Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-05-21
LESSON FOR MAY rs.
REPENTANCE.

LESSON TEXTS-Jonah 3:1-10; Luke 10:
10; Acts 2:37 49,
GOLDEN TEXT-Repent ye, and be-
leve the Gospel-Mark Ills
ADDITIONAL MATERIAI-Isaiah ITO
20; Luke S:1-l4; Acts 1870, 81; 2 Cor. 1911;
Peter 80
PRIMARY TOPIC-God's Willingness to
Forgive
JUNIOR TOPIC-The People of Nine
yeh Repent.
INTERMEDIATE TOPIC = Turning
From Sin to God
SENIOR AND ADULT ToP1C-The
Nature and Fruit of Repentance.
|. The Repentance of the People Of
kineVeh (3:1-10).
The following steps are noted in
their conversion:
l. Hearing the Word of the Lord
wv. la.
The Lord commanded Jonah to go to
NineYeh, great and wicked city, and
there preach the preaching" that he
babe him. Jonahs runaway expert
ence (see chapters /, y 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 it required three
days to compass it; 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 overthrow" ". ~. Since
the kings palace seems to have been
in the south part of the city Jonah's
message soon found its way to him. If
every preacher would preach what God
bids him there would be more cities
turning to God
.. 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 %
proclaiming fast and putting on sack
cloth wv SO. 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 w. 81.
The final test of penitence is turning
from sin; it is hating sin badly enough
to quit it.
4. Accepted by God ". 10). When
the Ninevites turned from their evils
God refrained from executing doom
upon them. 1t averted judgment. God
is Interchangeable. His holy nature is
unalterably opposed to sin. When men
repent from their sins his wrath is
turned aside This is what is meant
by God repenting.
II. The Necessity of Repentance
duke 13 :1-5).
Repentance is necessary on the part
Of all, since all are sinners. THE
wages of sin is death" (ROm. 6 :23)
While God is unalterably opposed to
sin he is 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
pentance is not merely a matter OF
privilege, but of absolute necessity II
one would escape the wrath of God
Repentance is the only door of escape
from perditiOn. 1t is not question OF
how great a sinner one is that de-
termines 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'
(Hab. 1-13). No one can ever see hin
in peace unless he turns from his sins
God commands men to repent (ActS
1890.
Ill. The Blessed Results of Repen
tance (Acts 2:37,38).
/. Remission of sins. Remit means
to send away The one who repent
is rid forever of his sins, for he is {
new man in Christ
2. Gift of the Holy Spirit. Whel
one is regenerated he not only is rid o
his sins, but God, the Holy Spirit
takes up his abode in him. He is hi
teacher, guide and defender. Thes
blessed results ought to move one t
repent. The goodness of God ought t
provoke men to penitence.