WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.740 Hey, good morning, church. 00:00:05.139 --> 00:00:09.000 My name is Matthew Capone, and I'm the pastor here at Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian Church. 00:00:09.339 --> 00:00:12.080 And it's my joy to bring God's word to you today. 00:00:12.540 --> 00:00:15.280 As we begin, I just want to remind you of a couple things. 00:00:15.560 --> 00:00:17.100 First of all, if you're new here, welcome. 00:00:17.559 --> 00:00:18.760 We're glad that you're with us. 00:00:18.859 --> 00:00:23.719 We'd love for you to go to our website, www.cmpca.net. 00:00:24.140 --> 00:00:27.600 And there will be a pop-up as soon as you go there for a visitor form. 00:00:27.600 --> 00:00:32.200 And that's a chance for you to give us some more information about yourself so that we can connect with you. 00:00:33.219 --> 00:00:38.679 For everyone, I'll remind you that we have a prayer meeting coming up this Saturday, May the 9th at 9 a.m. 00:00:39.020 --> 00:00:44.659 And as those of you who attended the last one know, that was just a sweet time of fellowship with one another and with the Lord. 00:00:44.700 --> 00:00:48.520 And we'd love to see as many of you as possible this Saturday. 00:00:48.900 --> 00:00:50.439 Details for that are on our website. 00:00:50.620 --> 00:00:53.359 And, of course, it's always in our Friday email as well. 00:00:53.359 --> 00:00:58.859 If you're not on our Friday email list, you can find that at the bottom right of every page of our website. 00:00:59.719 --> 00:01:08.519 For everyone, whether you're new with us or you've been a member of our community for a while, I'll remind you again that while you can see me, I can't necessarily see you. 00:01:08.799 --> 00:01:11.219 And we can see numbers, but we often can't see names. 00:01:11.280 --> 00:01:15.099 So I'd encourage you at this time to make a comment in the comments section of Facebook. 00:01:15.099 --> 00:01:21.459 You can just simply say something like, good morning, everyone, or glad to be here, share who's with you and where you're watching from. 00:01:21.819 --> 00:01:22.839 And that'll do two things. 00:01:22.919 --> 00:01:27.239 First of all, it will give us a small sense of being together, even as we're separated. 00:01:27.579 --> 00:01:31.899 And it will also allow us just to know who's here and with us. 00:01:33.179 --> 00:01:36.119 With that, we are continuing in the book of Jonah. 00:01:36.560 --> 00:01:40.819 And you'll remember that the book of Jonah is not a book about a fish. 00:01:40.819 --> 00:01:44.699 The fish only appears four times in three verses. 00:01:45.399 --> 00:01:51.959 But instead, the book of Jonah tells the story of a man named Jonah who was a prophet who lived in the 9th or 8th century B.C. 00:01:51.959 --> 00:01:56.419 and was commanded by God to go to Nineveh, which is in modern-day northern Iraq, 00:01:56.759 --> 00:02:01.839 and was in the kingdom of Assyria, an enemy of the people of Israel, to pronounce God's judgment. 00:02:02.819 --> 00:02:07.280 Even more than a story about Jonah, however, it's a story about God's mercy. 00:02:07.560 --> 00:02:09.219 And so we've been tracking with that. 00:02:09.219 --> 00:02:15.379 In chapter 1, we saw that God shows mercy to people we wouldn't show mercy to, people like Nineveh. 00:02:15.699 --> 00:02:20.599 And it's offensive that he shows mercy because he shows mercy to people like you and me, 00:02:20.879 --> 00:02:25.579 which highlights that everyone is in desperate need of God's grace. 00:02:26.439 --> 00:02:32.300 Last week in Jonah chapter 2, we asked a question about how God responds in his mercy when people run away from him. 00:02:32.680 --> 00:02:36.800 And we saw that when God's people flee from him, God pursues them. 00:02:36.800 --> 00:02:41.800 He pursues them in their circumstances, and he uses it to return them to him. 00:02:41.800 --> 00:02:48.340 This week, we're going to continue to look at God's mercy in Jonah chapter 3, 00:02:48.400 --> 00:02:50.520 and we're going to ask a different question about it, which is this. 00:02:50.960 --> 00:02:54.380 How do we take hold of and experience God's mercy? 00:02:55.200 --> 00:02:57.840 How do we take hold of and experience God's mercy? 00:02:57.960 --> 00:03:00.120 Who is it that receives God's mercy? 00:03:00.120 --> 00:03:01.560 Is it good people? 00:03:02.300 --> 00:03:05.379 Is it people for whom their good in their life outweighs the bad? 00:03:06.039 --> 00:03:14.140 Is God's mercy for anyone who calls himself a Christian and has had some interaction with Jesus and his teachings in the past? 00:03:14.580 --> 00:03:18.939 Is God's mercy for everyone, for everyone who's alive in this world? 00:03:19.020 --> 00:03:21.240 Who is it that receives God's mercy? 00:03:21.439 --> 00:03:24.159 How is it that we can experience God's mercy? 00:03:24.159 --> 00:03:27.620 That's what we're going to be looking at in Jonah chapter 3. 00:03:27.799 --> 00:03:30.240 And as we turn there, I invite you to join me. 00:03:30.319 --> 00:03:36.740 You can join me by opening it up on a different browser on your computer and just doing a search for Jonah 3. 00:03:36.859 --> 00:03:37.759 You can open up your Bible. 00:03:37.859 --> 00:03:39.139 Maybe you can see it on your phone. 00:03:39.819 --> 00:03:43.960 But regardless of how you're doing it, remember that this is God's word. 00:03:44.400 --> 00:03:49.139 And God tells us that his word is more precious than gold, even the finest gold. 00:03:49.840 --> 00:03:53.400 And it's sweeter than honey, even honey that comes straight from the honeycomb. 