This week Wilderness Wanderings is featuring a five-part series called Disruptive by Mr. Rick Verkerk. Today is episode 2, for the first installment, check out yesterday\u2019s edition.
Read John 3:16-21
\u201cTherefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.\u201d \u2013 Romans 8:1
In the beginning, Adam and Eve lived in a perfect world. Then they ate a fruit from the tree that they were forbidden to eat fruit from. The result was sin. \u2013 a disruption that permanently changed everything.\xa0 The Bible is not a rule book, but a grace narrative of how God purposefully works to overcome the disruption of sin with the even greater disruption of His matchless grace.
History is full of many disruptive events. Vehicles disrupted transportation methods. Wars have re-ordered countries and the balance of power.\xa0 The internet has transformed communication.\xa0 Our personal lives can be disrupted by unexpected events and circumstances beyond our control. History-altering disruptions whether local or global are a constant, but one disruption remains the greatest ever.
Jesus gave up His life and was sacrificed on the cross; the Roman capital punishment for the worst of the worst.\xa0 On that day it seemed like just one more in a long line of Roman crucifixions, yet no event in history has changed the world more. His sacrifice was the ultimate creative disturbance for it was the premier display of how God\u2019s grace works.\xa0 The love of God for sinners demonstrated on the cross is a scandalous grace!
Our heavenly Father gave his one and only son for the world \u2013 for you and me. This is disruptive grace! This is the declaration of His amazing love for all.\xa0 The God of lavish grace reconciles us to Himself, a standing we have no innate rights to, and saved us! (Romans 5:7-8,10). God loves us because of who He is.\xa0 Jesus\u2019 declaration \u201cIt is finished\u201d captures the fullness of grace.\xa0 God\u2019s anger toward sin is poured out on Jesus \u2013 grace absorbs and overcomes wrath.
When I respond in faith to God\u2019s free pardon, then God will never punish me for sin. It is finished. The price is paid in full (Romans 8:1). His blood shed on the cross covers all sin \u2013 past, present and future. God\u2019s redemption made possible through the sacrifice of God the Son is the greatest disruption ever.
What does it look like to walk with Jesus, set free from the bondage of sin for you today?