The Brinkley argus., 1919-05-23
LESSON FOR MAY %.
REPENTANCE.

LESSON TEXTS-Jonah 3:1-10: Luke 1s: i-5; Acts 2:37, 3S.
 GOLDEN TEXT-Repent ys. and be- Iieve the Gospel.-Mark 1:15.
 ADDITIONAL MATERIAL-1saiah 1:l0- 20; Luke 3:1-H; Acts 17:So, 31: Cor. 7:s-n; 2 Peter 3:9.
 PRIMARY ToPIC-God's Willingness to Forgive.
 JUNIOR TOPIC-The People of Nine veh Repent.
 INTERMEDIATE TOPIC Turning From Sin to God.
 SENIOR AND ADULT TOPIC-The Nature and Fruit of Repentance
 l. The Repentance of the People of kineveh (3:1-1O).
 The following steps are noted in their conversion:
 l. Hearing the Word of the Lord (vv. 1-4).
 The Lord commanded Jonah to go to Nineveh, a great and wicked city, and there preach the preaching" that he bade him. Jonah's runaway experi- ence (see chapters l, 9 was such that he was willing to obey God. Ills 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" (v. 3. 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" (v. 4. Since the kings palace seems to have been In the south part of the city Jonah's message soon found it's way to him. If every preacher would preach what God bids him there would be more cities turning to God.
 2 Believing God (v. 3.
 They not only believed God would visit judgment upon them, but believed in God, and put their trust in him for mercy and salvation.
 8. Repented (vv. 5-9).
 Their penitence was shown in CD proclaiming fast and putting on sack cloth (vv. 5-O. These marks of hu- initiation were shown by all, from the king on his throne to the most humble man. (2) Cried nightly to God (v. S). In the midst of their humiliation they cried with intensity to God. (3 Turned from their evil ways (v. 8. The final test of penitence is turning from sin; 1t is hating sin badly enough to quit 1t.
 4 Accepted by God (v. 10). When the Ninevites turned from their evils God refrained from executing doom upon them. It averted judgment. God is unchangeable. 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.
 n. The Necessity of Repentance Huke 13 :1-5). /
 Repentance is necessary on the part of all, since all are sinners. '"rhe 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 If one would escape the wrath of God. Repentance is the only door of escape from perdition. It Is not question of how great sinner one is that de- termines the need for repentance, since God cannot look upon evil: For 'hou art of purer eyes than to behold evil. and canst not look upon iniQuity" tHab. 1-13). No one can ever see him in peace unless he turns from his sins God commands men to repent (Acts 17:30)
 III. The Blessed Results of Repen- tance (Acts 2 :37,38).
 l. Remission of sins. Remit means to send away. The one who repents Is rid forever of his sins, for he Is a new man in Christ.
 2. Gift of the Holy Spirit. When one is regenerated he not only Is rid of his 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 prnvaEp men tn Danitanaa