Evidence Of A Changed Heart

St. Charles | Scott Grossenbacher
August 16, 2026
Jonah 3:5

““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.” Jonah 3:5 (ESV)

1. A New BELIEF: You trust what God says.

“And the people of Nineveh believed God.” Jonah 3:5a (ESV)

“And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.” Genesis 15:6 (ESV

“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Romans 10:17(ESV)

“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” Hebrews 11:6 (ESV)

2. A New RESPONSE: You turn in God’s direction.

“They called for a fast and put on sackcloth.” Jonah 3:5b (ESV)

“Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.” Joel 2:12-13 (ESV)

“For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.” 2 Corinthians 7:10 (ESV)

“Correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.” 2 Timothy 2:25 (ESV)

3. A New POSTURE: You humble yourself before God.

“…from the greatest of them to the least of them.” Jonah 3:5c (ESV)

“The righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:22b–23 (ESV)

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28 (ESV)

“If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.” James 2:8-9 (ESV)

“But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.“ James 4:6 (ESV)

“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you” James 4:10 (ESV)