The Elbert County tribune., 1919-05-23
LESSON FOR MAY rs.
REPENTANCE


LESSON TExTs-Jonah s:I-io; Luke 1s:
l-5 Acts 2:s7, 49,
GOLDEN TExT-Repent ye, and be-
iieve the Gospe1.-Mark 1:I5.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL-Isaiah 1:10-
%; Luke s:i-14; Acts 1870. 81; Cor. 1911:
Peter SO
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.
!. The Repentance Of the People Of
NIneveh q :1-1O).
The following steps are noted in
their conversion:
l. Hearing the Word Of thesLor
(vv. 1-4).
The Lord commanded Jonah to go to
NIneveh, great and wicked city, and
there ''preach the preaching" that he
bnde him. Jonah's runaway expert
ence (see chapters /, 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 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" ". ~. 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.
3. Repented wv. SOY.
Their penitence was shown in %
proclaiming fast and putting on sack
cloth wv. 5-D. 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 ". 81.
The final test of penitence is turning
from sin; 1t is hating sin badly enough
to quit 1t.
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
(Lnke 1916.
Repentance is necessary on the part
of all. since all are sinners 1.-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 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 q 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 him
in peace unless he turns from his sins.
God commands men to repent (Acts
1890.
III. The Blessed Results Of Repen-
tance (Acts 2 :37,3S).
1. 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
provoke men to penitence.