God's Grace to Ninevah | Jonah 3

About this sermon

As we said at the outset of our study, the book of Jonah is a book about God. It is not about a fish, it is not about Jonah, it is not about Nineveh, it is about God. What is on display in the book of Jonah is the truth about the nature and character of the living God. What is most prominent in this depiction of God is what makes Him God — His absolute sovereignty. What is most emphasized is the absolute freedom that belongs to God alone. But His sovereignty is put on display in a way that magnifies other attributes. God’s sovereignty magnifies His grace. God’s sovereignty magnifies His mercy. God’s sovereignty magnifies His willingness to save and His absolute freedom in salvation. GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY MAGNIFIES HIS WISDOM. Because God is God, He is never confined to doing just one thing at a time. At the same time multiple things are being put on display about God in the book of Jonah. Because, at the same time, God is accomplishing multiple things. He is demonstrating something about Himself regarding nature — the world that He has made. He controls the elements. He controls the creatures. He is inescapable because He is sovereign over every place and every creature. So, he is putting something on display about His lordship over the entire universe of creation. He is demonstrating something about His steadfast love toward His people. God’s dealings with Jonah speaks about God’s dealings with all His people. He loves us perfectly. He does not leave us without the lessons that we need to learn. He is merciful but He is not lenient. He may let us run for a time, but He will not let us go. He is demonstrating something about Himself regarding sinful humanity. He is perfectly holy, greatly to be feared, will by no means clear the guilty, and yet He is willing to save. He values the lives of the men and women that He has created — and He values them all over the world. He is willing to relent of disaster and to show mercy when people will repent of their sins against Him. HE DEMONSTRATED THIS WITH THE GENTILE SAILORS. HE DEMONSTRATED THIS WITH A JEWISH PROPHET. HE WILL DEMONSTRATE THIS WITH AN ENTIRE CITY OF WICKED ASSYRIANS. In the 3rd chapter of Jonah, we see a new beginning. We see a second opportunity. God takes the prophet right back to where this all began. And yet, this is not just about Jonah, this is about God’s willingness to spare the city of Nineveh. In this chapter we see three demonstrations of the grace of God to sinners.

Topics

• Grace