This is a story about Jonah who has been called by God to proclaim His message of destruction and salvation to the people in Nineveh. Unfortunately, he ran away from God, and took a ship to Tarshish. Along the way, God commanded a storm to hinder him; As a result, he was thrown into the sea where he experienced death. But God in His great power saved him by way of sending a big fish to swallow him. He was in the belly of the fish three nights and three days. And later, he regained his life, and gave thanks to God for his life. In Jonah 3:1-2, God has reminded Jonah once again of His calling.
There are two important lessons that can be learned in these two verses. These are the following:
1. God's calling as well as His gift is irrevocable (Romans 11:29). Remember that Jonah was called to preach God's message to Nineveh. Though he has disobeyed God, and later experienced God's discipline, it didn't change the fact that God called him to Nineveh. It didn't change what God has appointed him to do. And in these very verses, God has reminded him once again of that unfinished business.
What is the relevance of this truth to us? It means that God is unchanging or immutable. If this is so, then His decision to destroy every sin in this corrupted world will never change through time. This is recorded in the book of Revelation. It will remain regardless of what invention, technology, innovations, etc. that this present generation (or the generations to come before Jesus' second coming) will discover or develop. Thus, if you are sinning against Him, His decision to put you into the lake of fire will never change (Revelation 20).
On the other hand, if you have been called by God to become His own child, you will remain to be His child forever. And when His perfect time comes, you will enjoy His presence forever (Revelation 21). In effect, you will never lose your salvation because God will not change His decision of choosing you. This is the reason why Jesus Christ rose from the dead through the power of God in order to become a High Priest who intercedes the believers forever (Hebrews 7:23-25). And this is a good news for every believer. Why? Because though they may fall into sin after they received God's glorious grace of salvation, they will continue to inherit it because Jesus is continually interceding for them.
But this should not be an excuse for them to go on sinning. Because everyone who has seen and accepted God's salvation will not continue to live in sin (1 John 3:6).
2. After God's deliverance there comes God's purposes and great responsibility. Again, in Jonah 3:1-2, we see that Jonah was already being delivered from death. He experienced life through God's intervention. Though one has enjoyed God's salvation, s/he has to fulfill God's purposes of choosing him/her, and do his/her responsibility as God's child. In Ephesians 1:11-12, Paul expressed that believers were predestined that they may become praise to God's glory. In Matthew 28:19-20, every believer has been called to make disciples and teach everything that Jesus taught to His apostles; that they may be handed down from one generation of believers to another. And there are other purposes that God has given to everyone who has believed Him.
Galatians 5 has also shown the believers' responsibility. But they can be summed up in what Jesus said as the greatest commandment, as follows: Love God above all, and love your neighbors as your self." It means that everything that a believer must do or must not do will be founded on love. Love must precedes every good work that s/he does. Without it, everything will just be senseless and in vain. That love must be directed to God. When s/he has love for God, s/he will learn to love others. And all good works that s/he will do will not be burdensome. Good works are fruits of the faith that a person has for God (James 2:14-25). They are not for the attainment of his/her salvation but a manifestation of it. Every believer does good works according to God's words.
Useful Links
The Absolute Necessity of Accountability by Pastor Carmelo Caparros II
There are two important lessons that can be learned in these two verses. These are the following:
1. God's calling as well as His gift is irrevocable (Romans 11:29). Remember that Jonah was called to preach God's message to Nineveh. Though he has disobeyed God, and later experienced God's discipline, it didn't change the fact that God called him to Nineveh. It didn't change what God has appointed him to do. And in these very verses, God has reminded him once again of that unfinished business.
What is the relevance of this truth to us? It means that God is unchanging or immutable. If this is so, then His decision to destroy every sin in this corrupted world will never change through time. This is recorded in the book of Revelation. It will remain regardless of what invention, technology, innovations, etc. that this present generation (or the generations to come before Jesus' second coming) will discover or develop. Thus, if you are sinning against Him, His decision to put you into the lake of fire will never change (Revelation 20).
On the other hand, if you have been called by God to become His own child, you will remain to be His child forever. And when His perfect time comes, you will enjoy His presence forever (Revelation 21). In effect, you will never lose your salvation because God will not change His decision of choosing you. This is the reason why Jesus Christ rose from the dead through the power of God in order to become a High Priest who intercedes the believers forever (Hebrews 7:23-25). And this is a good news for every believer. Why? Because though they may fall into sin after they received God's glorious grace of salvation, they will continue to inherit it because Jesus is continually interceding for them.
But this should not be an excuse for them to go on sinning. Because everyone who has seen and accepted God's salvation will not continue to live in sin (1 John 3:6).
2. After God's deliverance there comes God's purposes and great responsibility. Again, in Jonah 3:1-2, we see that Jonah was already being delivered from death. He experienced life through God's intervention. Though one has enjoyed God's salvation, s/he has to fulfill God's purposes of choosing him/her, and do his/her responsibility as God's child. In Ephesians 1:11-12, Paul expressed that believers were predestined that they may become praise to God's glory. In Matthew 28:19-20, every believer has been called to make disciples and teach everything that Jesus taught to His apostles; that they may be handed down from one generation of believers to another. And there are other purposes that God has given to everyone who has believed Him.
Galatians 5 has also shown the believers' responsibility. But they can be summed up in what Jesus said as the greatest commandment, as follows: Love God above all, and love your neighbors as your self." It means that everything that a believer must do or must not do will be founded on love. Love must precedes every good work that s/he does. Without it, everything will just be senseless and in vain. That love must be directed to God. When s/he has love for God, s/he will learn to love others. And all good works that s/he will do will not be burdensome. Good works are fruits of the faith that a person has for God (James 2:14-25). They are not for the attainment of his/her salvation but a manifestation of it. Every believer does good works according to God's words.
Useful Links
A Believer's Assurance: A Practical Guide to Victory over Doubt by John MacArthur
The Absolute Necessity of Accountability by Pastor Carmelo Caparros II
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