The Apostle John writes, “And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin” ( 1 John 3:5) and “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8). Verse 8 is one of the many Scriptures in First John where Jesus is identified as the Son of God.

As we ponder our Christmas theme, Why the Incarnation, one of the most remarkable thoughts is that Jesus Christ, The Word of God who is God, is also the Son of God who was manifested for our sins and to destroy the works of the devil. So the redemption of fallen man is the plan of God, not man. How important is it for a person to believe that Jesus Christ is The Son of God?

Let Scripture speak for itself. “Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God” ( 1 John 4:15). “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God” (1 John 5:13).

The very assurance of our forgiveness of sin and being set free from the grip of the devil is because it was none other than Jesus Christ, The Son of God who has done it. For those of you who have repented and trusted in the finished work of Jesus Christ for the salvation of your souls, let those biblical truths sink deep down in your souls this morning, beloved.

You are forgiven. You have been released from the trap of the devil. We see in those two Scriptures two more purposes for why Jesus was manifested. (1) To take away our sins and (2) to destroy the works of the devil. Both sin and the devil are bent on our destruction, and God sent Jesus to destroy both sin and the works of the devil on our behalf. Our Heavenly Father sent His Son because we not only need to be forgiven and delivered from the debt of our sin; we also need to be delivered out of the kingdom of the devil. The kingdom of darkness.

Jesus came because our salvation and our deliverance from the works of the devils depended upon Him. Salvation and deliverance from the works of the devil is a gift because there was no other way whereby we could be redeemed and rescued. Luke 19:10 says, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost”. When we forget why the Son of God came to this earth, we inevitably fall prey to the guilt and condemnation for our sins, which are two of the most effective fiery darts of the devil.

Beloved, “And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life” (1 John 5:20).

Grace gives what someone doesn’t deserve. That is why forgiveness has the word give in it. Forgiveness is not getting even. It is giving away the right to get even. God settled the debt of sin by laying it on His Son Jesus Christ. Thus, “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins” (Acts 10:43). If we believe in Christ, God no longer holds our sins against us. “I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins” (Isaiah 43:25). Glory be to our God for the redemption that He has given unto us in Christ Jesus. SELAH