THE SECOND CALL OF GRACE (Jonah 1:2-3:2)
I Introduction
A. The prophet received two calls from the Lord to go to Nineveh.
1. The first call ended in disobedience, the second call he obeyed.
2. Between the two calls, he had the gruesome experience of being swallowed by the great fish.
B. A hasty reading of these calls would lead you to believe that they both are exactly the same. Yet they are quite different.
1. The difference can be found in the change in two words.
2. The words “cry against” in Jonah 1:2 are changed into “preach unto” in the second call (Jonah 3:2)
3. In the first instance, Jonah is commanded to cry against the city. This implies a message of judgment and condemnation.
4. In the second instance, he is to preach unto the city.
C. This time it is not a message of doom and judgment but a message of grace and mercy and a call to repentance.
II. Why the Difference in Two Calls?
A. Why is the first call a message of judgment while the second call results in salvation and grace for a Gentile city.
1. We have the answer in the events which transpired between the two calls.
2. The first call was before the death and resurrection of Jonah.
3. The second call was after his experience in the belly of the fish.
B. The difference between doom and mercy was directly related to the death of Jonah
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1. We are clearly told by Jesus that Jonah is a type of His own death and resurrection. (Matt 12:40)
2. On the surface, Jonah 3:4 – Yet forty days and Nineveh shall be overthrown, sounds like a message of judgment.
3. But in reality, it is a message of grace. He gives them forty days in which to turn to the living God.
4. God didn’t give Sodom and Gomorrah even a day of grace (Gen 19). The angels went in one evening and the next morning they hurried Lot and his family out and that was it.
C. The number forty in scripture is the number of testing or probation.
1. Jonah did predict the overthrow of Nineveh but that threat was conditioned upon their acceptance of Jonah’s message.
2. That’s even true of my message we are under the threat of judgment and hell but that is conditioned upon our accepting or
rejecting even the message I am teaching today.
III. Not Law But Grace
A. Yet how the proud heart of man rebels against this message of grace.
1. How slow we are to repent and admit our helplessness.
2. Like the sailors in Jonah’s day, we will not accept God’s remedy until we exhaust every one of our own devices.
B. Yet the Bible is quite clear as to the requirements for anyone seeking to be saved by their own efforts.
1. The Bible says one single sin is sufficient to condemn us.
2. Gal 3.10 – Cursed is the one that does not continue in all things which are written in he book of the law to do them.
3. No other verse sums up the purpose of the law of God like this one.
4. Note the word “Cursed” That’s all the law can do for the sinner.
C. Note the curse comes from the fact of our imperfection and our inability to faithfully, continually keep the law of God.
1. Everyone admits this – we have a universal phrase that sums this up.”Nobody perfect”
2. what are we saying? Exactly what God says about us – All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
3. The law demands perfection – nothing less will do.
4. It demands that we never sin, even once.
5. Keeping the law part of the time is not enough – It demands perfection.
D. Need I remind you that all of us are under the curse for there has never been a human being who has ever lived who has continued perfectly in all God’s commandments
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1. That is the very reason Jesus had to die. Our inability to obey God’s law necessitated the death of Christ.
2. Paul in Gal 2:22 says; if righteousness comes by the law then Christ is dead in vain.
IV. The Law Condemns
A. God gave the law to prove that man could not be saved by his works.
1. The law is perfect and we are imperfect; that very fact should prepare us to receive the message of God’s grace.
2. To receive Christ is to be free from the law with its curse and condemnation.
3. To accept the lord Jesus as Savior is to have eternal life to reject Him is to perish in your sin. (Jon 8:21,24)
B. Remember salvation is by grace and grace alone
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1. Our salvation depends upon what Jesus did for us and not upon what we can do for ourselves.
2. It depends not upon our efforts but upon His faithfulness.
3. Our salvation is dependent upon His grace but our enjoyment of our salvation is dependent upon our behavior.
4. Our justification is by faith, our rewards will be by our works.
C. Have you received eternal life as a gift or are you still working on it?
1. Paul settles this issue in Rom 4:5 But to him that worketh not but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
2. Titus 3:5 – Not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to his mercy He saved us
This is the only plan of salvation Have you followed that plan or are you running from God is my question I personally have obeyed the Lord in this than most imp thing I could have done in my life Praise His name!!
God bless
sister Phyllis
