As we have been sharing together with John the apostle who is like a spiritual father to all of us, we have been discovering the difference between someone who practices sin and someone who practices righteousness. Those who practice righteousness are like the righteous one Jesus who gave us an example of what true righteousness looks like. Those who practice sin according to John's words do not even know Jesus Christ. Today he takes that idea to an even further level when he shares in First John chapter three and verse eight:
He that commits sin is of the devil; for the devil sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
Did he write, “of the devil”? That's correct. John said, “He that commits sin is of the devil.” He then goes on to explain that the devil did this from the beginning. In other words, the devil has been in rebellion against God since the beginning, and those who practice sin are in rebellion against God.
Let's be sure of one fact: There is a devil. Jesus dealt with him in the books of Matthew chapter four and Luke chapter four. One of his ploys is to convince us that he is not real, nonexistent, and not really an active force in our lives. If that were true, John the apostle would not have mentioned him here. The devil's motive has been rebellion since before the world began. (We can read more about his rebellion before God in the book of Isaiah chapter fourteen and Ezekiel chapter twenty-eight.) Today the devil leads all he can in rebellion against God. He is going down, and he desires to take any and everyone with him when he falls. Those who practice sin are aligning themselves with him in rebellion against God.
John goes on to say, however, that the reason that the Son of God was manifested, revealed, unveiled, was so He might destroy the works of the devil. There is no denying the existence of the devil, but there also is no denying that Jesus Christ came to destroy the devil's works. Take heart dear one whomever you may be trying with everything within you to kick a certain habit, stop an activity, or put away sin that has been conquering you for years. Jesus came to do the conquering for you. Our part is to align ourselves with what Jesus tells us, be obedient to Him, and He takes care of the rest. Jesus is more powerful than any work that the devil can throw our way, and those who put their faith and trust in what Jesus can do will overcome the works of the devil. John promises this is true in the next chapter of our First John study, chapter four and verse four where he writes:
You are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
We must take heart, be encouraged, and have hope in Jesus if we are struggling with any form of sin. Remember, Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil, and He came to seek and to save that which was lost. We have hope in Jesus. We are encouraged with Jesus, and we can take heart with Jesus. The devil who is our enemy has no work that Jesus cannot destroy.
Next time we shall look at the advantage to those who are born of God, so read ahead, and we shall share together then.
Until tomorrow...there is more...
Look for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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