Sometimes we can become so focused on the first half of this
statement of Jesus, that we forget the second.
Jesus did not condemn the woman who was caught in adultery. She had been caught red handed, dragged into
the public arena, shamed before the crowds, and set before Jesus for
judgement. When the Pharisees pointed
out that the Law of Moses condemned her to death, asking Jesus what He thought
should be done with her, they figured they had Jesus trapped for sure! If he condemned her, the people would likely
turn against him, and He would be in trouble with the Romans who had forbidden
the Jews to practice capital punishment, but had he not condemned her they
could accuse Him of contradicting the Law of Moses. This was a “no win scenario” for Jesus…or so
they thought.
Jesus, writing on the ground, ignored them at first; but,
when they persisted to ask Him, He rose up and said that the one among them who
was without sin should cast the first stone, thereby neither condemning nor
excusing her, and proceeded to go back to His writing upon the ground. Now, we do not know for sure what Jesus was
writing, but we are told that the Pharisees became convicted of their sins and
left “beginning with the oldest.” It
seems likely that this conviction over their sins was in response to whatever
it was that Jesus was writing. Was it
the law? Was it their names with particular
sins scribbled alongside? Who is to
say? We don’t really know. What we do know is that not one of them condemned
her.
After they had left, Jesus looked up, and seeing them gone
asked the woman if none had condemned her.
She replied, “no one sir.” Jesus
replied, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and sin no more.” We should be reminded by this statement of
John 3:17 which declares that “…God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn
the world, but that the world might be saved through him” (ISV). What an amazing blessing it is that God does
not deal with us according to our sins, but that He stands ready to forgive if
only we will trust in Him!
It is imperative however, that we also acknowledge the
second part of the Lord’s statement. He
has forgiven this woman for her sin; yes, He has forgiven her, but by no means
is this grace to be interpreted as a license to sin. The forgiveness that God offers may be free
to us, but it came at a very high price for Him. It cost Him the life of His beloved Son, the
only begotten of the Father. Jesus bled,
and died, to secure our salvation, and in the light of that our attitude toward
sin should never be cavalier. As believers, we are called to “walk worthy”
of the calling of God in our lives. Here
are a few examples:
“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of
the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with long suffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity
of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
Ephesians 4:1-3
“For this reason we…do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you
may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
that you may walk worthy of the Lord, bully pleasing Him, being fruitful in
every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all
might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and long suffering with
joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the
inheritance of the saints in the light.
He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the
kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood,
the forgiveness of sins.”
Colossians 1:9-14.
Colossians 1:9-14.
“You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and
blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; as you know how we
exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you , as a father does his
own children, that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own
kingdom and glory.” I Thessalonians
2:10-12.
If it is our desire to “walk worthy” of the calling that God
has placed upon our lives through faith in Jesus Christ, then clearly our goal
should be to “go and sin no more.” Now,
even as believers, we are prone to sin, and to expect that we will never fail
is unrealistic of us to be sure. Thank
God that He promises to forgive us for our sins and cleanse us from unrighteousness
when we confess them to Him, but it should be the desire of our heart to walk
free from sin, or, more as Paul says it in II Timothy 2:22 we should, “Flee
also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those
who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”
This should be our goal, remembering always that the Lord has not given
us the liberty to sin, but that He has given us liberty from sin. So let’s thank Him today for His mercy and
grace, and then purpose in our hearts to live a life that is pleasing to Him,
endeavoring to walk free from sin, and follow faithfully the one who has gone
before us, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
For an audio teaching John 8:1-11 click on the link below to visit the web site of Calvary Chapel Southwest Metro, in Burleson, Tx.