00:03:54.159 --> 00:03:59.439 And so it's for that reason that we read now, starting at Jonah chapter 3, verse 1. 00:04:00.599 --> 00:04:03.800 Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, 00:04:04.460 --> 00:04:09.519 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you. 00:04:10.460 --> 00:04:14.099 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh according to the word of the Lord. 00:04:15.019 --> 00:04:19.100 Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days' journey in breadth. 00:04:20.120 --> 00:04:22.720 Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's journey. 00:04:22.720 --> 00:04:28.020 And he called out, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown. 00:04:29.020 --> 00:04:29.600 Verse 5. 00:04:30.500 --> 00:04:32.340 And the people of Nineveh believed God. 00:04:33.320 --> 00:04:39.020 They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them. 00:04:40.100 --> 00:04:40.680 Verse 6. 00:04:40.680 --> 00:05:10.660 Verse 6. 00:05:10.680 --> 00:05:34.000 I invite you to pray with me as we come to this portion of God's word. 00:05:34.000 --> 00:05:34.100 Amen. 00:05:37.300 --> 00:05:44.680 Our Father in heaven, we thank you again that you come and meet us whenever we open your word, 00:05:45.259 --> 00:05:49.279 that you promise that it always has the effect that you intend it to have. 00:05:50.000 --> 00:05:55.439 And so we ask that you'd send your spirit to do that now, that you'd use your word to encourage us, 00:05:55.439 --> 00:05:58.439 that you'd use your word to do that now, that you'd use your word to do that. 00:05:58.439 --> 00:06:05.879 That you'd see our need for your mercy, and we'd be convicted by that, and we'd see you providing that mercy for us in Jesus, 00:06:06.379 --> 00:06:07.540 and we'd be strengthened. 00:06:07.540 --> 00:06:07.680 Amen. 00:06:08.480 --> 00:06:15.020 We ask these things with confidence, knowing that we don't have to earn them, because we ask them in Jesus' name. 00:06:15.660 --> 00:06:15.939 Amen. 00:06:15.939 --> 00:06:16.019 Amen. 00:06:18.740 --> 00:06:27.459 I'm sure many of you are familiar with the movie Groundhog Day, which tells the story of a TV weatherman who finds himself trapped in this situation, 00:06:27.459 --> 00:06:30.720 where he has to repeat the same day over and over. 00:06:30.720 --> 00:06:37.660 And we see the scene many times of his alarm clock going off at the same time, and it's the same day that he has to relive. 00:06:38.540 --> 00:06:43.200 There's an element of that going on here in Jonah chapter 3. 00:06:43.360 --> 00:06:50.080 We are seeing a Groundhog Day-type situation with Jonah, because there's a repetition here of what happened in chapter 1. 00:06:50.620 --> 00:06:53.980 In fact, we see some of the exact same language here. 00:06:54.720 --> 00:06:57.480 In chapter 1, we saw the word of the Lord came to Jonah. 00:06:57.480 --> 00:07:00.780 Chapter 3, the word of the Lord comes to Jonah. 00:07:01.420 --> 00:07:03.720 Chapter 1, Jonah had to go to Nineveh. 00:07:04.080 --> 00:07:06.400 Chapter 3, Jonah has to go to Nineveh. 00:07:06.759 --> 00:07:12.980 After everything that we've gone through in chapters 1 and 2, we're all the way back at the very beginning of the story. 00:07:13.960 --> 00:07:15.520 This is deja vu. 00:07:15.600 --> 00:07:20.400 It's a repetition here for Jonah, because, of course, as we saw in chapter 1, he disobeyed God. 00:07:20.480 --> 00:07:24.960 He didn't do what God had commanded him to do, and so now he has a second chance. 00:07:24.959 --> 00:07:34.139 This, however, is not just a second chance, a second repetition in terms of the command that Jonah receives, 00:07:34.339 --> 00:07:42.379 but it's also a repetition from chapter 2, because we again see a contrast between Jonah and the pagans. 00:07:42.379 --> 00:07:48.420 The pagans here are willing to repent immediately. 00:07:50.079 --> 00:07:56.779 We see in verse 3, Jonah goes to Nineveh, and Nineveh is a city that's a three-day journey, 00:07:57.159 --> 00:08:02.980 which is a way of saying it's a large city, and it would take three days to visit everywhere that Jonah needs to visit. 00:08:04.019 --> 00:08:08.240 And in verses 4 and 5, they don't wait until those three days have happened. 00:08:08.240 --> 00:08:10.120 And they actually repent immediately. 00:08:11.120 --> 00:08:17.939 Compare this to Jonah, who, of course, takes so long to repent that God has to throw him into the depths of the sea. 00:08:18.280 --> 00:08:24.319 He's in the belly of this fish for three days before he gives this prayer from chapter 2. 00:08:25.060 --> 00:08:28.319 And so there's a stark contrast between the people of Nineveh and the people of Jonah. 00:08:28.460 --> 00:08:30.180 They are immediate in their repentance. 00:08:32.060 --> 00:08:32.919 Jonah is reluctant. 00:08:32.919 --> 00:08:38.019 They are tenderhearted in their repentance, while Jonah is hardhearted. 00:08:39.419 --> 00:08:41.579 They respond immediately. 00:08:42.199 --> 00:08:44.039 Jonah flat-out disobeys, right? 00:08:45.419 --> 00:08:48.019 He doesn't do what God has commanded him to do. 00:08:48.360 --> 00:08:50.000 Here, they don't even procrastinate. 00:08:50.599 --> 00:08:56.459 They've been given 40 days, which is a way of saying they have a very long time to respond to this word from God. 00:08:56.519 --> 00:09:01.399 They have 40 days to evaluate their options, and instead of doing that, they just repent. 