Grace Alone: A Gracious God & A Pagan People

Adoration

Psalm 107:1–2 ESV

1 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! 2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble

Confession

Psalm 139:7–10 ESV

7 Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! 9 If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 10 even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.

Thanksgiving

Psalm 107:29–31 ESV

29 He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. 30 Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven. 31 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!

Message

Jonah 1:4–6 ESV

4 But the Lord hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up. 5 Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his god. And they hurled the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and had lain down and was fast asleep. 6 So the captain came and said to him, “What do you mean, you sleeper? Arise, call out to your god! Perhaps the god will give a thought to us, that we may not perish.”

Jonah 3:3–10 ESV

3 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days’ journey in breadth. 4 Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s journey. And he called out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” 5 And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them. 6 The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. 7 And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water, 8 but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. 9 Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.” 10 When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.

Hebrews 13:7 commands us to remember and imitate those who spoke to us the Word of God.

Augustine wrote the Confessions between 397-400 AD.

Outside of the Bible, Augustine's Confessions is one of the oldest and longest autobiographical accounts of a person's conversion.

“The soul is unfaithful to God when it turns away from Him, looking for satisfaction in things outside of Him—things it can never truly find pure or good until it returns to Him. Everyone who rebels against God is, in a twisted way, trying to imitate Him. Even when they oppose Him, they still show that He is the source of everything that exists, since there’s nowhere they can go to escape Him completely.

So what was it that I actually loved about stealing? How was I, even in my corruption, trying to imitate You, Lord? Did I want, by trickery, to do what Your law forbids—simply because I couldn’t do whatever I wanted by my own power? Was I trying to imitate Your freedom and power, in a broken and false way, by pretending I could act without consequence?

Look at me then—Your servant running away from You, chasing only shadows! What decay, what a sick and twisted life that was, what a kind of living death! Did I really enjoy that sin just because it was forbidden?”

“You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in You.” —Augustine, The Confessions

What exactly does that “rest in You” look like?

I think we see today in Jonah the example of two unlikely groups that find their “rest in Yahweh.”

Lives saved by Free and Sovereign grace are marked by reverence and repentance.

Jonah 1:3 ESV

3 But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord.

Yahweh commissioned Jonah.

But Jonah ran.

He tried to hide from God’s call.

Jonah 1:4 ESV

4 But the Lord hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up.

The LORD hurled the great wind upon the sea.

Sovereign Grace to Sailing Scoundrels marked by Reverence

When God pursue’s a person, it doesn’t look like mine and your pursuit of another.

We miss.

We’re easily distracted.

But when God wishes to turn a man, it is effective.

Spurgeon used to refer to God as “the hound of heaven.”

Pursuit of Jonah.

Jonah 1:4 ESV

4 But the Lord hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up.

Notice Yahweh is the One who brought the storm.

The storm was no mere accident.

The storm was the hands of a gracious, compassion, and pursuing God.

This storm was Grace.

Think of how different this story would have went without Yahweh bring the storm.

If even this storm was grace, then it should tell us something of what God is doing in the world around us.

Romans 8:28 ESV

for those who are called according to his purpose…

Even the storms of life are grace coming to us!

Jonah couldn’t see it yet, but it was grace to him.

Jonah 1:5 ESV

5 Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his god. And they hurled the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them.

It takes a lot to work up sailors.

They’ve seen the worst of storms and weathered serious conditions.

Think about how great a storm needs to be to get sailors worked up.

Just like the true God “hurled” a storm upon them, in their vain attempts to keep their ship from sinking, “they hurled” the cargo into the ocean.

Jonah 1:5 ESV

But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and had lain down and was fast asleep.

Jonah on the other hand is asleep in the hull of the ship, below the water level.

The phrase “had gone down” was used to describe his descent to Joppa, into the ship, and now he’s asleep in the heart of the boat.

Jonah 1:6 ESV

6 So the captain came and said to him, “What do you mean, you sleeper? Arise, call out to your god!

A pagan’s worldview is vastly different than a Biblical worldview.

Yin and Yang.

Multitude of ‘gods’

The ‘god’s’ are waring with each other.

Pagan logic says something like,

“You have your gods and I have mine, and when trouble comes, we need to pray and see which one will help us!”

“Any god will do! Whatever it takes to get out of this situation!”

To pagans, the strongest ‘god’ will win the day.

So when the Sailor asks Jonah to “call out to your god!”, he’s not thinking of the God of Scripture.

He’s thinking about the little ‘g’, household ‘god’ that every pagan had.

Jonah 1:6 ESV

Perhaps the god will give a thought to us, that we may not perish.”

