Jonah - Chapter Three
(Salvation to the Gentiles)

"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." Jonah 3vs6.

The book of Jonah, as you know, is a glorious picture of the redemption of sinners through the Lord Jesus Christ. All four chapters illustrate some aspect of His marvelous grace in redemption.

Chapt (1) is all about the substitutionary work of Christ, as the sinner's alternative to eternal destruction. Chapt 1vs12 - Christ is our lamb!

Chapt (2) is a picture of the sufferings of Christ under the wrath of GOD for his elect. While the mariners above are enjoying the calm of a rested sea. Jonah has been swallowed up by hell.  Chapt2vs2 - Christ is our peace!

Chapt (3) is all about the preaching of the gospel. A message of the condescending love of Christ our great king who humbled himself and came down from heaven's glory, having unrobed himself of his absolute GLORY, and put on the sackcloth of humanity, "He came in the likeness of sinful flesh" to suffer for us and with us. His act is what GOD honored. See Isa. 53vs11.

It was the humility of the king which brought about repentance throughout the kingdom. Even so when we see what Christ did, by a revelation of the Spirit of GOD, we too are moved to follow Christ in obedience. This is true repentance. True repentance is an act of GOD. God grants repentance. See Acts 11vs18. GOD has to turn sinners from their path of destruction. See Luke 22vs32.

But this repentance is the result and consequence of Christ's death at Calvary being revealed to our hearts as these Ninevites were so moved by their proud king having been brought to repentance by the word of the living GOD. Christ is our salvation!

This great and glorious repentance occurs when the gospel of Jesus Christ is faithfully preached. When the servants of GOD have gone through "whale belly seminary" and they themselves believe the report; having been first partaker of the afflictions of the gospel, they are as dead men, preaching to dead men, and GOD honors that kind of service alone!

What is chapter (4) About? The end of the LAW! Stay tuned.