00:09:01.399 --> 00:09:08.679 They're tenderhearted, because while Jonah has to taste judgment, Nineveh only has to hear about judgment. 00:09:10.059 --> 00:09:14.439 They are proving to be better than God's prophet at repentance. 00:09:15.159 --> 00:09:18.939 We also see that it's a grassroots movement rather than a top-down one. 00:09:19.480 --> 00:09:21.799 These people are the ones who repent first. 00:09:21.980 --> 00:09:24.399 In verse 5, we see the people of Nineveh believed God. 00:09:25.139 --> 00:09:28.679 They called for a fast and put on sackcloth from the greatest of them to the least of them. 00:09:28.720 --> 00:09:30.319 So everyone is involved in this. 00:09:30.320 --> 00:09:33.340 It's not that certain social classes do it and others don't. 00:09:33.420 --> 00:09:36.680 It's not that certain occupations participate and others decide not to. 00:09:37.060 --> 00:09:39.080 But instead, everyone wants to be a part of this. 00:09:39.180 --> 00:09:42.440 And what's amazing about it is that they actually beat out their own leader. 00:09:43.060 --> 00:09:49.920 It's not until verse 6 that the king of Nineveh decides to call for them to do what they've already decided to do. 00:09:50.560 --> 00:09:55.200 Now, this goes against what we expect just of human societies and cultures in general. 00:09:55.800 --> 00:09:56.820 Leaders matter, right? 00:09:56.820 --> 00:09:58.500 And so they often set the tone. 00:09:58.720 --> 00:10:13.160 This would be as if over the last several months in the state of Colorado, we as the citizens had decided before Jared Polis made a single decision, every single one of us, no matter our job or our social class, that we were going to quarantine ourselves. 00:10:13.159 --> 00:10:16.439 Of course, that doesn't make sense, right? 00:10:16.480 --> 00:10:21.379 Because the way that the world works is that leaders are the ones who decide the action and set the tone. 00:10:21.980 --> 00:10:31.000 But here, to highlight how repentant Nineveh is, we see that the people act before their leaders have a chance to give them any direction. 00:10:31.000 --> 00:10:36.179 And then there's this intense sincerity that accompanies this as well. 00:10:36.840 --> 00:10:42.559 We see in verses 5 through 8 that there's this putting on of sackcloth and this fasting. 00:10:43.220 --> 00:10:47.799 Now, sackcloth would have been a sign of mourning or grieving, typically over someone who had died. 00:10:48.279 --> 00:10:52.019 Here, instead, it's a mourning and a grief over their sin. 00:10:53.059 --> 00:10:54.519 They're not taking this lightly. 00:10:55.039 --> 00:10:59.620 They're fasting to show their deep, heart-based repentance. 00:10:59.620 --> 00:11:03.879 There is a real and true grief and repentance over sin. 00:11:05.120 --> 00:11:08.080 And there's a real and true turning away from sin. 00:11:08.159 --> 00:11:13.639 That's what we see in verse 8, that everyone is to turn away from the violence that is in his hands. 00:11:15.179 --> 00:11:19.179 And so we see, just like we did in chapter 1, the contrast is complete. 00:11:20.480 --> 00:11:28.700 In chapter 1, the pagan sailors outshone Jonah when it came to expressing God's love and compassion for others in this world. 00:11:28.700 --> 00:11:33.920 They cared about the ship and they carried out the lives on it more than Jonah did. 00:11:35.220 --> 00:11:39.720 Here we see, once again, the pagans are the ones teaching God's prophet. 00:11:40.700 --> 00:11:44.120 They are better repenters than he is. 00:11:45.420 --> 00:11:47.820 They're more tender-hearted repenters than he is. 00:11:47.820 --> 00:11:50.200 They are the ones. 00:11:50.200 --> 00:11:57.800 The ones who have been hating God and acting against him are the ones who actually set the example here, rather than this prophet. 00:11:58.540 --> 00:12:01.560 And so it continues to be an inside-out story. 00:12:02.420 --> 00:12:08.620 God uses this to drive home the humility that's required for everyone who follows after him. 00:12:08.660 --> 00:12:12.300 And for us, that would be those people who have faith in Jesus Christ. 00:12:12.299 --> 00:12:17.779 Just because we are Christians and we follow Jesus doesn't mean that we've figured everything out. 00:12:19.139 --> 00:12:21.339 It doesn't mean that we're the best at something. 00:12:22.479 --> 00:12:27.519 It doesn't even mean that we understand God's grace as deeply as we should or need to. 00:12:28.919 --> 00:12:33.259 Instead, there's many times like this where there are others who outshine us. 00:12:33.259 --> 00:12:41.659 While in chapter 1, it was a lesson about mercy and compassion here, as I mentioned, it's a lesson about repentance. 00:12:41.840 --> 00:12:45.179 And we see near the end of this chapter a lot of language around that. 00:12:46.019 --> 00:12:47.860 We see the phrase, turn away. 00:12:49.419 --> 00:12:55.600 So verse 8, this king says, let everyone turn from his evil way. 00:12:56.460 --> 00:12:58.240 And then there's a contrast there with God. 00:12:58.240 --> 00:13:01.340 If we turn, verse 9, God will turn as well. 00:13:01.340 --> 00:13:08.040 Who knows, God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger so that we may not perish. 