To the sailors dismay, God had already given a thought to them!

But the sailor thought their ‘gods’ were failing them!

Notice the difference between Jonah and this sailor.

Jonah didn’t care if the Ninevites were destroyed!

Yet this pagan captain cared deeply for his crew and is concerned with them perishing!

The messenger of love (Jonah) gives no thought to the death of the wicked, whereas the pagan captain is greatly concerned with the death of his people.

Jonah 1:6–7 ESV

6 So the captain came and said to him, “What do you mean, you sleeper? Arise, call out to your god! Perhaps the god will give a thought to us, that we may not perish.” 7 And they said to one another, “Come, let us cast lots, that we may know on whose account this evil has come upon us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah.

It’s important to catch pagan logic that says,

“If our gods can’t stop what’s happening, then maybe one of our gods are angry with us”

“Our problems are all a result of the god’s being upset with us.”

We think of Greek Mythology and the displays of Zeus and the gods dueling it out in battle.

Striking down the people with lightning bolts on those who displeased them.

The sailors thought is,

“Let’s figure out who did it!”

Prosecution of Jonah.

The shortest straw will be drawn and it will reveal the problem aboard.

But we must not miss the Sovereign hand of Yahweh in even this.

Proverbs 16:33 ESV

33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.

Another way to say it is, the man rolls the dice, but the outcome is God’s.

There is no such thing as blind chance or “dumb luck.”

What may appear to be chance is under the Sovereign and absolutely providential hand of Yahweh.

Casting lots was a common form of divination and even to this day remains as a way to “discover the will of the gods” (Reformation Study Bible).

The Christian doesn’t believe in “chance” or “blind luck.”

We believe in a Sovereign and Providential God over all things!

This allows us to view everything through the lens of God’s perfect providence.

A Christian isn’t caught in sin by accident; God, in His providence, brings sin to light so that grace can restore.

Unbelievers – “Being Caught in Sin”

I would imagine this is especially true for you when you come into this assembly.

Maybe one of the reasons you think Christians are so “judgy” is because you’re actually convicted of your sin?

When the Word of God is proclaimed…

1 Corinthians 14:25 ESV

25 the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.

If you come to this gathering and the secrets of your heart are “disclosed” I want to plead with you to fall on your face in repentance.

Jonah 1:8 ESV

8 Then they said to him, “Tell us on whose account this evil has come upon us. What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?”

He’s a prophet that refuses to speak.

In pagan mindset there was a ‘god’ over the agriculture,

a ‘god’ over fertility,

a ‘god’ over the seasons…

but not a GOD over everything.

This is one to the reasons Genesis would have hit it’s original pagan audience like a ton of bricks.

Genesis 1:1 ESV

1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

This God whom Jonah serves is the ONE and TRUE God over all things.

Not some flimsy household ‘god’ that they use to chase away the evil spirits.

Jonah 1:9 ESV

9 And he said to them, “I am a Hebrew, and I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.”

What does it mean to fear the LORD?

To fear Yahweh “describes a living relationship of obedience and trust” (Wolff, 1986).

Do you want to see what “easy believism” looks like?

Look at Jonah in this boat!

Claiming to fear Yahweh and yet running from Him.

What a person loves most they fear most.

So it’s almost like Jonah is saying…

“I am a Hebrew, and I LOVE the Lord”

Jonah may have a sinful fear of the LORD pf the consequences.

But he most assuredly does not have a right fear of God that drives a person to obedience.

Jonah 1:10 ESV

10 Then the men were exceedingly afraid and said to him, “What is this that you have done!” For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them.

Jonah is claiming to fear Yahweh while he runs from God.

Whereas these unbelieving sailors rightly understand that they stand in opposition to God.

Jonah claims to fear while living without the trembling obedience of God’s call.

These sailors fear God and tremble at being at odds with Him.

I want to caution any at this moment that thinks they have a right relationship with God because they merely say, “I know God!”

James 2:19 ESV

19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!

A demon faith believes God exists.

A demon faith believes God is powerful.

A demon faith believes God can do miracles.

But a demon faith cannot love God.

“Love God, and do what you will” —Augustine

Because if the love of God is controlling you, you’ll do what He wants you to do.

Punishment for Jonah through Unlikely Converts.

Jonah 1:11–12 ESV

11 Then they said to him, “What shall we do to you, that the sea may quiet down for us?” For the sea grew more and more tempestuous. 12 He said to them, “Pick me up and hurl me into the sea; then the sea will quiet down for you, for I know it is because of me that this great tempest has come upon you.”

