“He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”
My Notes
What Does 1 John 3:8 Mean?
John draws two absolute lines. First: he that committeth sin is of the devil. The practice of sin — not occasional failure but habitual, characteristic sinning — identifies you with the devil. The pattern reveals the parentage.
Second: for this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. The incarnation had a military objective: destruction of the devil's works. Jesus came to dismantle what the enemy built.
"The devil sinneth from the beginning" — sin originates with the devil. He has been sinning since the start. Every sin traces its genealogy back to a being who has been doing it from the beginning.
"Destroy the works of the devil" — the word destroy (luo) means to loose, to unbind, to dissolve. The devil's works are not just opposed. They are taken apart — loosened, unraveled, dissolved. The manifestation of the Son is the undoing of everything the devil has constructed.
Reflection Questions
- 1.How does habitual sin being 'of the devil' differ from occasional failure?
- 2.What does Jesus 'destroying' (loosening, dissolving) the devil's works look like in your life?
- 3.How does the devil sinning 'from the beginning' trace every sin back to one source?
- 4.What specific 'works of the devil' in your life need the destruction Jesus came to accomplish?
Devotional
He that committeth sin is of the devil. The practice of sin identifies the source. Not occasional stumbling — habitual, characteristic, defining sin. The pattern reveals whose child you are. If sin is your lifestyle, the devil is your father.
For the devil sinneth from the beginning. Sin has an origin — and it is not human. The devil has been sinning since the start. Every sin you commit connects to a being who invented the practice. The genealogy of sin leads to one source.
For this purpose the Son of God was manifested. For this purpose. The incarnation was not random. It had a specific military objective: the destruction of the devil's works. Jesus came to take apart what the enemy built.
That he might destroy the works of the devil. Destroy — loosen, unbind, dissolve. The devil's works are not just resisted. They are dismantled. Every structure of sin, every system of bondage, every chain the devil forged — Jesus came to take them apart.
The manifestation of the Son is the undoing of the devil. The one who sinneth from the beginning is being dismantled by the one who was manifested for that purpose. The works are being destroyed — in the world and in you.
What works of the devil are still operating in your life? What chains, what patterns, what structures of sin has the enemy built? The Son was manifested to destroy them. The loosening is available. The undoing has been authorized. The destruction of the devil's works is why Jesus came.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
He that committeth sin is of the devil,.... Not everyone that sins, or commits acts of sin, then every man is of the…
He that committeth sin - Habitually, willfully, characteristically. Is of the devil - This cannot mean that no one who…
He that committeth sin is of the devil - Hear this, also, ye who plead for Baal, and cannot bear the thought of that…
The apostle, having alleged the believer's obligation to purity from his hope of heaven, and of communion with Christ in…
He that committeth sin Better, as in 1Jn 3:3, in order to bring out the full antithesis, He that doeth sin. -To do sin"…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture