Blessed Is The Man

Walking With God
Weekly Devotional Series

Week 49 2024

Why Jesus Came
Sermon #1
(For the four weeks in December called “Advent” or “Arrival”)
To Destroy the Works of the Devil
1 John 3:1-10 (v. 8)

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. 1 John 3:1-10

This portion of John’s epistle is one of the most controversial passages in all of the New Testament. A right understanding of this Scripture brings great assurance to the heart of the child of God. A wrong understanding leads to the acceptance of a system of doctrine which contradicts New Testament Teaching.

These verses confront us with several underlying questions:
1) Do they teach that if a person sins, he or she is not a child of God?
2) Do they say that if a person is a Christian he or she does not and cannot sin?
2) Do they teach that everything a person does is somehow made right even if it is
Biblically Considered sin?

1. The Contrast (verses 4-6)
John makes a sharp distinction between the one who abides in Christ and a person who has not seen Him or known Him.
To practice sin is to break the law of God continually. The very heart of sin is
lawlessness.
The person who continues sinning refuses to be restrained and regulated by God’s
commands and His will.

2. The certainty (verses 7-8)
The person made righteous by Christ acts righteously. The person practicing sin has the Devil as their instigator.
The child of God will develop a patten of behavior that results from a right relationship with God.
The one who is truly born of God does not have a life of sinning.
The old sinful nature will be done away with as one yields to the new nature placed within them.

Not every bo***ge may have yet been broken.
Not every hurt may have been healed.
Not every flaw may have yet been perfected.

3. The Absolute Statement (verse 9)
No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God.
This verse must be read in light of the preceding verse and in the context of the apostle’s entire discussion.
This verse does not say that a person born of God never commits an occasional act of sin.
But makes clear that a person born of God does not make it a practice or course of their life.

John tells us in 1:8 that: If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

The new nature dwells within every Christian. It is God’s seed that remains in the believer. This seed is the new nature – the new man formed within the soul at salvation.

“To destroy” is to dissolve or loosen. Jesus came to dissolve and loosen mankind from the works of the devil.

Jesus came to destroy hatred by the gift of love.
Jesus came to destroy lawlessness by the gift of obedience.
Jesus came to destroy all the negative things which spoil by bringing something positive that remakes and uplifts.
Jesus came to bring assurance not condemnation.
Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil concerning death by the gift of life.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10

Keeping Christ in Christmas!

✝ Pastor Carl

All content in Walking with God Weekly Devotions are my own work except where noted.
Credit will always be given where credit is due.
Scripture quotations are obvious and translations are noted as in accordance with copyright laws and rules. Lengthy copyright notices are used only when required.
You may share all content of Walking with God Weekly Devotions unless I state otherwise.
Unless otherwise stated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights preserved.

Walking With God
Weekly Devotional Series

Week 47 2024

Be Glad and Rejoice
Zephaniah 3 (focus on verse 14)

Josiah, king of Judah, was attempting to reverse the evil trends set by the two previous kings of Judah - Manasseh and Amon. Josiah was able to extend his influence because there was no longer a strong super power dominating the world at that time. Assyria had been the dominating super power but was now in a very serious decline.

The book of the prophet Zephaniah is placed last among the minor prophets. He is the great-grandson of king Hezakiah (1:1). The name Zephaniah means “Yah has hidden” or “the Lord hides or protects.”

His message comes just prior to Israel being taken captive and relocated to Babylon and not long before Jeremiah comes on the scene.

There was a severe moral decline in that day and Zephaniah is allowed to see what is about to happen to Judah and Israel.

1) Zephaniah foretells the general destruction of Judah and Jerusalem by the Chaldeans and refers to it as “the day of the Lord.”

2) He sets their sins before them

3) Calls them to repentance

4) Threatens their neighboring nations with the same destruction
and gives encouraging promises of their joyful return out of captivity in due time.

5) He also looked forward to a time of judgment of the Gentiles.

6) And, he foresaw the restoration of Israel in the Messianic kingdom.

The message of doom in the beginning of the book becomes the message of hope by the end.

God’s people must rejoice over their salvation. However, such joy is not a natural response. It is a supernatural response resulting from God’s redemptive activity in our lives.

Let us look at some reasons (or conditions) for joy / rejoicing.

Joy comes to us because (conditions for joy):
1. We are forgiven and no longer punished for our sin.
God uses his grace and love to motivate us to obey him.

2. Our enemy has been defeated. We are set free from the bo***ge of
Satan and sin.
We are now able to choose which direction we will go.
3. God is with us giving us his fellowship, grace, and help throughout
our lives.
Zephaniah points out that gladness (or joy) results when we allow God to be with
us.

4. We are now objects of God’s great love and delight.
For the Lord’s own, His final word is not of anger as with unbelieving people - but
of love.

These conditions for joy exist now for those who have full knowledge of what God has done for us in his Son (Eph. 1:17-18; 3:16-20).

Our joy will reach its pinnacle in that day when God manifests his full glory and majesty on earth (Isa. 35:1-10).

As you read Zephaniah, listen carefully to the words of judgment. God does not take sin lightly.
But, be encouraged by the words of hope. Our God reigns and he will rescue and deliver his own.

Decide to be a part of that faithful remnant of souls who humbly worship and obey the living Lord!

Be glad and rejoice for the living Lord is with you!

✝ Pastor Carl

All content in Walking with God Weekly Devotions are my own work except where noted.
Credit will always be given where credit is due.
Scripture quotations are obvious and translations are noted as in accordance with copyright laws and rules. Lengthy copyright notices are used only when required.
You may share all content of Walking with God Weekly Devotions unless I state otherwise.
Unless otherwise stated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights preserved.