God repenting.
u. The Necessity q Repentance
duke 1870.
Repentance In necessary on the part
Of all. since all are sinners. 1.-The
wages Of sin II death" (Rom. 1929.
While God Is unalterably opposed to
sin he In Infinitely gracious. His holy
nature cOmpels him to cause judgment
to fall upon those who will not turn
from their sins to serve him. Re-
pentnnce In not merely a matter Of
privilege. but Of absolute necessity II
one would escape the wrath Of God.
Repentance IL the only door Of escape
from perditiOn. II II not u question Of
how great sinner one Is that de-
tcrmines the need for repentance. since
God cannot look upon evil: For thou
art OF purer eyes than to behold evil.
and canst not look upon iniquity"
(liab. 1.13). No one can ever see him
In pence unless he turns from his sins.
God commands men to repent (ActJs
1880.
~. The Blessed Results Of Rspsn.
lance tActs 2 1889.
!. Remission Of sins. Remit means
10 send nwny. The one who rcpcnts
Ia rid forever Of his sins. for he liz u
new man In Christ.
2. GIFT OF the Holy Spirit when
one IL regencrnted he not only IN rid ~
his sins. but God. the Holy Spirit.
takes up his nbodc In him. He In his
teacher. guide and defender. These
blessed results ought 10 move one -
repent. The goodness Of God ought to
provoke men to pcnitcnce.