The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1919-05-22
LESSON FOR MAY Is.
REPENTANCE.


LESSON TEXTS-Jonah S:I-lO: Luke 10.
l-5: Acts 2:37, 49,
GOLDEN TEXT-Re ye. and he.
lieve the Gospel.-Mark l:l5.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL-Isaiah 1:lo-
~; Luke S:l-i4; Acts 1880. 81; 2 Cor. 1871;
2 Peter 3:9.
PRIMARY ToPIc-God's willingness to
Forgive
JUNIOR ToPIc-The People of Nine
veh Repent.
INTERn EDATE. TOPIC - Turning
From Sin To God
SENIOR AND ADULT ToPIc-The
Nature and Fruit OF Repentance
!. The Repentance Of the People OF
kineVeh (3:l.10).
The following steps are noted IN
their conversion:
!. Hearing the Word of the Lord
(vv. 1-4).
The Lord commanded Jonah To 20 70
Nlneveh, n great and wicked city. and
there preach the preaching" thai he
babe him. JOnah's runaway expert
ence (see chapters |. y was such that
he was willing to obey God. Ills
chaStSement 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" ". -. So great was the
city of Nineveh that IL required three
days to compass II; 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 10 cen
ter cried, yet forty days and Nineveh
shall he 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. II
every preacher would preach what God
bids him there would be more cities
turning TO God.
.. Believing 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. BOY.
Their penitence was shown in D)
prOclaiming fast and putting on sack
cloth (vv. 5-7). These marks of hui
initiation were shown by all, from the
king on his throne 10 the most humble
man. (2) Cried nightly to God ".
81. In the midst of their humiliation
they cried with intensity TO God. CD
Turned from their evil ways ". 81.
The final test of penltence is turning
from sin; IL is hating sin badly enough
to quit Ii.
4. Accepted by God e.. 10). When
the Ninevites turned from their evils
God RETAINED 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 repentlng.
u. The Necessity OF Repentance
duke 1910.
Repentance is necessary on the part
of all, since all are sinners. THE
wages of sin is death" Qiom. 6:23).
While God is unalteraby 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 matter of
privilege. but of absolute necessity If
one would escape the wrath Of God.
Repentance is the only door Of escape
from perditiOn. 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 iniqulty"
(Hab. 1873. No one can ever see him
In peace unless he turns from his sins.
God commands men to repent (Acts
1880.
90. The Blessed Rest It's Of Repcn-
lance (Acts 2 1889.
I. Remission of sins. Remit means
to send away. The one who repents
n rid forever Of his sins, for he Is
new man In Christ.
2. Gift OF the Holy Spirit. When
enc 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 10
repent. The goodness OF God ought to
provoke men TO penitence.