00:13:08.500 --> 00:13:10.000 That's three times, by the way. 00:13:10.620 --> 00:13:12.720 And then in verse 10, we see it the fourth time. 00:13:13.480 --> 00:13:17.580 When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, 00:13:17.720 --> 00:13:22.139 God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it. 00:13:23.200 --> 00:13:26.280 And so we have this picture of what repentance looks like. 00:13:26.279 --> 00:13:32.139 Repentance is something that shows true grief over sin, like these people in Nineveh have. 00:13:33.439 --> 00:13:36.659 Repentance is not just grieving it and not wanting to face the consequences, 00:13:36.659 --> 00:13:41.819 but it's having a deep heart-based sorrow, knowing that we have offended and hurt God. 00:13:42.679 --> 00:13:44.720 And more than that, it's a turning away. 00:13:45.120 --> 00:13:49.819 Repentance involves stopping going in one direction and turning around and going in another. 00:13:49.820 --> 00:13:53.780 In fact, that's the word, what the word in the New Testament that's used for repentance means. 00:13:53.860 --> 00:13:57.720 It actually literally means a turning around, going in a different direction. 00:13:59.760 --> 00:14:01.560 And so they model that for us. 00:14:01.600 --> 00:14:03.320 They're turning away from their sin. 00:14:04.120 --> 00:14:05.940 That's, again, we saw in verse 8. 00:14:06.000 --> 00:14:10.700 It's not just that they have this grief, but they're turning away from their evil ways. 00:14:11.260 --> 00:14:15.680 They're ceasing to do the types of things that God is bringing his judgment on them for. 00:14:15.679 --> 00:14:25.319 This lesson in repentance shows us what true repentance is over against the substitutes that we might have. 00:14:26.079 --> 00:14:27.120 And, of course, there are several. 00:14:27.299 --> 00:14:32.659 First of all, there are twin errors of self-righteousness and complacency. 00:14:33.559 --> 00:14:36.579 Self-righteousness here would probably be what Jonah falls into. 00:14:37.419 --> 00:14:40.879 We see God's word and we think, man, that's a great reminder. 00:14:40.879 --> 00:14:46.220 There are people who need to hear about God's judgment. 00:14:46.860 --> 00:14:52.700 Now, I'm glad that I heard about that in the past and I've turned away from my sin and now I just live a righteous life. 00:14:53.340 --> 00:14:57.439 Repentance is something that happens once and that's not really something that I need anymore. 00:14:57.539 --> 00:14:58.899 It's for those other people out there. 00:14:59.639 --> 00:15:02.139 That's the response of the self-righteous person. 00:15:02.259 --> 00:15:04.580 That's probably what's in Jonah's heart here. 00:15:05.019 --> 00:15:07.039 We're going to see even more of that in the next chapter. 00:15:07.039 --> 00:15:13.779 There is not an understanding here of the deep sin in his life and his need for God's grace and his mercy. 00:15:14.819 --> 00:15:19.159 The other error is not necessarily one of self-righteousness, but the opposite of that. 00:15:19.659 --> 00:15:22.399 We might call it licentiousness or complacency. 00:15:23.379 --> 00:15:27.459 I've seen a shirt from time to time some folks wear that say something like this. 00:15:27.879 --> 00:15:30.259 Jesus loves this hot mess. 00:15:30.259 --> 00:15:36.419 Now, to be charitable, I think I understand what's meant by that, which is that God's grace is real, right? 00:15:36.460 --> 00:15:40.379 And he accepts people who are broken and messy, which is very true. 00:15:41.259 --> 00:15:48.240 But I'm afraid of what is implicit in that, which is sometimes this idea that holiness doesn't really matter. 00:15:49.659 --> 00:15:51.059 God accepts me as I am. 00:15:51.120 --> 00:15:54.879 And so repentance and grief over sin is not something that I have to worry about. 00:15:54.879 --> 00:15:58.519 And so people will say things like this, well, there's grace for that. 00:16:00.399 --> 00:16:02.240 And there is grace for that, right? 00:16:02.320 --> 00:16:03.639 God's grace is real. 00:16:04.500 --> 00:16:07.960 God's call to holiness is also real. 00:16:09.299 --> 00:16:10.799 Jesus loves this hot mess. 00:16:12.580 --> 00:16:13.980 Hot messes like you and me. 00:16:14.019 --> 00:16:18.480 And he also calls this hot mess to new patterns of living and behaving. 00:16:19.720 --> 00:16:23.399 The people in Nineveh don't say, well, God just loves our hot mess of the city. 00:16:23.399 --> 00:16:25.759 So what we do in response is not that important. 00:16:26.840 --> 00:16:32.340 No, they're moved by the understanding of God's judgment, and they understand their need for God's grace. 00:16:32.419 --> 00:16:35.919 And so they turn away from their sin in a new way of living. 00:16:37.559 --> 00:16:43.139 They don't choose self-righteousness like Jonah does, and they don't choose complacency. 00:16:43.840 --> 00:16:47.519 Instead, they choose this true and heart-based repentance. 00:16:47.519 --> 00:16:54.980 And so both self-righteousness and complacency believe the lie that our sin is not that bad, 00:16:55.500 --> 00:16:58.659 and we don't actually need to repent. 00:16:59.860 --> 00:17:02.840 And so neither person really believes they need God's mercy. 00:17:03.960 --> 00:17:06.900 God's mercy is something that's either unnecessary, 00:17:07.440 --> 00:17:11.639 or it's something that's important for the self-righteous person, but it's for other people. 00:17:11.640 --> 00:17:16.560 Instead, however, Nineveh presents a third way. 00:17:16.720 --> 00:17:19.620 They present this true and real repentance. 00:17:21.140 --> 00:17:25.500 And so they remind the self-righteous, they challenge people like Jonah, 00:17:25.640 --> 00:17:29.380 people like you and me, that it's our need, not our righteousness, 00:17:29.800 --> 00:17:32.360 that qualifies us for God's mercy. 00:17:33.360 --> 00:17:37.400 And it's hard to find a way to make this clearer than God's mercy to terrorists. 