NINEVEH IS SPARED
December 1, 2002 PM
Sermon Outline
Jonah 3:10
INTRO: Powerful preaching, penitent people, mighty cries to God for mercy all contributed to lead to this remarkable statement. Whod have thought that Nineveh would be spared? For that matter, whod have thought Nineveh would have changed? But here is the historical, scriptural statement ... irrefutable proof. True, something near a hundred years later Nineveh is again in trouble and ultimately is overturned by the hand of God. But this Nineveh discovers the magnificent grace of God. In the verse weve chosen as our text there are some valuable lessons about God.
I. PREACHING GODS WORD CAN SUCCEED
A. Responses to His word will be mixed
1. admittedly, some will not change, will not be moved the people of Noahs day are proof of that yet, Noah preached
2. on the other hand, many will respond positively
3. think of Saul of Tarsus Acts 22:3-10,16
B. We must be willing for God to use us as messengers
1. its so easy to keep silence to contain our faith
2. its so easy to become discouraged to feel its doing no good for me to keep on speaking for the Master
3. yet, how can the seed grow if never planted? and who will plant it if you do not?
II. GOD SEES OUR WORKS (BEHAVIOR)
A. The words God saw tell us God is concerned
1. the earth was special creation of God for a very special purpose ... habitat of humanity it and contents unique
2. God constantly concerned, then, about humanity
3. He never ignores or turns away from events here
B. And scripture tells us He sees
1. Gen 1:31 God saw His creation it was good
2. Gen 6:5 God saw mans wickedness
3. Ex 3:7Lord saw Israels affliction .... in all of this we are realizing God knows exactly what is happening here (see 2 Chron 16:9)
C. His seeing, His knowing speak of human responsibilities
1. why else would He be concerned to know?
2. and our responsibility is constant all times, all places
3. in our text God was seeing the proof of Ninevehs penitence (Acts 26:20)
III. GOD MAKES RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENTS
A. He said in 40 days Nineveh would be overthrown
1. but that was said to an evil, wicked people
2. now these people are sorrowing toward God changed
3. therefore, God would spare Nineveh
B. This consistent with Gods way righteous judgment
1. Ezek 18:25-30 principle of His judgment is clear, fair (see also
Jer 18:7-10)
2. principle continues: Rom 11:22 and 1 Jno 1:9,10
3. the matter is really simple, uncomplicated ... we have Gods word; we conform to it; we know we are accepted with God
IV. THEREFORE, GOD WILL SPARE THE PENITENT, THE OBEDIENT
A. This is the message of hope throughout the Bible
1. men and women will sin, will become engrossed in evil
2. and some of them will come to themselves to the extent they will see the futility, emptiness of such a life
3. but what to do? what hope?
B. In this age of the gospel the answer comes in Acts 2:37
1. repent be baptized for remission of sins
2. of course, it is made possible by the blood of Christ ... and it is remission which is certain in specific obedience - yet, general outline is same as with Nineveh
3. here, then, is hope of people in sin here is our hope
CLOSE: We have a message of hope. Some will receive it. Others will not. But that is not to concern us. Our concern must be to make that message known so that receptive hearts will have the opportunity to embrace the hope!
Cecil A. Hutson
01 December 2002