Jonah’s self-sacrifical spirit may seem noble but it’s truly a sign of cowardice.

His desire to be thrown into the sea sounds more like,

“I would rather die than go and obey my God!”

“I would rather you throw me into the ocean than actually listen to what Yahweh has spoken!”

“I hate those Ninevites so much that I would rather perish than see them saved from God’s wrath!”

Jonah wants to die.

But he’s given something here that’s worse than death to him: the salvation of his enemies.

The pagan worldview often wants to see,

“Which ‘god’ is more powerful?”

This would explain why these sailors continue on their journey to see if they can out muscle and strong arm their way to shore.

Jonah 1:13–14 ESV

13 Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to get back to dry land, but they could not, for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them. 14 Therefore they called out to the Lord, “O Lord, let us not perish for this man’s life, and lay not on us innocent blood, for you, O Lord, have done as it pleased you.”

A sinful fear of Yahweh always leads a person to fear the consequences of God.

A sinful fear of Yahweh may make a person shake for a time, but it always leads them continue in their ways.

But right fear of God leads a person to a deeper and richer relationship with God.

Providence in Unlikely Worshippers.

Jonah 1:15–16 ESV

15 So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. 16 Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows.

These men finally picked up Jonah and threw him into the sea.

In response to this, the men feared Yahweh.

Our hearts can’t but be drawn back to the Lord Jesus.

Mark 4:37–38 ESV

37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”

The heart of unbelief always asks the same question, “Lord, don’t you care about us?”

Mark 4:39 ESV

39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

It’s not that these sailors and the disciples were no longer afraid.

Rather the object of their fear changed.

It changed from their surrounding circumstances to LORD Himself.

“You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in You.” —Augustine, The Confessions

Lives saved by Free and Sovereign grace are marked by reverence and repentance.

Sovereign Grace to Lawless Pagans marked by Repentance

Jonah 3:3 ESV

Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days’ journey in breadth.

Now Nineveh had many deities that they praised.

But they all essentially had the same purpose,

“Enslave the people and have them as servants to us.”

The ‘gods’ were just bigger versions of the people that they used to keep the masses.

The text not only shows that the city was great because of the size, but Jonah makes clear that it was “great to God.”

Nineveh was a huge city because it would take Jonah three days to walk all the way around it.

Jonah 3:4 ESV

4 Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s journey. And he called out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!”

This may be the shortest sermon ever preached.

We’re not supposed to think that Jonah said no more than this.

But his essential message was, “Repent!”

I’m fearful that when we look at large cities of unbelief and carnality we think,

“Yeah right! These people will never change.”

It declares more of our own unbelief and carnality than about the unbelievers.

We declare what kind of God we believe in when we say…

“These people will never change…”

Focus on faithfulness, not the fruit bearing in those we’re sharing with.

Preaching for a change of mind.

Jonah 3:5 ESV

5 And the people of Nineveh believed God.

The people of Nineveh actually believed that God was going to judge them.

They actually believed the prophet who was spat up out of a fish.

Do you know what the text doesn’t say?

They all prayed a prayer.

They all asked God into their heart.

No!

They repented!

How do we know they repented?

The word we use for repentance is to “change one’s mind” or to “change the direction of your life”

We see this when Peter preached his pentecost sermon.

Acts 2:37–39 ESV

37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

How do we know God has called someone to Himself?

They repent!

They change their mind!

They change their direction!

They turn around and cling unto the Lord Jesus alone!

Repentance is the fruit of a life that God is changing!

Preaching for a heart change.

Jonah 3:5 ESV

They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them.

This great city has been reached by the prophets message.

Jonah 3:6–8 ESV

6 The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. 7 And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water, 8 but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God.

All of the things the king issued are signs of repentance.

Sackcloth and ashes.

Fasting as a sign of contrition.

Jonah 3:8–9 ESV

Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. 9 Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.”

Jonah 3:10 ESV

10 When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.

Preaching as a means of Salvation.

Making men respond to the preached Word is God means of bringing men to salvation.

There is nothing you could pay for salvation.

There is nothing you could do to earn salvation.

Preachers are meant to call men to repentance.

Jonah shows us that it’s not the messenger that matters.

If God is willing to save the masses through an unwilling prophet.

How much more will He bless the preaching of those filled with the Spirit of God?

Romans 10:14 ESV

14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?

Romans 10:17 ESV

17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Lives saved by Free and Sovereign grace are marked by reverence and repentance.

Benediction

Psalm 131:1–3 ESV

1 O Lord, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. 2 But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me. 3 O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time forth and forevermore.