The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8).

Immediately after Adam and Eve sinned, God said to the one who tempted them, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head; and you shall bruise his heel” (Gen 3:15).

Bible scholars call this Genesis verse the “first gospel” because it is God’s first promise to redeem a fallen world and people from the catastrophes of Adam’s sin by an eventual child of Eve.

God refused to give up on those who sinned against him. Instead, he promised the divine provision of One who would come through the line of humans who had just betrayed him to redeem them. That’s a profound grace, but it was not the end of grace.

God’s plan will continue to unfold until all the works of the devil are destroyed. No human conflict or natural disaster or family failure or personal sin has ever derailed God’s plan – nor will it.

The Son of God appeared to destroy the works of the devil, even while experiencing an awful attack from him. Satan bruised Jesus – wounding him on the cross – but our risen Savior more seriously bruised Satan, eternally crushing his influence.

We should take daily comfort from knowing God’s grace is greater than all the evils of the world, including the failures of our hearts. Grace of that magnitude puts our problems in proper proportion.

When our God is so great, no difficulty is beyond his power. When his grace is so sure, no sin is beyond his pardon. God’s grace triumphs!

Prayer:
Lord, thank you for proclaiming the triumph of Jesus from the beginning of your Word. Strengthen my heart to stand for you by remembering the greatness of your grace.