00:17:37.400 --> 00:17:43.380 One of the ways that this is a Groundhog Day from chapter 1 is that nothing has changed about Nineveh. 00:17:43.720 --> 00:17:46.860 It is still what many people might call a terrorist state. 00:17:48.300 --> 00:17:50.640 Nineveh is still an enemy of Israel. 00:17:51.759 --> 00:17:55.060 Nineveh is still the nation, not Nineveh, Assyria is still an enemy of Israel. 00:17:55.519 --> 00:18:01.240 Assyria is still the nation that's going to take the northern kingdom into exile in 722 B.C. 00:18:01.240 --> 00:18:09.099 And so if there was any way that God could show that it's our need that brings his mercy, it's Nineveh. 00:18:10.180 --> 00:18:14.299 They are a perfect example of the kind of mercy that God has, 00:18:15.000 --> 00:18:18.259 as these pagans are teaching Israelites about repentance. 00:18:19.579 --> 00:18:23.779 The challenge then for those of us who are Christians, who have faith in Jesus Christ, 00:18:24.279 --> 00:18:27.220 and follow after him is this, even if we have that faith, 00:18:27.559 --> 00:18:30.339 we have still much to learn about repentance. 00:18:32.140 --> 00:18:35.900 Martin Luther was a famous historical figure during the Protestant Reformation, 00:18:36.140 --> 00:18:40.700 best known for nailing his 95 theses that started that Reformation, 00:18:40.799 --> 00:18:42.200 and the first thesis was this, 00:18:43.240 --> 00:18:45.680 when our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, repent, 00:18:46.740 --> 00:18:50.859 he intended that the entire life of believers should be repentance. 00:18:50.859 --> 00:18:51.000 repentance. 00:18:53.439 --> 00:18:57.259 That is the word, both for the self-righteous and the complacent. 00:18:57.319 --> 00:19:01.099 It's the word for disciples, for people who want to follow after Jesus. 00:19:03.759 --> 00:19:06.879 In Luke chapter 5, Jesus says, 00:19:06.880 --> 00:19:10.020 those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 00:19:10.920 --> 00:19:14.740 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. 00:19:16.280 --> 00:19:21.000 And so if we're following after Jesus, we are saying that we are those sinners in need of repentance. 00:19:22.200 --> 00:19:24.620 God hasn't come for the self-righteous. 00:19:25.180 --> 00:19:27.720 He hasn't come for those who don't believe they need him. 00:19:27.720 --> 00:19:34.000 He's come for those who understand and grasp and take hold of their desperate need of God's grace. 00:19:36.079 --> 00:19:40.920 For the complacent, we need to be reminded that God's judgment is real. 00:19:41.819 --> 00:19:43.500 In fact, that's what happens in this chapter. 00:19:43.660 --> 00:19:47.240 It's God's judgment that allows Nineveh to take hold of his mercy. 00:19:47.360 --> 00:19:49.680 There's this proclamation, right, from Jonah. 00:19:49.819 --> 00:19:50.299 He says, 00:19:50.299 --> 00:19:53.680 This is verse 4. 00:19:54.940 --> 00:19:57.079 Now, it was understood in the Old Testament. 00:19:57.200 --> 00:19:59.980 In fact, I spelled out, I believe it's Jeremiah chapter 18, 00:20:00.440 --> 00:20:04.839 that when God gives pronouncements of judgment, there's an implicit invitation to repentance. 00:20:05.579 --> 00:20:08.440 In other words, it's not a definitive declaration of judgment, 00:20:08.440 --> 00:20:11.940 but there's an implied, unless you turn away from your sin. 00:20:13.500 --> 00:20:16.099 That when God gives pronouncements of judgment, 00:20:16.099 --> 00:20:19.059 it's actually an act of mercy because it's an invitation to repent. 00:20:19.059 --> 00:20:22.759 And for those who repent, as we see in this passage, 00:20:23.539 --> 00:20:24.559 God's mercy is real. 00:20:24.700 --> 00:20:25.159 Verse 10, 00:20:25.259 --> 00:20:28.099 When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, 00:20:28.700 --> 00:20:31.460 God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, 00:20:31.940 --> 00:20:32.940 and he did not do it. 00:20:34.440 --> 00:20:36.599 And so, for those who are complacent, 00:20:37.720 --> 00:20:41.240 for those who believe that, hey, Jesus loves this hot mess, 00:20:41.279 --> 00:20:44.639 and so there's nothing really I need to worry about in terms of holiness in this life, 00:20:44.639 --> 00:20:48.579 there's a sober reminder here that those who follow after God, 00:20:49.059 --> 00:20:50.720 are people who repent. 00:20:52.119 --> 00:20:56.919 Those who experience God's mercy are those who are like Nineveh, 00:20:57.259 --> 00:21:00.859 who turn away from their sin, who put it off. 00:21:02.720 --> 00:21:03.539 Verse 8, 00:21:03.599 --> 00:21:06.879 They're people who turn away from the violence, the sin that's in their hands, 00:21:06.980 --> 00:21:10.159 knowing that that's how God turns and relents. 00:21:10.159 --> 00:21:12.859 That's how God turns away from his judgment. 00:21:12.859 --> 00:21:17.839 Repentance and mercy, then, come in light of God's judgment. 00:21:18.339 --> 00:21:22.539 Mercy, by definition, is God not giving us what we deserve. 00:21:23.279 --> 00:21:26.659 And so, while the self-righteous person needs to hear Luke chapter 5, 00:21:27.419 --> 00:21:30.639 God has come, not to call the righteous, but sinners. 00:21:31.839 --> 00:21:34.500 Those who are complacent need to hear Matthew chapter 16. 00:21:34.500 --> 00:21:48.819 In other words, both people, both the self-righteous and the complacent, 00:21:49.779 --> 00:21:51.200 people like Jonah, 00:21:53.099 --> 00:21:54.400 people like you and me, 00:21:55.619 --> 00:21:57.880 need to hear God's call to repentance 00:21:57.880 --> 00:22:01.180 so that we can experience God's mercy. 00:22:03.840 --> 00:22:05.740 Why is it that we repent? 00:22:07.140 --> 00:22:11.680 Well, we repent because God is a God of both mercy and justice. 00:22:13.140 --> 00:22:16.280 We see God's mercy here in this passage. 00:22:16.280 --> 00:22:21.140 He shows it to anyone and everyone who repents and turns away from their sin. 00:22:21.140 --> 00:22:26.420 God holds back his judgment here, right? 00:22:26.460 --> 00:22:28.560 He doesn't bring that disaster, verse 10, 00:22:28.620 --> 00:22:29.820 that he had said he would do to them. 00:22:31.360 --> 00:22:33.660 But God's mercy and his grace are not cheap. 00:22:33.759 --> 00:22:37.060 And so, God does fully and finally bring that judgment. 00:22:38.120 --> 00:22:40.880 He will bring it when Jesus returns, 00:22:41.040 --> 00:22:42.620 either to us 00:22:42.620 --> 00:22:45.560 or he will bring it on Jesus. 00:22:46.780 --> 00:22:48.840 And so, our choice is simple. 00:22:48.839 --> 00:22:52.459 Do we want to face God's judgment 00:22:52.459 --> 00:22:56.720 or do we want to embrace Jesus' offer of forgiveness 00:22:56.720 --> 00:22:59.220 and let Jesus face his judgment for us? 00:23:00.359 --> 00:23:03.000 God's mercy and his justice combine in Jesus. 00:23:03.419 --> 00:23:05.679 And we see that, of course, when Jesus is on the cross. 00:23:06.379 --> 00:23:09.359 Because God brings his judgment and his justice to bear, 00:23:09.500 --> 00:23:12.119 giving Jesus the punishment for our sins, 00:23:12.179 --> 00:23:13.419 the punishment that we deserve, 00:23:13.579 --> 00:23:16.159 allowing his mercy to come to us. 00:23:16.159 --> 00:23:18.459 It's because of God's mercy through Jesus 00:23:18.460 --> 00:23:22.360 that he's able to offer mercy to Nineveh. 00:23:23.279 --> 00:23:26.400 And it's how he's able to offer mercy to you and me. 00:23:27.759 --> 00:23:29.480 Jesus received God's punishment 00:23:29.480 --> 00:23:33.819 so that those who embrace him can receive God's mercy. 00:23:36.019 --> 00:23:37.420 And so, how is it 00:23:37.420 --> 00:23:42.440 that we experience and take hold of God's mercy? 00:23:42.440 --> 00:23:46.779 Well, we experience and take hold of God's mercy 00:23:46.779 --> 00:23:47.820 through repentance. 00:23:48.880 --> 00:23:51.660 We take hold and experience God's mercy 00:23:51.660 --> 00:23:54.059 as we follow the example of Nineveh, 00:23:54.480 --> 00:23:55.840 turning away from sin, 00:23:55.980 --> 00:23:59.740 being grieved as they are over the consequences of our sin. 00:24:00.160 --> 00:24:01.580 Grieved not just over the consequences, 00:24:01.779 --> 00:24:04.360 but of the fact that it's violated our relationship with God. 00:24:04.820 --> 00:24:06.880 Taking hold of God's offer of mercy, 00:24:07.039 --> 00:24:08.220 turning away from sin 00:24:08.220 --> 00:24:10.839 and following after him in righteousness. 00:24:11.680 --> 00:24:13.779 That's the example Nineveh sets for us, 00:24:13.819 --> 00:24:15.220 and it answers our question of who it is 00:24:15.220 --> 00:24:16.519 that receives God's mercy. 00:24:17.920 --> 00:24:19.299 Those who receive God's mercy 00:24:19.299 --> 00:24:21.579 are not necessarily those who call themselves Christians. 00:24:22.860 --> 00:24:25.220 And it's certainly not everyone in this world, 00:24:25.319 --> 00:24:27.100 but those who receive God's mercy, 00:24:27.319 --> 00:24:28.360 quite simply, is this, 00:24:28.500 --> 00:24:29.380 those who repent. 00:24:30.640 --> 00:24:32.519 Those who repent of their sin 00:24:32.519 --> 00:24:34.680 and embrace the free offer of the gospel 00:24:34.680 --> 00:24:37.400 that Jesus offers to anyone 00:24:37.400 --> 00:24:40.180 and everyone who confesses their sins, 00:24:41.160 --> 00:24:42.440 turns away from them, 00:24:43.059 --> 00:24:44.400 and follows after Jesus. 00:24:45.119 --> 00:24:46.900 One of the ways that we talk about this 00:24:46.900 --> 00:24:48.519 is by talking about faith in Jesus. 00:24:48.700 --> 00:24:49.779 And as I've said before, 00:24:49.980 --> 00:24:52.000 faith has three components to it. 00:24:52.119 --> 00:24:53.240 This is from Charles Spurgeon. 00:24:53.359 --> 00:24:55.779 He tells us that first, faith is knowledge. 00:24:56.460 --> 00:24:58.879 It's understanding the truth. 00:24:58.960 --> 00:25:00.139 And of course, these folks in Nineveh 00:25:00.139 --> 00:25:01.299 have that knowledge, right? 00:25:01.299 --> 00:25:03.579 They understand that God's judgment is coming 00:25:03.579 --> 00:25:05.220 and their only hope is to turn away from it. 00:25:06.440 --> 00:25:09.500 It's not just knowledge, however, it's belief. 00:25:10.460 --> 00:25:13.259 People in Nineveh could have received this word 00:25:13.259 --> 00:25:16.019 and had knowledge of what Jonah was telling them 00:25:16.019 --> 00:25:18.500 and decided they weren't gonna believe it. 00:25:19.359 --> 00:25:21.960 Instead, they could have assessed their options, right? 00:25:22.000 --> 00:25:23.639 They could have checked Jonah's credentials 00:25:23.639 --> 00:25:24.619 or his track record. 00:25:25.079 --> 00:25:26.299 They could have fact-checked. 00:25:26.319 --> 00:25:28.119 They could have investigated alternatives. 00:25:29.740 --> 00:25:31.099 But instead, they believe. 00:25:32.299 --> 00:25:34.919 They understand the word that Jonah's bringing to them 00:25:34.919 --> 00:25:35.639 and they believe it. 00:25:36.379 --> 00:25:39.079 And finally, they model the third part of faith for us. 00:25:39.159 --> 00:25:41.180 It's not just knowledge and belief, 00:25:41.339 --> 00:25:42.940 but it's trust and action. 