The Jasper news. [volume] (Jasper, Missouri) 1898-1924, 1919-05-22
LESSON FOR MAY rs.
REPENTANCE.

.
LESSON TExTs-Jonah s:1-1o. Luke 10;
Is; Acts 2:o., GO
GOLDEN TEXT-Repent 70, and be.
riieve the Gospel.--Mark 1:15.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL-Isaiah 1:1o-
20: Luke S:1-14; Acts 1890. 81; 2 Cor. 7:s-11;
3 Peter $50.
PRIMARY ToPIc-God's willingness to
Forgive.
JUNIOR ToP1c-The People of Nine
veh Repent.
INTERmEDIATB TOPIC Turning
From Sin to God.
SENIOR AND ADULT ToPIC-Tho
Nature and Fruit Of Repentance.
]. The Repentance Of the People Of
Nineveh (3:1.10).
The following steps are noted In
.heir conversion:
I. Hearing the Word Of the Lord
(vv. 1-4).
The Lord commanded Jonah to go to
Nineveh, great and wicked city, and
there "preach the preaching that he
bade him. Jonah's runaway expert
ence (see chapters 1, 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 it; that is, to visit It's
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 Nlneveh
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. If
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.
8. Repented (vv. SOY.
Their penitence was shown In ~
proclaiming fast and putting on sack
cloth wv. 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 ".
81. In the midst of their humiliation
they cried with intensity to God. (3)
Turned from their evil ways ". 81.
The final test of penitence is turning
from sin; 1t Is hating sin badly enough
to quit It,
4. Accepted by God ". 10Y. 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. Tho Necessity Of Repentance
Uuke 13:1-5).
Repentance Is necessary on the part
of all, since all are sinners. "The
wages of sin Is death" (Rom. e:23).
While God is unalterably opposed to
Sin he is infinitely gracious. His holy
nature compels him to cause judgment
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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 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 inlqulty''
(Hab. 1-13). No one can ever see him
In peace unless he turns from his sins
God commands men to repent (Acts
1880.
III. Tho Blessed Results Of Repen.
tanee (Acts 2:S7,3S).
| 1. Remission of sins. Remit means
to send away. The one who repents
is rid forever of his sins, for he is Q
new man in Christ.
2. Gift of the Holy Spirit. WheI
one is regenerated he not only Is rid Of
his sins, but God, the Holy Spirit
takes up his abode In him. He Is hi.
teacher, guide and defender. These
blessed results ought to move one t
repent. The goodness Of God ought t
provoke men to penitence.