REPENTANCE UNTO EVERLASTING LIFE
- Olufunmilayo Adekusibe
- Jul 12
- 4 min read
Today’s Readings:
Psalm 82
Amos 2: 12–3:8
John 3:16–21 NKJV
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17)
Can you love anyone enough to sacrifice your only child to save them? Yet, God did. The word so in “God so loved the world” emphasises the intensity and greatness of God’s love for His created world. What a mighty and awesome God we serve—His very name is Love. He gave His only Son as a sacrifice to atone for the sin of the entire world—for my sin, and your sin (John 3:16).
Have you ever wondered why God did this? This is why:
His mission on earth is rooted in the supreme love of God for a sinful, broken world.
Because God did it to reconcile us to Himself, so that everyone who believes in Jesus would not perish, but have eternal life.
Because, on our own, we cannot clean up the mess of our sins.
Because God is holy and cannot behold sin.
The Good News is that all we need to do is believe in Jesus Christ, and we will receive eternal life with God. Jesus did not come to condemn the world, but to save lost sinners. In Christ, we become a new creation. This transformation begins from the inside out, the moment we surrender our lives to Him (Psalm 51:12). In Amos 3:1–2, the Lord says: “Hear this word that the Lord has spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt: You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore, I will punish you for all your iniquities.” Israel, as God’s chosen people, had a special covenant relationship with Him. However, this covenant did not exempt them from God’s judgment when they sinned. With covenant promises come covenant responsibilities. If God had overlooked their sin, He would have violated His righteousness. The iniquity of Israel—crookedness and perversion—demanded a just response.
“… believed in the name …” (John 3:18) implies more than mental agreement with the Gospel. It requires trust and confident commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, acknowledging that He alone can save. It means putting Christ in charge not only of our eternal destiny but also of our everyday plans. Trust in His word and rely fully on His power, which produces a new nature (v. 7) that transforms the heart and leads to obedience. Eternal life should not frighten anyone. It is not an extension of a miserable or immoral life—it is a divine gift from God, where there is no death, sickness, evil, or sin. Without Christ, we cling to the world and make choices as though this life is all there is. But this world is only a prelude to eternal life. In Jesus’ context, unbelievers refer to those who reject or ignore Him completely, not those who occasionally have doubts. Many avoid exposing their lives to the light of God’s Word because they fear that their deeds will be revealed. Some are simply uninterested in a changed heart. Such individuals often feel threatened by those who walk in the light, preferring instead to remain in darkness and commit evil.
What should we do?
Give your life to Christ by being born again. Being a condition of spiritual transformation, where eternal life is impacted in one. And the person experiences deep change in one’s relationship with God, self and with others. (John 3:3, 7)
Walk in the light of God’s Word. Do not rely on your deeds, skills, intelligence, money, or possessions—they can all fail. Boldly place your faith in God. Even when you have not yet received what you hoped for (Rom.. 8:25), believe that it is coming and begin to thank God. Only He can save us from eternal damnation.
Receive this new life in Christ Jesus and begin to evaluate everything by faith through the lens of eternity.
Recognise that your efforts cannot bring salvation. Ask God to do His transforming work in you.
If you have never trusted Christ, claim His promise of everlasting life and believe.
Keep praying for those still in darkness to see the light of Jesus.
OLUFUNMILAYO TITILOLA ADEKUSIBE
To surrender your life to Christ, say this prayer aloud. “Father, I acknowledge my sin against You. I repent and ask for forgiveness, in the name of Jesus. I surrender to the Lordship of Jesus. By the power of Your Holy Spirit, take control of my heart and lead me in Your path of righteousness. Thank you, Lord.”
If you said the prayer, Congratulations! You are welcome to the body of Christ. Prayerfully seek out a living church and meet the resident reverend, pastor, or priest.
Prayer:
I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever; with my mouth I will make known Your faithfulness to all generations.
Thank you, Lord, for loving me so much that You gave Your only Son as an atonement for the sin of the world.
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your loving kindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
Purge me with the blood of Jesus, and I shall be clean; wash me from the crown of my head to the sole of my feet, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Lord, make me hear joy and gladness; that the bones which You have broken may rejoice. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me with your free spirit.
Create in me a clean heart, O God; renew a right, teachable, humble and forgiving spirit within me, in Jesus’ name.
Father, let Jesus increase in me, and I decrease, in Your holy name I pray. Amen.
Lord, reconcile troubled marriages, and visit families with your mercy and love, so that they would fulfil Your purpose, in Jesus’ name.
O Lord, visit Your Church with Your cleansing power, let Your purpose be fulfilled, in Jesus’ name.
Lord, with Your shoe of fire, walk the length and breadth of our nation, and uproot whatever does not glorify You, in Jesus’ name.
Comments