Destroying the Devil: God’s Love and Victory in Christ

Moving to Phoenix brought an unexpected encounter with a scorpion, which became a vivid picture of how love sometimes means destroying what threatens those we care about. In the same way, God’s love for us is not just affectionate but fiercely protective. God’s love is not passive; it actively seeks to destroy anything that would harm us—including the works of the devil. This is the heart of 1 John 2:28–3:10: God’s love is both tender and tough, and Jesus came to destroy the works of the enemy.

We live in a world where evil is both obvious and subtle. There are overt acts of violence and injustice, but there is also a quieter, more insidious evil—a “satanic lullaby” that lulls us into spiritual apathy, distraction, and self-sufficiency. The enemy’s strategy is not always dramatic; often, it’s simply to keep us asleep, distracted, and disengaged from the reality of spiritual battle. Many of us don’t even realize we’re in a fight, and that’s exactly where the enemy wants us.

John makes it clear that there are only two camps: children of God and children of the devil. The devil is both adversary and accuser—he tempts us with shiny objects, then heaps shame and condemnation on us when we fall. He wants us trapped in cycles of sin, shame, and isolation, believing that we are beyond God’s love and forgiveness.

But the good news is that Jesus came not to wrestle with the devil, but to destroy his works completely. Through his sinless life, his sacrificial death, and his victorious resurrection, Jesus has broken the power of sin and the enemy. And one day, at his return, he will put an end to evil, pain, and death forever.

Until that day, we are called to partner with Jesus by abiding in him, purifying ourselves as he is pure, and practicing righteousness. This is not about white-knuckling our way to holiness, but about living in the presence of God, letting his love and power transform us from the inside out. Victory over sin is not a one-time event but a daily practice—abiding, purifying, and practicing, over and over, as we trust in Christ’s victory and fight from a place of his love and strength.

Key Takeaways

• 1. God’s Love Is Both Affectionate and Protective God’s love is not just a warm feeling; it is a fierce, otherworldly love that seeks our good and actively destroys what would harm us. He is not indifferent to our struggles or the evil we face. Instead, he moves toward us with both tenderness and strength, offering us the security of being his beloved children and the protection of his victorious power. [01:39]
• 2. The Enemy’s Greatest Weapon Is Subtlety The devil’s most effective strategy is often not open attack but quiet distraction and spiritual apathy. He lulls us into complacency, convincing us that we’re not in a battle or that our struggles are merely natural. Recognizing the reality of spiritual warfare is the first step to victory; we must wake up to the battle and refuse to be lulled to sleep by comfort, distraction, or cynicism. [10:00]
• 3. Jesus Destroys the Works of the Devil Jesus’ victory is total—he doesn’t merely resist the devil, he destroys his works through his life, death, resurrection, and promised return. Our hope is not in our own strength or strategies, but in the finished work of Christ. We fight from a place of victory, not for victory, trusting that Jesus has already broken the power of sin and the enemy in our lives. [22:19]
• 4. Abiding, Purifying, and Practicing Are the Pathways to Freedom Spiritual growth is not a one-time event but a lifelong process of abiding in Christ, being purified by his presence, and practicing righteousness daily. This is how we experience the victory Jesus has won for us. It’s not about perfection, but about persistence—returning again and again to the presence of God, letting him shape our desires, and practicing obedience even when we stumble. [28:18]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:26] - The Scorpion Story: Love and Protection
• [01:39] - God’s Love Destroys What Harms
• [02:50] - Main Idea: Destroying the Devil
• [03:19] - Reading 1 John 2:28–3:10
• [04:35] - Family Resemblance: Children of God
• [05:52] - How the Devil Works
• [06:24] - Sin in the World and in Us
• [08:13] - Misconceptions About the Devil
• [10:00] - The Satanic Lullaby: Subtle Distraction
• [11:51] - God’s Affection and Protection
• [14:22] - Two Camps: God or the Devil
• [16:08] - Temptation and Accusation Cycle
• [21:42] - The Bad News and the Good News
• [22:19] - How Jesus Destroys the Devil
• [24:41] - Through His Life, Death, and Resurrection
• [25:50] - Through His Return: The Victorious King
• [27:47] - No More Sin, Evil, or Pain
• [28:18] - How We Partner: Abiding, Purifying, Practicing
• [30:12] - Jesus Fights for You
• [31:23] - Practice Victory Daily
• [33:09] - Spiritual Growth Is a Lifelong Practice
• [35:04] - The Love of the Father and Confession
• [36:50] - Prayer for Victory and Forgiveness
• [38:07] - Closing and Benediction

Bible Reading

1 John 2:28–3:10 (ESV) —
> 28 And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. 29 If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.
>
> 1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
>
> 4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 8 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. 9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.

Observation Questions

1. According to 1 John 3:8, what is the stated reason Jesus appeared?
2. What are the two “camps” or groups that John describes in this passage? How does he say you can tell the difference between them?
3. In the sermon, what was the significance of the scorpion story, and how did it relate to God’s love? [[01:39]]
4. What does John say is the evidence of being a child of God versus a child of the devil?

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon describes God’s love as both “affectionate and protective.” How does this dual nature of God’s love challenge or encourage someone’s understanding of how God deals with evil in their life? [[01:39]]
2. The “satanic lullaby” was mentioned as a way the enemy works in subtlety rather than open attack. Why might spiritual apathy or distraction be just as dangerous as more obvious forms of evil? [[10:00]]
3. John says, “No one who abides in him keeps on sinning.” How should this be understood in light of the Christian’s ongoing struggle with sin?
4. The sermon says that Jesus didn’t just wrestle with the devil, but destroyed his works. What difference does it make to fight “from a place of victory, not for victory”? [[22:19]]

Application Questions

1. The sermon talked about how God’s love sometimes means destroying what threatens those he loves, not just giving comfort. Can you think of a time when God’s love felt “tough” rather than “tender” in your life? How did you respond? [[01:39]]
2. The “satanic lullaby” was described as being lulled into spiritual sleep by distraction, comfort, or cynicism. What are some specific distractions or comforts in your life that might be keeping you spiritually “asleep”? What would it look like to “wake up” to the spiritual battle? [[10:00]]
3. The enemy is described as both an adversary (tempter) and an accuser (shamer). Which of these tactics do you most often experience, and how do you usually respond? [[16:08]]
4. The sermon said that victory over sin is not a one-time event but a daily practice of abiding, purifying, and practicing righteousness. What does “abiding in Christ” look like for you on a normal day? Is there a specific practice you want to start or return to? [[28:18]]
5. The passage and sermon both talk about “practicing righteousness.” What is one area of your life where you want to practice righteousness more intentionally this week? What’s a first step you could take?
6. The pastor mentioned that sometimes we try to fight sin in our own strength (“white-knuckling it”), but real change comes from living in God’s presence. Are there areas where you’ve been trying to change on your own? How could you invite God’s power and presence into that struggle? [[29:34]]
7. The sermon ended with a call to confession and practicing abiding in Jesus. Is there a sin, distraction, or area of shame you need to confess or bring into the light with God or with someone you trust? What’s holding you back? [[36:14]]