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There Are No Atheists in Foxholes

Jonah: God’s Matchless Grace
Sunday, February 18, 2024
Pastor Jojo Ma

 

5 Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his god. And they hurled the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and had lain down and was fast asleep. 6 So the captain came and said to him, “What do you mean, you sleeper? Arise, call out to your god! Perhaps the god will give a thought to us, that we may not perish.”

“There are no atheists in foxholes.”

C.S. Lewis: “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains. [Pain] is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”

5 Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his god. And they hurled the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them.

Lk 12:15 for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.

Matt 16:26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?

5 But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and had lain down and was fast asleep. 6 So the captain came and said to him, “What do you mean, you sleeper? Arise, call out to your god! Perhaps the god will give a thought to us, that we may not perish.”

Are you running from God by sinning in certain ways? Are you taking God for granted that He will just forgive you because He is loving and gracious? Is your attitude one of indifference and spiritual slumber?

So as you look at verses 5-6 --- the fear, the panic, and the slumber --- realize the deeper spiritual realities that God wants you to learn: to fear God most, to trust Christ through trials, and to not be found asleep, indifferent in your spiritual life.

5 Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his god. And they hurled the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and had lain down and was fast asleep. 6 So the captain came and said to him, “What do you mean, you sleeper? Arise, call out to your god! Perhaps the god will give a thought to us, that we may not perish.”

5 Questions (based out of our Jonah passage)…

  1. What is the difference between “general revelation” and “special revelation”?

  2. Are there really any atheists? [Or, do all people know God exists?]

  3. What can all people know about God?

  4. Is this general knowledge about God (“general revelation”) sufficient to save people from their sin?

  5. What happens to those who never hear the good news of Jesus Christ?

1) What is the difference between “general revelation” and “special revelation”?
Rom 1:18-21 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For His invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

General revelation is God's infallible revealing of Himself to all people everywhere, for all time, through creation and nature. It has a general content and is revealed to a general audience.

Ps 19:1-2 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.

Special revelation is God's infallible revealing of Himself to specific people, and this special revealing of Himself is through His Word and His Son.

Special revelation is the revelation of the way of salvation.

Heb 1:1–2 1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed the heir of all things, through whom also He created the world.

2) Are there really any atheists? [Or, do all people know God exists?]
Because of general revelation, everyone knows God exists, that He is powerful and glorious. They know this through nature, or as the apostle Paul says, “in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks to Him.”

3) What can all people know about God?
Rom 1:20 For His invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

Rom 2:15 …the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness.

4) Is this general knowledge about God (“general revelation”) sufficient to save people from their sin?
No. General revelation leaves sinful man without an excuse; it does not provide sinful man a Savior. In this sense, general revelation only brings more condemnation.

Rom 3:10-11 …none is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God.

5) What happens to those who never hear the good news of Jesus Christ?
Matt 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…

Jn 14:6 I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

5 Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his god. And they hurled the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and had lain down and was fast asleep. 6 So the captain came and said to him, “What do you mean, you sleeper? Arise, call out to your god! Perhaps the god will give a thought to us, that we may not perish.”

But Jesus willingly died on a Roman cross, taking the punishment you and I deserve, and bearing it in our place. Condemned He hung, acquitted we stand…all because of what Jesus did for sinners like you and me.