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1 Corinthians 6:9-11 KJV [9] Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, [10] Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. [11] And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. Some of the Corinthians were homosexuals who had been saved.

I still use my KJV Bible that I've received over 20 years ago and it's still in almost mint condition. The amazing pliability and durability of it is beyond any other bible that I've seen and felt.

For those who may care, I also hold to a form of "reprobate doctrine," although I do not generally refer to it in that manner, and although I do not hold to it in the same manner as Mr. Anderson or as Brother Young above. (Note: Brother Young applies some verses to his "reprobate doctrine" that I most certainly would not - John 8:43-45 being one example.)

The Reprobate doctrine is certainly not limited to Anderson's Camp in the IFB. I also hold to a reprobate doctrine. Its clear in scripture that there are people who God had stopped dealing with and in full knowledge freely reject God and fully accept the devil as their father. Where most would disagree is in being able to determine who is Reprobate with certainty. Paul appeared outwardly reprobate but obtained mercy because he did not know and many outwardly alternative lifestyles appear reprobate and are on that path to destruction but are actually confused victims of sodomite Reprobates. John 6:43-45 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. 44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;... 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;...32 who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. John 8:43-45 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. 44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. 45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. 1 Timothy 1:12-13 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; 13 who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

1 Kings 4:29-34, “And God gave Solomon wisdom.” 1 Kings 4:29-34, “And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore. And Solomon's wisdom excelled of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt. For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about. And he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five. And he spake of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall: he spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes. And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom.” Wisdom and understanding is very important. We need wisdom is our lives. We need wisdom to learn how to raise our family, working on our job, dealing with our neighbors, and those in the church congregation. As God gave King Solomon wisdom; so can the Lord give us wisdom. “If any of you ask wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” James 1:5 James does add one thought concerning asking God wisdom that we need to consider in our hearts. “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.” James 1:6 & 7 “And God gave Solomon wisdom” Why did God give King Solomon wisdom? In 1 Kings 3:5-15 God appeared to King Solomon in a dream and said, “… Ask what I shall give thee.” 1 Kings 3:5 I am going to ask the reader of this devotion to read, and consider, every word that occurs in the dream of King Solomon. God is looking at the heart of King Solomon and Solomon is speaking from his heart. In his heart, King Solomon knew that God wanted His people to walk in righteous and in truth. “..according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness...” 1 Kings 3:6 King Solomon was very humble and of a sincere heart. At this time, Solomon was 20 years old. In 1 Kings 3:7 Solomon said that he was a servant of God and was like a little child. “… and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.”1 Kings 3:7 Most people are very proud and will not follow the ways of God. Most people are unwilling to be a servant of God. Even though Solomon was king he felt that God was his king. King Solomon willingly called himself a servant. Solomon believed that he was a servant of God in order to do the will of God. 1 peter 5:5-7, “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” King Solomon humbled himself. God made us. He is the King in Heaven. God is not our servant. We are His servants. God resists a proud person. One of the reasons why God does not answer a Christian’s prayer is because they are not humble nor sincere. If we want God to give us wisdom, we need to walk in unrighteousness, truth, be humble, and sincere . 1 Kings 3:9 “Discernment” ! Kings 3:9, “Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?” God gave King Solomon wisdom because he asked for wisdom in order to discern between good and evil and to judge the nation of Israel. Solomon did not ask wisdom for his own fleshly desires or experience. He asked God for wisdom to lead the nation of Israel according to the will of God. King Solomon was unselfish. He did not ask for wisdom to help his own desires. He did not ask for money. He did not ask for health. King Solomon loved God and loved the nation of Israel. King Solomon wanted wisdom to help him to discern between good and evil. Long before God gave Solomon wisdom, Job wrote the definition of wisdom; “And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.” Job 28:28 Most people are selfish and they do not care to help others. A Chinese proverb says, “To care nothing outside one’s window – one does not care what is going on beyond one’s own surroundings.” 俗語說「兩耳不聞窗外事」 It is the will of God for Christians to discern between good and evil. The Lord Jesus wants all Christians to discern between good and evil. The Lord Jesus wants us to discern between evil and good, right and wrong, and good and bad doctrine. Ephesians 4;14 , “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.” A Christian who is not concerned about good doctrine, or is unwilling to forsake bad doctrine, is like a child who is unconcerned about the parents guidance, is deceived, and is like the waves of he sea driven hither and yonder by every wind of the heretics of this world. A lost person, or an immature Christian, cannot discern between good and evil. But a mature Christian can discern between good and evil: or judgment. “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 1 Corinthians 2:14 God blessed King Solomon “And Solomon's wisdom excelled of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt.” 1 Kings 4:30The East country would include Iran, India, China and Japan. “And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom.” 1 Kings 4:34 Even today, in the Western world, when a person thinks of wisdom, he thinks of King Solomon and the book of Proverbs. King Solomon was humble, righteous, and sincere in the sight of God. He asked for wisdom to judge the nation of Israel and to learn how to discern between right and wrong. We need to have the same attitude. God can give us wisdom if it is His will. says, Proverbs 2:6, “For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.”

