“THE ORIGINATOR OF SIN”

“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 3:8

Where did sin begin? If everything that God made was good, then why do we have the problem of sin? If Satan is a defeated foe, then how does he still tempt Christians? These are questions worth answering, and that’s what I intend to do as I write today’s blog.

In verse 8, John reiterates his description of a false convert: someone who habitually sins (see verses 4, 6). He gives the source of a false convert’s repetitive sinning and identifies him as the “devil” (Greek “diabolos,” which means “false accuser, slanderer”). He is also called “Satan,” the leader of the spiritual forces that defy God and reject His laws (Ephesians 6:10-17). The devil has been sinning from the “beginning” (Greek “arche,” “origin”). Not only is Satan the leader of evil forces, but he was also the first to challenge God.

In Isaiah 14:12-14, the Bible speaks of a certain angel whose name was Lucifer who wanted to “ascend to the heavens” and be “above the stars of God.” He is described as a perfect, wise, and beautiful angel (Ezekiel 28:14-15). But he became too puffed up and narcissistic because of these attributes. As it appears, Satan’s fall started before he tempted Eve in Genesis 3.

In Ezekiel 28:12-19, an evil being is described as someone who wants to make himself be like God. Most scholars agree that the text applies to Lucifer. God punished Lucifer and cast Him out of His presence (Isaiah 14:15). He has been called Satan or the Devil ever since. His “works” (Greek “ergon,” “an act, deed, or thing done”) include consistently tempting people to sin, especially believers.

John presents the antidote to Satan’s nefarious acts: the Incarnation of the Lord Jesus. He came to “destroy” (Greek “luo,” “to loosen what is compacted or built together, to break up, demolish, to rob of power”) the Devil’s work. Jesus defeated the Enemy when He sacrificed Himself on the Cross. His victory paved the way for us to be reconciled with God.

That said, Satan, despite being disarmed by the Lord, is still a formidable foe who has a network of demons working for him (Ephesians 6:10-17). That’s why we Christians should be careful and put on the whole armor of God.

John clarifies that to take part in Satan’s activities is to go against Jesus’ work of destroying the Devil. Christians are to resist and overcome the Enemy, not participate in his evil acts. The Apostle helps us detect true and false converts, which should allow us to examine ourselves and see if we are truly born again or not.

How do you recognize the works of the originator of sin?

Pursue the Savior today!

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