The Divine Infiltration - Why the Son of God invaded planet Earth

Beloved brothers and sisters, and to all who are seeking truth in a fractured world: grace and peace to you.

We live in a time where the lines between darkness and light are often blurred by culture, yet the human heart remains desperate for a rescue that it cannot achieve on its own. We look around us and see brokenness; we look within us and see a struggle. It is into this very chaos that the voice of the Gospel speaks with a clarity that shatters the confusion. In his profound sermons delivered at Grace Gospel Church, Pastor Sam Merigala unfolds the magnificent reality of the Incarnation—not merely as a sentimental holiday event, but as a strategic military invasion by the Creator into rebel territory.

Let us journey together through the theological depths of these sermons, examining the "Divine Infiltration" of Jesus Christ. We must understand why He came, who He is, and what His arrival means for the crushing weight of sin and the tyranny of the Devil.

I. The Eternal Identity of the King

To understand the magnitude of our rescue, we must first grasp the identity of the Rescuer. We cannot view Jesus of Nazareth simply as a moral teacher or a historical figure. Pastor Merigala calls us to look at the supremacy of Christ through the lens of John’s Gospel, establishing that Jesus is "the Word," the eternal God.

The scriptures declare, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God". Pastor Merigala meticulously unpacks this, noting that "in the beginning" refers not just to the moment of creation, but to the timeless existence before anything was made. The Word did not come into being; rather, all things came into being through Him. This establishes the co-eternal nature of the Son with the Father. He is distinct in personhood—being "with God"—yet identical in essence—being "God".

But the mystery of the Gospel is not just that God exists, but that "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us". This is the miracle of the Incarnation. God was united with human nature in one Person, living in history as Jesus Christ, full of grace and truth. Pastor Merigala urges us to see the purpose of this union: to grant us the right to become children of God.

When we receive Him, we receive "grace upon grace". Because Jesus holds the "fullness of Deity" in bodily form, as Colossians 2:9 asserts, the grace that flows from Him is infinite. It is an inexhaustible ocean. Pastor Merigala paints a beautiful picture of this reality: "the waves never cease... our exultation in Jesus Christ will never cease". For the believer, this means that the joy we find in Christ is ever-new and ever-increasing, flowing from an infinite fullness that can never run dry.

II. Mission Objective A: The Destruction of Sin

Why did this infinite God invade planet Earth? Pastor Merigala identifies the first primary objective: "He Came to Deliver Us from Sin".

We must be honest about the condition of humanity. We often try to soften the reality of our failures, but Pastor Merigala, expounding on 1 John 3:4-6, forces us to confront the ugly truth. Sin is not merely a mistake or a lapse in judgment. "Sin is lawlessness," a defiant disregard and rejection of God’s rightful rule. It is "personal treason against the Sovereign of the universe". Whether it is missing the mark, transgression, rebellion, or omission, sin is a universal bondage that separates us from our Creator.

The sermon presents a grim diagnosis: sin is the "habitual and settled disposition" of the unregenerate heart, making us outlaws against God. We are in bondage, enslaved, and affected by a nature inherited from Adam.

However, the "Divine Infiltration" provides the cure. Christ appeared "in order to take away sins". How could He do this? Pastor Merigala points us to the sinlessness of Christ. "In him there is no sin". Because Jesus was born of a virgin—fully human yet free from the inherited sin nature of Adam—He was qualified to be the spotless Lamb of God. He had no sin in Him, He did no sin, and He knew no sin.

This leads to a radical theological implication for us: "No one who abides in him keeps on sinning". Pastor Merigala is careful to explain that this does not mean believers achieve "sinless perfection" in this life, for that would contradict 1 John 1:8. Rather, the grammar of the Greek text indicates a continuous action. The believer may fall into sin, but they do not walk in sin.

This is a profound comfort and a severe warning. Because we have a new nature, sin can no longer be the dominant character of our lives. As Pastor Merigala preaches, "A life of living in sin and living in the Savior is an oxymoron... It is spiritually absurd". We have been liberated. We no longer love sin; we hate it. We no longer delight in it; we despise it. The power of the Gospel is that it breaks the tyranny of sin, allowing us to abide in the Holy One.

III. Mission Objective B: The Defeat of the Devil

If sin is our internal foe, Pastor Merigala identifies an external enemy who is just as real: the Devil. In the sermon titled "The Divine Infiltration: Destroying the Works of the Devil," we learn that Christ’s mission was a "search and destroy mission" targeting the works of Satan.

The Devil is described as "public enemy number one". The very name Diabolos means "accuser or slanderer," and Satanmeans "adversary". He has been sinning "from the beginning," a reference to his rebellion and his corruption of humanity in Genesis. His primary work is to undo God’s work by deceiving people and leading them into sin.

Pastor Merigala warns us with "fatherly firmness" against the deception of the enemy. The Devil is a liar and the father of lies. He utilizes false teachers—specifically the "secessionists" mentioned in John's epistle—to spread the deadly idea that one can be born of God and yet still practice a lifestyle of sin. This is a "satanic lie". The enemy wants us to believe that our behavior is disconnected from our nature, that we can claim the light while walking in darkness.