Brethren, I do hope that the devotion on King Solomon, 1 Kings 4:29-34, and the scripture verse, is a blessing to you. Bishopwood Tree - Chinese 茄苳樹 Scientific Name: Bischofia javanica Location: Kenting Forest Recreation Area, Taiwan, the Republic of China https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bischofia_javanica Photo by Alan As usual, the photo is not copyrighted. God bless! Alan

Brethren, I hope the hymn, 'Sweet Hour of Prayer,' is a blessing to you. Sweet Hour of Prayer by William Walford and Tune by William Bradley God bless!

Interesting-the difference with my study, however, is that I was working from the point of the blood covenants-the Edenic, Adamic, Noahidic, and others were not covenants of blood, and the point there, is that they are very specific as to whom they apply. It is a very legal matter when dealing with the blood covenants. But there are interesting to read, and certainly true.

I did make a couple scribal errors I need to fix-I included the clean creeping things, (grasshoppers, locust), with the unclean creeping things, (mice, lizards, moles, etc). Yet as clear as those are, when I use them with any person who believes we have to keep the law, they ignore them, or try to explain them away-never successfully, of course, but they are so stuck in it. I have recently begun to use the blood covenant position because it makes it abundantly clear. To ignore it is to ignore something that our entire salvation is dependent upon. The term "dispensation', really could just be coined as blood covenants-the covenant with Abraham, the covenant at Sinai and the covenant at Calvary.

Proverbs 1:20-33 is the first occasion in the book of the Proverbs wherein we encounter the personification of Wisdom as a virtuous woman who calls for us to come unto her and learn her ways of righteousness. (Proverbs 8:6-8) This activity of personified Wisdom is also encountered in Proverbs 8:1-36 and in Proverbs 9:1-12. Through these passages we find a progression to the call of personified Wisdom, and thereby we find five responsibilities that we are to maintain toward the wisdom of God’s Holy Word. (Contextual note: I myself believe that the personified Wisdom of Proverbs represents the wisdom of God*s Word.) Repentance First, we must repent of (turn from) our selfish, sinful ways at the reproof of God’s Holy Word. This we must do in order that we might be able to learn the wisdom of God’s Holy Word. In Proverbs 1:22-23 the personified Wisdom of God’s Word proclaims, “How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? And the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.” Indeed, this is where our growth in the wisdom of God’s Word must begin – with repentance. If we will not turn at the reproof of God’s Word, then we cannot learn the spiritual wisdom of God’s Word. Reception Second, we must receive (hear) the truth of God’s Holy Word with all readiness of mind and all meekness of heart. This we must do in order that we might be transformed through the wisdom of God’s Holy Word. In Proverbs 8:5-6 the personified Wisdom of God’s Word proclaims, “O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart. Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.” Again in Proverbs 8:10 she proclaims, “Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.” Indeed, we should be more motivated to acquire the treasures of God’s wisdom through His Word, than to acquire the treasures of material wealth in this world. (See also Proverbs 3:13-15) Reverence Third, we must revere (love) the truth of God’s Holy Word, seeking after its wisdom each day with great priority. This we must do in order that we might walk in the blessings of our Lord’s daily fellowship and of the abundant spiritual life. In Proverbs 8:17 the personified Wisdom of God’s Word proclaims, “I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.” Again in Proverbs 8:34-35 she proclaims, “Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall OBtain favour of the LORD.” Indeed, there is no greater blessing in this life than our Lord’s fellowship and the abundant spiritual life. Yet in Proverbs 8:36 the personified Wisdom of God’s Word delivers the warning, “But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.” Rejection Fourth, we must reject (forsake) the foolish, that is – all those who rebel against the truth of God’s Holy Word. This we must do in order that we might not be influence by their close companionship to turn back from the righteous ways of God’s Holy Word. In the opening portion of Proverbs 9:6, the personified Wisdom of God’s Word proclaims, “Forsake the foolish, and live.” Indeed, we must not walk in the way with the spiritually foolish, but must turn away from their companionship, counsel, and course. (See Proverbs 1:15; 4:14-15) “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.” (Proverbs 13:20) Responsiveness Finally, we must respond to the instruction of God’s Holy Word with committed, consistent OBedience. This we must do in order that we might be prosperous in our spiritual growth, and might not be self-deceived in our negligence. In Proverbs 8:32-33 the personified Wisdom of God’s Word proclaims, “Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways. Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.” Again in the closing portion of Proverbs 9:6, she proclaims, “And go in the way of understanding.” Indeed, we must hearken unto, follow after, and go in the righteous ways that God’s Word instructs. We must be “doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving [our] own selves.” (James 1:22)

