Jonah 2:3-6
Big Idea: The bad news of the gospel is that each one of us are born with a nature contrary to God and therefore our motives and actions are subject to the perfectly holy and righteous judgement of the God of the universe. Without God’s salvation we all would receive what we rightfully deserve.
Psalm 73:28 (NASB95) — But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord God my refuge, That I may tell of all Your works.
“We are far too easily satisfied… like an ignorant child we would rather make mud pies in the slums then spend a vacation on the shore. We are far too easily pleased.” C.S. Lewis
Jonah recognizes that God is using the natural order to bring judgement upon him for his rank rebellion. Jonah deliberately turns his back on the Lord and therefore God is bringing righteous retribution to Jonah through his circumstances.
The Double Bad News:
Our ______________________ Nature
Jonah 2:3 For you cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the flood surrounded me; all your waves and your billows passed over me.
John 3:16–21 (ESV) — 16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (life with God) 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”
The first part of the bad news, that precedes the good news, is that we, like Jonah, have motivations and desires that are contrary to the perfect will of the Lord.
Isaiah 53:6 (ESV) — 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
1 Corinthians 2:14 (ESV) — 14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
Romans 8:7–8 (ESV) — 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
Romans 3:10–12 (ESV) — 10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God. 12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”
Romans 3:18 (ESV) — 18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
God’s ________________________ Righteousness
Deuteronomy 32:4 (ESV) — 4 “The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.
God is the perfectly righteous and holy judge of the universe. Therefore there is nothing that is overlooked, there is nothing that is compromised, there is nothing that is excused.
Hebrews 10:31 (ESV) — 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Romans 3:23 (ESV) — 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
1 John 1:8–2:2 (ESV) — 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, an
