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Hi ~

That question in the Subject line . . .

That’s what we read in 1 John 3:8:

"The reason the Son of God appeared

was to destroy the works of the devil."

But what does that even mean? Did Jesus come to smash every evil thing, past, present, and future?

If so, we might have to admit . . . it looks like He didn’t succeed. There is still evil everywhere. The devil clearly hasn't been destroyed, as in "obliterated."

But understanding the Greek word changes everything.

The Greek word translated “destroy” doesn’t mean to crush or obliterate.

It means to loosen.

To release from bonds.

To set free.

To dissolve, unbind, undo.

It’s the same word Jesus used when He said about the colt the disciples were supposed to go get for him, “Loose him." Untie him.

It’s the same thing when He spoke after raising Lazarus from the dead, “Loose him and let him go.” Get those grave clothes off of him so he can walk free.

So this "destroying" isn’t about wrecking, crushing, or obliterating.

It’s about unbinding. Setting captives free. Undoing what the devil has done.

And that’s what Jesus did for us and still does . . .

Through His sacrificial death.

Through His victorious resurrection.

Through the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in our lives today.

He is constantly, faithfully, undoing the works of the enemy in the lives of those who come to Him by faith.

Praise His Name.

(And by the way—this reflection came from a recent re-reading of my book Prayer Armor for Defense Against the Enemy’s Flaming Darts. You can see that book here.)

Looking with you for all the unbinding Jesus offers,

Rebecca

Untwisting Scriptures at heresthejoy.com

See my Untwisting Scriptures series

Trauma-informed Christian book coach at Rebecca Davis WordWorking

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