For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. (1 John 3:8)

The power that God used to raise Christ from the dead dissolved, melted, and liquidated the works of the devil.  Mark Hankins

Jesus came to redeem us primarily through His death and resurrection. The power of Christ’s resurrection is destructive — not to us, but to the works of the enemy. The word destroy is luo, which means to loose, break, or undo. Jesus rose from the dead to undo all that Satan had done in man through the fall. Jesus put an end to the works of the devil by first bearing those works in Himself as our substitute in His death, and then rising again free from them all.

In 2 Peter 3:10-12, the word luo was translated “melt” and “dissolved.”  When we take this definition back to 1 John 3:8, we get an interesting insight into Christ’s destruction of the works of the devil. “Now the Son of God came to the earth with the express purpose of liquidating the devil’s activities.” (Phillips Translation)

God made Jesus to bear and become all that was wrong with us in spirit, soul, and body and then vaporized it with the power of His resurrection!

Confession: Jesus was my substitute! Because of His death and resurrection, I am free from the works of Satan! (John 8:36)

And how very great is his power at work in us who believe. This power is the same as the mighty strength which he used when he raised Christ from death and seated him at his right side in the heavenly world. (Ephesians 1:19-20 Good News Bible)

Christ’s resurrection was more than a triumph over rigor mortis; it was a triumph over all the forces that held us in bondage!  Mark Hankins

Paul used four different words for power in an attempt to describe what great power was released in the resurrection of Christ:

dunamis= dynamite; ability

  energia= energy; operative power in exercise

kratos= manifested strength

ischuos= an endowment of strength

Paul said this power, power, power, power that God used to raise Jesus from the dead is not just great but exceeding great. Paul said that this power is great beyond measure — surpassing power — more than enough power.

Confession: The same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead is at work in me! This power is overwhelmingly great, incomparably great, immeasurable and unlimited! “And what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working working of His mighty power.” (Ephesians 1:19)