Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  2024  Day 176

June 24;      I John 3:8;     233/260;      ‘Destroying the Devil’s Works’

1 John 3:8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

First of all let me explain what this verse is not saying.  It is not teaching that if you, as a Christian sin, you are of the devil.  We all sin and miss it, even after we become a Christian.  The verse means that those who sin habitually are characterized by the spirit of lawlessness and are a tool of the devil.  Sin is natural to the children of the devil.  Sin is not a way of life for us as believers on Jesus.  The Lord Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil.  ‘Works’ means what satan is continually occupied in doing.  The devil ceaselessly endeavors to destroy our lives by any means he can.  Adam gave the devil his authority when he sinned, the Lord Jesus took it back and gave it back to us, His church.  The earth was cursed when Adam sinned, the Lord Jesus redeemed us from the curse on the cross.  The Lord Jesus was empowered by the Holy Spirit and preached, taught and healed with a great anointing.  The Lord Jesus took our sins upon Himself so we would not incur the misery sins brings upon us.  The Lord Jesus gave us His right standing with His Father so that we could live our lives without guilt or condemnation and be free to minister.  The Lord Jesus, when He rose from the dead sat down at the Father’s right hand.  He is far above the demonic forces arrayed against us.  From a position of authority we are seated with the Lord Jesus.  We too are far above our adversaries.  Jesus continues to destroy satan’s works by His Spirit filled Church.