A Portrait of Genuine Repentance (Jonah 3:5-10)
20 but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance.
Acts 26:20 (ESV) Luke 3:8
30 For as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation . . . . 32 The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. Luke 11:30–32 (ESV)
The Ninevites exhibited outward signs from genuine repentance
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 . . . .
Jonah 3:5–8 (ESV)
9 As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. 10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. 11 For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter. 2 Corinthians 7:9–11 (ESV)
“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 6:1 (ESV)
The Ninevites exhibited an inward change from genuine repentance
. . . and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. Jonah 3:5–8 (ESV); Isaiah 1:15
46 “If they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you are angry with them . . . if they turn their heart . . . and repent and plead with you . . . then hear in heaven your dwelling place their prayer and their plea, and maintain their cause 50 and forgive your people who have sinned against you . . .
1 Kings 8:46–50 (ESV); 1 John 1:9
Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. Proverbs 28:13 (ESV)
The Ninevites exhibited a faith in God from genuine repentance
5 And the people of Nineveh believed God . . .
Jonah 3:5 (ESV)
9 Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.”
Jonah 3:9 (ESV)
The Ninevites experienced the grace for God from genuine repentance
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. Jonah 3:10 (ESV)
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, Titus 2:11 (ESV)