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. I John 3:8 (KJV)

God had a purpose, a reason, to manifest the Son of God, His Son Jesus. It was to destroy the devil’s works.

Committeth sin would be better translated as practices sin as a lifestyle. Those who live a lifestyle of sin are of the devil, because the devil sinned from the start. Lucifer, as he was previously called before he fell, sinned in heaven and was cast down out of heaven. He then became known as the devil, or satan, and he continues to sin and works to get mankind to sin so he can destroy humanity.

Destroy is the Greek word luo, meaning to destroy, release, dissolve, loose, break, demolish, and breakdown. That’s what Jesus came to do to the works of the devil. He came to undo everything satan has done to mankind.

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10 (KJV)

In this verse, Jesus tells us some of the works of the devil: to steal, kill, and destroy. However, Jesus’ finished works finished the works of the devil towards mankind. Jesus came to undo, out-do, and over-do all the works of the enemy- as if it never happened. This is what redemption is all about. Redemption means to be bought back from the slave market. we were bought back from the slave market of sin, and the devil is no longer our master. Jesus is our Master now, and we serve Him.

How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. Acts 10:38 (KJV)

Jesus, Whom God anointed, is still going about doing good and healing everyone who has been oppressed, or harassed, by the devil. Oppress means to exercise power over, meaning that we used to be under the dominion or lordship of the devil. But, that is no longer the case. During His earthly ministry Jesus went about doing good because God was with Him. He was anointed and the anointing destroys yokes, any bad thing from the devil that seeks to bind us. God is greater than the devil and his yokes, and Jesus Christ sets captives free, keeping them free as they continue in Him (John 8:31-32, 36).

As we live for Christ, the devil has no claim to us because we are submitted to God and we resist the devil in Jesus’ Name. When we speak God’s Word, wielding the Sword of the Spirit, we send him on his way.

Don’t let the enemy do to you what Jesus has undone for you. Live for God and not for self, rejecting a lifestyle of sin. Live like Jesus has set you free, healing you, loving you, protecting you, and is ever-present with you. Live as if nothing bad ever happened to you because Jesus has undone all of the bad and outdoes the enemy with all His goodness and good works. Jesus blesses us more than we can contain, so live like the devil never did anything bad to you. His evil works over you should be remembered no more, because Jesus has totally obliterated them. Jesus has, in effect, erased what the devil did, so live like that to give Jesus all the glory for His goodness.