00:25:43.579 --> 00:25:45.339 We see them acting on that knowledge. 00:25:45.419 --> 00:25:46.659 It changes their lives. 00:25:47.039 --> 00:25:49.740 Their behavior reveals that their belief is true. 00:25:50.960 --> 00:25:52.599 It's that turning away from sin 00:25:52.599 --> 00:25:55.980 that shows us that their repentance is real. 00:25:55.980 --> 00:26:01.440 We're told in Matthew chapter 12, 00:26:01.599 --> 00:26:04.360 Jesus says when he's talking to the scribes and the Pharisees, 00:26:05.160 --> 00:26:07.319 that the men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment 00:26:07.319 --> 00:26:09.400 with this generation and condemn it. 00:26:09.980 --> 00:26:12.120 For they repented at the preaching of Jonah 00:26:12.120 --> 00:26:15.620 and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. 00:26:15.619 --> 00:26:20.639 In other words, as great as Nineveh's repentance was, 00:26:21.500 --> 00:26:24.599 we have an even more and greater reason 00:26:24.599 --> 00:26:26.959 to repent and turn away from our sin 00:26:26.959 --> 00:26:29.719 because we have seen even greater proof 00:26:29.719 --> 00:26:32.579 of the reality of God's mercy in Jesus. 00:26:33.759 --> 00:26:36.079 While the people in Nineveh did not know 00:26:36.079 --> 00:26:39.439 that Jesus was gonna come and walk as a real man on this earth, 00:26:40.119 --> 00:26:41.000 healing the sick, 00:26:41.000 --> 00:26:44.900 restoring this world and dying for our sins, 00:26:45.299 --> 00:26:46.599 we do know that. 00:26:47.920 --> 00:26:51.140 So as they were tenderhearted and quick in their response, 00:26:51.700 --> 00:26:54.519 we should be even more tenderhearted 00:26:54.519 --> 00:26:56.700 and even quicker in our response 00:26:56.700 --> 00:26:59.779 because we have even greater knowledge. 00:26:59.900 --> 00:27:02.839 That's what Jesus is telling us in Matthew chapter 12. 00:27:04.059 --> 00:27:06.380 We have greater knowledge that taking hold 00:27:06.380 --> 00:27:08.200 and experiencing God's mercy 00:27:08.200 --> 00:27:10.559 is something that we access through repentance. 00:27:11.000 --> 00:27:14.660 Some of you may be familiar 00:27:14.660 --> 00:27:16.859 with the name of a man named David Berkowitz. 00:27:17.859 --> 00:27:20.380 He was a serial killer in New York City 00:27:20.380 --> 00:27:23.000 in 1976 and 1977. 00:27:23.700 --> 00:27:26.900 And he was ultimately convicted of six murders 00:27:26.900 --> 00:27:28.559 and seven woundings. 00:27:29.700 --> 00:27:32.559 He was sentenced, I believe, to hundreds of years in prison. 00:27:33.460 --> 00:27:35.579 And there were many people who were upset by that 00:27:35.579 --> 00:27:37.960 who wanted to see him receive the death penalty instead. 00:27:37.960 --> 00:27:42.799 And so here's someone similar to the people of Nineveh. 00:27:42.880 --> 00:27:44.299 They were known as a terrorist state. 00:27:45.120 --> 00:27:47.059 And this person is someone who's known 00:27:47.059 --> 00:27:48.579 for his terrorist actions. 00:27:50.259 --> 00:27:52.640 And yet, just like God's offer of repentance 00:27:52.640 --> 00:27:54.039 was true for Nineveh, 00:27:54.600 --> 00:27:57.079 his offer of repentance was true for David as well. 00:27:57.140 --> 00:27:58.319 When he was in prison, 00:27:58.440 --> 00:28:00.840 his grandmother began to send him sermon tapes 00:28:00.840 --> 00:28:01.740 that he could listen to. 00:28:01.740 --> 00:28:06.099 When he was about a decade into his time in prison, 00:28:06.200 --> 00:28:08.440 he had another inmate who began encouraging him 00:28:08.440 --> 00:28:09.819 to read the Psalms. 00:28:11.440 --> 00:28:12.900 And as he spent this time, 00:28:13.019 --> 00:28:14.759 God was slowly working in his heart. 00:28:15.420 --> 00:28:19.240 And David ultimately realized his need to repent 00:28:19.240 --> 00:28:21.339 and turn away from his sin. 00:28:21.339 --> 00:28:25.240 After reading the Psalms, he said he did this. 00:28:25.879 --> 00:28:28.379 I got down by my bunk like a little kid in the dark, 00:28:28.439 --> 00:28:29.139 he recalls. 00:28:29.939 --> 00:28:32.599 I said, Jesus, God, I don't know who you are. 00:28:33.379 --> 00:28:34.899 I don't know if you have any interest in me. 00:28:35.679 --> 00:28:37.339 I don't know if you hate me or what, 00:28:37.399 --> 00:28:39.879 but I just want you to know how sorry I am 00:28:39.879 --> 00:28:41.299 for the things that I've done wrong, 00:28:41.899 --> 00:28:44.759 how I hurt people, how I hurt my family. 00:28:45.720 --> 00:28:47.399 I just cried and cried. 00:28:47.400 --> 00:28:52.740 Looking back on that time, Berkowitz said this, 00:28:53.060 --> 00:28:55.140 no one can go back and fix things. 00:28:56.000 --> 00:28:59.060 You can ask for forgiveness and do as much as you can 00:28:59.060 --> 00:29:00.480 to try to have reconciliation. 00:29:01.640 --> 00:29:03.560 Sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn't. 00:29:04.600 --> 00:29:07.140 But the Lord wants us to go forward with thankful hearts. 00:29:08.120 --> 00:29:10.180 I feel I have a thankful heart 00:29:10.180 --> 00:29:13.680 because God has had mercy on me. 00:29:14.580 --> 00:29:16.380 My situation could be a lot worse. 00:29:16.380 --> 00:29:20.380 Berkowitz now has a blog that he runs 00:29:20.380 --> 00:29:21.580 even while he's still in prison. 