The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1919-05-22
LESSON FOR MAY rs.
REPENTANCE.


LESSON TExTs-Jonsh si-io: Luke u:
10. Acts 2H. "a
GOLDEN TExT-Repent 70. and be-
ieve the Goepel-Mark i.lh
ADDITIONAL MATERIAI,-Isaiah ITO
10 Luke ai-t: Acts 1870, 81: 2 Cor. 1911;
Peter 80
PRIMARY ToPic-God'. willingness. to
JUNIOR roPic-rh. peopl. Of Nine
web Repent
INTERMEDIATES ToPIc - Turning
From sin to God
SENIOR AND ADULT ToPIc-The
Nature and Fruit OF Repentance
!. The Repentance Of the People Of
kineveh (S:i.lO).
The following STEPS are noted In
their conversion:
!. Hearing the Word Of the Lord
tvv. Ia.
The Lord commanded Jonah 10 20 20
Nlneveh. a great and wicked city, and
there preach the preaching" that he
babe him. Jonah's runaway expert.
ence (see chapters I. p was such that
he was willing 10 obey God His
chastisement was severe. but by Gods
grace he was now ready 10 execute the
commission. Jonah arose and went
unto Nlneveh according to the word
of the Lord" ". ~. So great was the
city Of Nlneveh that II required three
days 10 compass II that In. 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 10 have been
In the south part Of the city Jonahs
message soon found its way TO him. II
every preacher would preach what God
bids him there would be more cities
tuInlng 10 God.
.. Relieving God ". ~.
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. 500.
Their penitence was shown In UD
proclalming n fast and putting on sack
cloth wv. so. These marks Of hu.
initiation were shown by all. from the
king on his throne 10 the most humble
man. (2) Cried nightly 10 God ".
81. In the midst Of their humiliation
they cried with intensity TO God. (3)
Turned from their evil ways ". 50.
The final test Of penitence is turning
from sin; II i hating sin badly enough
10 quit IL.
4. Accepted by God w. 1O). When
the Ninevltes turned from their evils
God refrained from executing doom
upon them. II 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 repenrng.
~. The Necessity Of Repentance
duke 1870.
Repentance Is necessary on the part
OF all. since all are sinners The
wages Of sin Is death" (Rom. $3.50.
While God Is unalterably opposed 20
sin he Is Infinitely gracious. His holy
nature compels him 10 cause Judgment
90 fall upon those who will not turn
from their sins 10 serve him. Re
pentance Is not merely a matter of
privilege. but OF absolute necessity IL
one would escape the wrath OF God.
Repentance Is the only door OF escape
from perdltion. II Is not question OF
how great 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. i-13). No one can ever see him
In peace unless he turns from his sins.
God commands men 10 repent (Acts
1880.
~. The Blessed Results OF Repen-
lance (Acts 2 :37.3s).
I. Remission Of sins. Remit means
20 send away. The one who repents
Is rid forever OF his sins. for he Is n
new man In Christ.
2. Gift OF the Holy Spirit. When
\ one Is regenerated he not only Is rid Of
Mis- sins. but God, the Holy Spirit.
takes up his abode In him. He is his
teacher. guide and defender. These
blessed results ought TO move one TO
repent. The goodness OF God ought to
provoke men 10 penitence.