Why Did the Son of God Invade Planet Earth?

John provides a counter-argument to such deception that is quite simple and to the point: "The one who does what is right is righteous, just as He is righteous." Deception is defeated by a righteous life that gives tangible, visible evidence that we have been born again through faith in Christ. We will live out who we are. It is inevitable. Now, doing what is right is not what enables us to be righteous, but again, it is proof that we are righteous, just as Jesus, in whom we now abide, is righteous.

Christ is my righteousness positionally and experientially—determining what I am in the eyes of God and directing how I act here on earth. He is my redemption and my sanctification. Christ is my pattern (2:6) and my power (4:4) for righteous living. Galatians 2:19-20 provides a very helpful insight on this truth: "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Do not be deceived into thinking you can practice sin and be righteous before God. That is a great, big, satanic lie!

Verse 8 is one of the clearest statements in all of God's Word telling us why Christ came. For the first time in the letter, John refers specifically and directly to our archenemy the Devil (cf. 3:12; also 2:13-14; 5:18-19). The word "Devil" (diabolos) appears four times in verses 8-10 and means "accuser or slanderer." "Satan," the Hebrew counterpart, means "adversary." These words well describe the character and tactics of our ancient foe. Jesus came on the scene to take away sin (v. 5) and also "to destroy the Devil's works."

69In verse 8 Jesus is referred to as the "Son of God" (the first of seven occurrences in 1 John; see 3:8; 4:15; 5:5, 10, 12, 13, 20). The Second Person of the triune God invaded enemy territory and took our enemy down in a complete and total victory. John Piper says, "Christmas is because God aims to destroy something ... [it is] God's infiltration of rebel planet earth on a search and destroy mission" ("The Son of God Appeared"). He came, searched out, and destroyed the works of Satan. He blew him up!

Seeing verse 8 in parallel with verse 5, we see that the works of the Devil, which our Savior came to destroy, are sins. By means of His atonement, sin's penalty has been nullified for the child of God. By means of the new birth, sin's power has been neutralized and dealt a death-blow. And, by virtue of His two appearings, sin's presence will soon pass away forever. Jesus delivered a knockout punch to the Devil on the cross. An empty tomb is an eternal monument to His victory and to ours!

He Came to Demarcate the Children of God

1 John 3:9-10

As we have seen, the false teachers of John's day, as well as those of our own, will teach that it is possible—someway, somehow—to be righteous without doing what is right. God's Word says, "No way!" Those abiding in Christ will not, indeed they cannot, go on living in sin as the consistent and prevailing pattern of their lives. "Impossible," says the Bible. It simply is not in the realm of reality. Conversion changes everything. Regeneration does not produce invisible or rotten fruit. If anyone is in Christ, he or she is a new creation and all things become new (2 Cor 5:17).

As John closes out this paragraph, he highlights three crystal clear and definite descriptions of the children of God. Being a good teacher, he again uses a little repetition to make sure his children get his point.

Once more John draws attention to the new birth, to the doctrine of regeneration. One of the distinguishing marks of the Christian is the new birth. He has been converted, born again, regenerated. What is regeneration? What does being born of God mean? The Baptist Faith and Message 2000 says,

The New Bible Dictionary says regeneration is "a drastic act on fallen human nature by the Holy Spirit, leading to a change in the person's whole outlook. He can now be described as a new man who seeks, finds and follows God in Christ" (Gordon, "Regeneration," 1005).

John teaches us that this happens because God's "seed remains in him," in the believer. Various views are held concerning what is meant by God's "seed." They include the Holy Spirit, the Word of God, Christ, God Himself, and the new nature. In a sense, all are true, though the new nature specifically seems to fit John's purposes here best. Perhaps we could say that by means of the work of Christ, revealed in the gospel message, the Holy Spirit imparts a new nature into everyone who repents of sin and trusts in Christ. I have no doubt John would affirm this thesis.

Without the new birth it is impossible for us to live like new people. Sin will dominate us. Satan will have his way with us. Hate and not love will fill our hearts. However, as a result of the new birth, the Bible says we cannot make "a practice of sinning" and we "cannot keep on sinning because [we have] been born of God" (v. 9 ESV). These are words that should impart both comfort and humility to us. We are comforted to know sin cannot and will not win, ultimately, in our lives. We may stumble, even fall on occasion, but we know "the One who is in [us] is greater than the one who is in the world" (4:4). Our Lord will pick us up and get us moving again in the right direction. We are destined to be like Jesus (3:2; cf. Rom 8:29-30)! Neither sin nor Satan will have the last word.

These words also humble us because if it were not for Christ, His atonement, His advocacy, and His victory, we would forever be enslaved to Satan and sin. Any righteousness we do flows from the righteousness of Christ poured into our lives by means of the new birth.

Verse 10 summarizes a discussion that began all the way back in 2:3. It also prepares us for a more extended discussion to follow on the important subject of love. Two simple and fundamental tests are set forth in this text that distinguish a child of God from a child of the Devil. First, do you do what is right? Second, do you love others? John says it is that simple. In these verses, John has put the issue in negative terms (not doing what is right and not loving others). But they clearly are meant to be an exhortation to believers: "Show yourselves to be true children of God! Practice these two virtues!" Plummer is right in showing, however, that the two are actually interrelated: "Love is righteousness in relation to others" (Plummer, The Epistles of St. John, 128). Those who hate sin, who have been set free from the Devil, and who are born of God will do what is right and love others.

This is what our God does. This is what His children will do. You see, the child has the distinguishing marks of his parents. What he sees his Father do, that is what he will do. What he sees His Savior do, that is what he will do too. Sadly, if the Devil is your spiritual father, you will reveal your parentage by practicing sin and hating others (cf. John 8:44). I guess the question really is, "Who's your daddy?!" Your life will provide a clear and undeniable witness.

Conclusion

John has shown us that "the Son of God was revealed for this purpose: to destroy the Devil's works" (1 John 3:8). Desiderius Erasmus (1466-1536), a leading Christian humanist of the sixteenth century, got it right when in his Paraphrase on Mark he said, "By a carpenter mankind was made, and only by that Carpenter can mankind be remade." The carpenter from Nazareth, the Son of God, has indeed remade us—redeemed by His blood, regenerated by the Spirit, reconciled with the Father, and ready for service. What a joy it is to be a child of God! What a blessing to have been saved and set free from the shackles of sin and the tyranny of Satan! Jesus, thank You for coming.

Reflect and Discuss