Speaking of the Lord’s Supper, 1 Corinthians 11:26-28 reads, “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.” In the opening portion of verse 28, God’s Word declares, “But let a man examine himself.” As we come to the end of one year and the beginning of the next, it is appropriate that we should examine ourselves. It is appropriate that we should examine our lives over the past year, whether we have grown in spiritual character and conduct before our Lord, or whether we have gone away backward into sinful iniquity against our Lord. It is appropriate that we should examine ourselves, and that we get right with our Lord in any area wherein we have sinned against Him. It is appropriate that we should heed the exhortation of Lamentations 3:40 – “Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.” Yea, it is appropriate that we should ask our Lord to examine us and try our hearts. It is appropriate that we should join in the prayer of David from Psalm 139:23-24 – “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Even so, let us examine ourselves through the following questions. 1. Have we been faithful in our private walk with our Lord? John 15:4 – “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.” Colossians 2:6-7 – “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.” Philippians 3:8, 10 – “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ . . . that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.” 2. Have we been delighting in the wisdom of God’s Word? 1 Peter 2:2 – “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.” Joshua 1:8 – “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest OBserve to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” Psalm 119:97 – “O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.” 3. Have we been constant in watching unto prayer with thanksgiving? Colossians 4:2 – “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving.” Ephesians 6:18 – “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.” Philippians 4:6 – “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” 4. Have we been OBedient in our daily ways for God’s glory? James 1:22 – “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” John 14:15 – “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” 1 Corinthians 10:31 – “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” 5. Have we been edifying in the words of our communication? Ephesians 4:29 – “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” Colossians 4:6 – “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” Proverbs 15:1-4 – “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness. The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.” 6. Have we been loving in our affectionate warmth toward one another? John 13:34-35 – “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” Romans 12:10 – “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another.” Galatians 5:13-14 – “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” 7. Have we been zealous in our gospel witness to the lost world? Mark 16:15 – “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Matthew 28:19-20 – “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to OBserve all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” 1 Peter 3:15 – “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.” 8. Have we been abounding in the ministry work of the Lord? 1 Corinthians 15:58 – “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” Hebrews 10:24-25 – “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Ephesians 4:15-16 – “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” 9. Have we been willing to withdraw ourselves from wrong influences? Psalm 1:1 – “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.” Ephesians 5:11 – “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” 1 Corinthians 15:33 – “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” 10. Have we become weary in well-doing through discouragement? Galatians 6:9 – “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” 2 Thessalonians 3:13 – “But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.” Hebrews 12:2-3 – “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.” 11. Have we been consumed with worry over life’s difficulties? Matthew 6:31-33 – “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” John 14:27 – “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” 1 Peter 5:7 – “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” 12. Have we become filled with wrath and bitterness at others? James 1:19-20 – “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.” Hebrews 12:15 – “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.” Ephesians 4:31-32 – “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” 13. Have we been infected with worldliness in our affections? Colossians 3:2 – “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” 1 John 2:15-17 – “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” James 4:4 – “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” 14. Have we been overcome with the wickedness of covetousness? 1 Timothy 6:9-10 – “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” Luke 12:15 – “And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” Hebrews 13:5 – “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