But the Son of God appeared to destroy these works. Pastor Merigala uses visceral language to describe this victory: Jesus "blew him up!". On the cross, Jesus delivered a "knockout punch" to the Devil.

How does the Cross destroy the Devil's work? Pastor Merigala explains that the Devil’s power relies on accusation. He accuses us before God based on our sins. However, Christ's atoning sacrifice dealt with those sins, removing the very basis of the Devil's accusation. The penalty is nullified; therefore, the accusation no longer stands.

"Victory is won," Pastor Merigala declares, echoing the sentiments of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Death is swallowed up. The empty tomb is the eternal monument to this triumph. Because the Warrior Lamb has defeated the enemy, we need not fear. The "strong man" has been bound, and his house is being plundered by the Son of God.

IV. The Demarcation: The DNA of the Children of God

The sermons move from the cosmic victory of Christ to the personal evidence of that victory in the human soul. Pastor Merigala calls this "Demarcation"—the separation between the children of God and the children of the Devil.

The distinguishing mark of a Christian is the "new birth," or regeneration. Citing the New Bible Dictionary, Pastor Merigala defines this as a "drastic act on fallen human nature by the Holy Spirit," resulting in a total change of outlook. It is not a minor adjustment; it is becoming a "new creation".

The Apostle John writes, "No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him". Pastor Merigala interprets this "seed" as the new nature imparted by the Holy Spirit through the Gospel. Because this divine seed remains in us, it is impossible for the true believer to continue in a settled practice of sin.

This leads to the ultimate test of our spiritual parentage, phrased by Pastor Merigala in a penetrating question: "Who’s your daddy?!".

There are two undeniable proofs of being a child of God:

1. Practicing Righteousness: "Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous". Righteous living is the visible evidence of the invisible reality of faith. We do not do right to become saved; we do right because we are saved. Christ is both our pattern and our power for this life.
2. Loving the Brethren: The sermon emphasizes that righteousness and love are interrelated; love is essentially "righteousness in relation to others". A child of God loves their brother. Conversely, hate is the mark of Cain and the mark of the Devil.

Pastor Merigala is emphatic: "Conversion changes everything. Regeneration does not produce invisible or rotten fruit". If we claim to know God but hate our brother or walk in lawlessness, we are deceived. We reveal our parentage by our actions. The child of the Devil sins and hates; the child of God practices righteousness and loves.

V. A Call to the World: The Carpenter Can Remake You

As we reflect on these powerful truths, we must realize that this "Divine Infiltration" is not just ancient history—it is a present reality. The war has been won, but the invitation to enter into that victory stands open today.

Pastor Merigala quotes the great scholar Desiderius Erasmus: "By a carpenter mankind was made, and only by that Carpenter can mankind be remade". This is the hope of the Gospel. We are broken vessels, marred by the treason of sin and the scars of the enemy. We cannot fix ourselves. No amount of self-help, philosophy, or religious ritual can extract the sin nature from our hearts.

But the Carpenter from Nazareth has come. He invaded our world to pay a debt He did not owe for a people who could not pay. He has "redeemed by His blood, regenerated by the Spirit, reconciled with the Father".

To those who do not yet know Him: Do not be deceived by the "satanic sirens of our age" that sing that sin is no big deal. Sin is the destroyer of your soul, and the Devil is a defeated foe who seeks to drag you down with him. But there is a Rescuer. The Son of God appeared to take away sins—your sins. If you receive Him, you are granted the right to become a child of God. You can trade your emptiness for His "infinite fullness". You can experience the "drastic act" of the new birth. Repentance is turning from the treason of sin; faith is committing your entire personality to Him as Lord.

To the Church, the Children of God: Let us hear the voice of our Pastor and the voice of the Apostle John. "Little children, let no one deceive you". We cannot be casual about sin. We cannot flirt with the very works our Savior died to destroy. If we abide in Him, we must walk as He walked. The "seed" of God is in you. You have a new nature. You are not a slave to the passions of the flesh or the lies of the enemy.

When "dark hours" come, as Bonhoeffer said, we must hear the voice of Jesus calling in our ear: "Victory is won". The accusations of the Devil are silenced by the blood of the Lamb.

Let us, therefore, prove our parentage to a watching world. Let us practice righteousness that flows from His grace. Let us love one another with the fierce, sacrificial love of God. Let us stand firm in the knowledge that "the One who is in [us] is greater than the one who is in the world".

The Son of God has invaded. The enemy is defeated. The shackles are broken. "Jesus, thank You for coming".

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we thank You for Your divine invasion. Thank You for not leaving us to perish in our treason. We praise You for destroying the works of the Devil and for planting Your seed of righteousness within us. Empower us to live as Your true children, practicing righteousness and loving one another, until the day we see You face to face.

Soli Deo Gloria.