Written Sermons

Meaning and Examples of Repentance Part 6

The meaning of repentance

1. Change of mind, re-calculate, re-do, or re-think

2. To Turn from Sin

3. Be Sorry for Sin

From the book of Jeremiah. God is speaking to Israel but interjections a message of repentance referring to any other nation.

• Jeremiah 18:7  At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; 
  Jer 18:8  If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them. 
  Jer 18:9  And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it; 
  Jer 18:10  If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them. 

The book of Jonah tells us of one example where God pronounces judgment upon a nation for their wickedness but later changes His mind. Its another example also of a different type of repentance which means a change of mind.

• Jonah 1:1 Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,
• Jon 1:2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.

God waits many years before bringing judgment because the we can see the heart of God is to save rather than bring judgment. Why else would He allow Jesus to suffer so badly and die for someone else's sin.

After Jonah tried to run from God, was swallowed by a large whale or fish, was rescued by God, and escaped the belly of the while, God spoke to him again and commanded him to go preach to Nineveh.

• Jonah 3:3 So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days' journey.
• Jon 3:4 And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.

Jonah didn't like the people of Nineveh and wanted God to send judgment. That was one reason he didn't want to go to Nineveh. He was afraid God would change his mind. Either he didn't want them to be spared because they were enemies of Israel or else not bringing judgment would make him (Jonah) look bad as a prophet.

• Jonah 3:5 So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.
• Jon 3:6 For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.
• Jon 3:7 And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water:
• Jon 3:8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands.
• Jon 3:9 Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?

The people of Nineveh repented and sought God hoping to be spared from judgment.

The remedy is the same as it is all through the bible: To repent.

• Jonah 3:10 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.

It worked. They repented and God spared the city which was what God wanted all along. This is the heart of God to save rather than destroy.  He sends His prophets first.  He warns. 

More on the story of Jonah is found here: https://oldpathlighthouse.com/jonah1.html

Repentance Part 7 coming next