Taught March 10 and 17 at church. Jonah 2:9: "Salvation is of the LORD." Salvation can mean temporal deliverance or eternal salvation. The Hebrew word is "yesh-oo'-aw"--almost the same as the word for Jesus ("yesh-u-a"). In Hebrew, there is here one extra letter in the word for salvation, which adds to the sense of not only physical deliverance, but all kinds of salvation. All are of the LORD. Other verses that say the same thing: Psalm 3:8; 37:39; Acts 4:12; Rev. 7:20. The LORD's Work God uses the belly of a whale to bring Jonah to the necessary point of humility and repentance. A sinner will not be saved until he sees his sin, and has humility and repentance. Jonah here made a great prayer, but his prayer was not what saved him from the whale's belly--it was the LORD. Jonah 2:6--God's deliverances are so sure that we can look into the future and speak of God's mercy and deliverance in the past tense. God's work of salvation is sure because it's founded on Christ and His work. The same God who could cause a whale to swallow and spit out a man is the same God who sent Jesus to die on the cross to save us. Just as Jonah could take no credit for being spit out of the whale alive, we can take no credit for being plucked out of the pits of Hell. Ephesians 2:8,9. Jonah was as good as dead, and the lost are dead in trespasses and sins (Eph. 2:1)--only God's power can heal the sick and raise the dead. Only God in flesh could fulfill the law and die to pay the price of all the sins of all humanity, to defeat Hell and death. The LORD's Will Jonah ran off and hid from the LORD. God sought after him and used the belly of a whale to get his will in submission. You can run away from God's will, but it won't do you any good. If you're His, God will chase after you and chastise you until you get on board with what He wants you to do. Before Jonah could be saved from the whale, he had to be put in the whale and brought low. In the salvation of a soul, God first brings the sinner down--His Spirit convicts of sin, righteousness, and judgment. Once the sinner's heart is humbled and turns to God in faith, God saves. Through it all, God is working in the heart of the sinner. God brings low, and God raises back up again. God's Spirit and God's law seek out and convict the sinner, and God's Christ saves the sinner through the Gospel. This happens according to God's timing. 2 Cor. 6:2. A sinner can only repent with God's drawing. John 6:44; Acts 11:18. But it is another fact that God draws all men unto Himself, and God wills all men to be saved—1 Tim. 2:4 and John 12:32. John 1:12,13--we didn't will ourselves into salvation. We didn't seek God in our lost state. God came down and sought us and gave us the free offer of salvation, which He gave us the grace to respond to. The LORD's Wisdom What a strange story, that God swallowed Jonah by a whale! But this is no fancy, for the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus stand on the historicity of Jonah. Mat. 12:39-41. 1 Cor. 1:17-31. The cross seems so foolish--that God should come and die for all His creatures, as the only way to save them from Hell. But it was the only way for God to be just, and the justifier of him that believeth on Jesus (Rom. 3:26). God's justice must punish sin. It cannot be overlooked. Josh. 24:19. Heb. 12:14. Rev. 22:14,15. God's love and mercy desire to save us, and the cross was the only way to reconcile the two. Psalm 85:10. Eze. 11:19. Not only does God forgive our sins on the merit of Jesus Christ, who paid our penalty, when we repent and believe; He also turns our hearts to righteousness. He grants the prisoners pardon and, to be just on society, He changes the prisoners' hearts, for when we learn of the agony that Jesus endured so that we could be saved, the Spirit of God fills us with the desire to serve Him in love. And so it was with Jonah, that his physical trouble and salvation from the whale was so shocking and foolish, that it caused him to turn around and go to Ninevah (yet, as a parallel, we see he still had to deal with his sinful flesh). Salvation causes one to stop running against God's will, and to change direction. In this sense, it's not only of the Lord, it's for the Lord. 1 Pet. 5:10.