12/23/16 Greater Is He That Is In Me

READING: 1 John 1-5

The evil one is real, and John knew that as he wrote the letter of 1 John. In fact, John wrote that “the whole world is under the control of the evil one” (1 John 5:19). Satan does not literally wrest control of the world from God’s hands, but he seeks to extend his darkness throughout the world through his evil influence.  Believers are his primary target because we are God’s plan to announce the good news to the nations.

From John’s letter, it’s actually easy to see how the enemy works. First, he propagates lies through false teachers, and thus believers must examine teachers and teachings: “Test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone into the world” (1 John 4:1). Particularly, he wants teachers denying who Jesus is.

Second, the enemy wants supposed believers to continue in sin while also convincing them that their spiritual condition is fine; he doesn’t want them to consider this truth: “No one who lives in him [Christ] keeps on sinning” (1 John 3:6). No believer is perfect, but any “believer” who never truly turns from sin is no believer at all.

Third, the enemy delights when people who claim to be followers of Christ don’t love one another: “This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister” (1 John 3:10). The one who truly follows God does what He demands, including loving others.

Here’s the good news, though: “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work” (1 John 3:18). Satan wants people to remain caught in their sin, thus giving him justification to accuse them before God – but Jesus took care of the sin problem. He “laid down his life for us” (1 John 3:16), and He indwells us through His Spirit, the One in us who is greater than the “one who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). That’s why John could say that young men had overcome the evil one (1 John 2:13-14) and that the evil one could not harm faithful Christ-followers (1 John 5:18). Our enemy may cause temporary anguish in our lives, but he cannot ultimately defeat us.

ACTION STEPS: 

  • Be honest about your own life. Are you continuing to sin when you know that God calls us to repentance? Consider what John would say to you.
  • Review this book to see John’s emphasis on the work of the Holy Spirit. Thank God for the One who lives within you.

PRAYER: “Lord, I want You—not sin—to control me. Through Your Spirit, grant me victory over the evil one today.” 

TOMORROW’S READING: 2 John 1; 3 John 1; Jude 1

 

 

 

 

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