00:29:22.000 --> 00:29:24.420 And on that blog, he has a page of repentance 00:29:24.420 --> 00:29:28.220 where he gives his repentance for his crimes 00:29:28.220 --> 00:29:30.480 and apologizes to those who've been hurt by them. 00:29:32.240 --> 00:29:33.840 He said, I don't deserve anything, 00:29:33.940 --> 00:29:35.040 any goodness from the Lord, 00:29:35.100 --> 00:29:38.000 but I'm telling you, God has delivered me. 00:29:40.720 --> 00:29:43.260 There's a man named Steve Nash, who's a pastor 00:29:43.259 --> 00:29:45.759 and who is for the last 25 years or so, 00:29:45.839 --> 00:29:47.940 has visited Berkowitz in prison. 00:29:49.460 --> 00:29:50.720 And he said this, 00:29:50.859 --> 00:29:54.140 God chooses people that we would not choose. 00:29:56.539 --> 00:29:57.740 The point is this, 00:29:57.879 --> 00:30:01.960 God's mercy is for anyone and everyone who repents. 00:30:03.960 --> 00:30:07.720 God's mercy is for self-righteous people like Jonah 00:30:07.720 --> 00:30:09.880 who repent and take a hold of it. 00:30:11.160 --> 00:30:14.880 God's mercy is for terrorist states like Nineveh 00:30:14.880 --> 00:30:19.720 if they're willing to repent and take a hold of God's mercy. 00:30:20.519 --> 00:30:22.680 And it's for people like David Berkowitz 00:30:22.680 --> 00:30:27.059 if they're willing to understand and claim God's mercy 00:30:27.059 --> 00:30:29.380 on their behalf and turn away from their sin. 00:30:29.380 --> 00:30:34.320 How do we experience God's mercy? 00:30:35.540 --> 00:30:38.860 We experience and take hold of God's mercy through repentance. 00:30:40.400 --> 00:30:41.720 It's not for the perfect. 00:30:42.520 --> 00:30:43.760 It's not for the complacent. 00:30:44.720 --> 00:30:46.800 But it's for, as Jesus said, the sick 00:30:46.800 --> 00:30:48.480 who know that they need a doctor. 00:30:49.820 --> 00:30:52.520 God's mercy is for anyone and everyone 00:30:52.520 --> 00:30:54.860 who turns away from sin in repentance 00:30:54.860 --> 00:30:57.040 and towards faith in Jesus Christ. 00:30:57.039 --> 00:31:00.759 And so Jesus has come not to save the well, 00:31:01.619 --> 00:31:02.299 but the sick. 00:31:03.519 --> 00:31:07.319 Which means that Jesus has come for people like you and me. 00:31:08.720 --> 00:31:11.000 And so we too, like the people of Nineveh, 00:31:11.079 --> 00:31:13.799 have hope that we can experience God's mercy. 00:31:15.240 --> 00:31:16.279 Please pray with me. 00:31:20.079 --> 00:31:23.139 Our Father in heaven, we thank you and praise you 00:31:23.139 --> 00:31:25.539 for your mercy that you offer to us. 00:31:27.039 --> 00:31:29.839 But we also realize that it's not something that's cheap. 00:31:31.359 --> 00:31:34.740 And your call to repentance is just as real as your mercy. 00:31:35.759 --> 00:31:38.019 And so we ask that you would work that in our hearts now 00:31:38.019 --> 00:31:39.599 that you'd convict us of our sin. 00:31:40.960 --> 00:31:43.480 That you'd show us, like Nineveh, of our need for it, 00:31:43.680 --> 00:31:46.720 whether we've been a Christian for a few weeks 00:31:46.720 --> 00:31:48.200 or for our entire lives. 00:31:48.200 --> 00:31:51.039 And for those who are not Christians, 00:31:51.120 --> 00:31:52.740 who do not have faith in Jesus Christ, 00:31:52.779 --> 00:31:55.000 we ask that you would work by your spirit 00:31:55.000 --> 00:31:57.720 to show them, like Nineveh, the reality of your judgment 00:31:57.720 --> 00:32:00.580 and also the reality of your mercy. 00:32:02.340 --> 00:32:04.740 That you accept with open arms anyone 00:32:04.740 --> 00:32:06.620 who's willing to receive it 00:32:06.620 --> 00:32:09.080 and turn away from sin and towards you in repentance. 00:32:09.079 --> 00:32:12.679 We praise you that these are things that we can't earn. 00:32:13.799 --> 00:32:17.000 Mercy, by definition, is something we don't deserve. 00:32:17.599 --> 00:32:19.960 And we thank you that it comes through Jesus. 00:32:20.679 --> 00:32:22.699 And so we ask these things in his mighty name. 00:32:23.259 --> 00:32:23.480 Amen. 00:32:23.480 --> 00:32:29.539 We're gonna end our time together with a benediction. 00:32:30.900 --> 00:32:32.160 And as I've told you many times, 00:32:32.259 --> 00:32:33.860 a benediction is a good word from God. 00:32:34.680 --> 00:32:36.079 It's a word that's true 00:32:36.079 --> 00:32:39.140 in the midst of a world filled with words that are not true. 00:32:40.039 --> 00:32:42.160 It's tradition for the minister to hold up his hand 00:32:42.160 --> 00:32:44.120 to send out God's blessing on God's people 00:32:44.120 --> 00:32:46.460 and for God's people to hold out their hands 00:32:46.460 --> 00:32:47.960 to receive God's blessing. 00:32:49.039 --> 00:32:51.279 And so I invite you to hold out your hands 00:32:51.279 --> 00:32:52.799 even as we're separated physically. 00:32:54.059 --> 00:32:57.759 Hear now God's good word over you from Hebrews chapter 13. 00:32:59.120 --> 00:33:01.299 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead 00:33:01.299 --> 00:33:03.839 our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, 00:33:04.360 --> 00:33:06.019 by the blood of the eternal covenant, 00:33:06.779 --> 00:33:09.799 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, 00:33:10.500 --> 00:33:12.880 working in us that which is pleasing in his sight 00:33:12.880 --> 00:33:16.860 through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. 00:33:17.500 --> 00:33:17.799 Amen. 00:33:19.680 --> 00:33:21.380 Thanks so much for joining us. 00:33:21.480 --> 00:33:23.560 And I look forward to seeing you all very soon. 00:33:25.900 --> 00:33:26.300 Thank you.