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.
(1 John 3:5–8 ESV)
Exhortation
Two times in this passage we are told why Jesus, the divine Son of God, came into the world as human:
In verse 5 – “You know that he appeared in order to take away sins…”
And in verse 8 – “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.”
Brothers and sisters, as the gospel of Christ’s birth, life, death, burial and resurrection is preached throughout the world – lives are being changed, sin is being forgiven, repentance is happening, the works of the devil are being destroyed through the redeemed lives of his people who are putting off the practice of sinning. And this work will be fully and finally realized in the coming age when the Church will be presented spotless, every wicked and detestable thing will be destroyed, and the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of God as the waters cover the sea.
Let’s celebrate the gospel together through song.