Go and Sin No More

Dear Weekly Readers, God’s Peace!

Our text for today is going to be John Chapter 8 Verse 1-11:

Jesus went unto the Mount of Olives. And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, they say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

This portion of scripture shows us what happens when a sinner has an encounter with Jesus; what happens when a sinner is alone before their Saviour, King, and Judge; what happens when a sinner is pardoned of their sins.

In most countries today, there is a way of issuing pardons to those found guilty or accused of crimes. Imagine being in the spot where John Bridge Jr. was in 1824 he was condemned to die. After he witnessed the hanging of several people, the noose was put around his neck. Sure death was just a few short moments away. But then a man on a horse rode up and looked the condemned man in the face. "Sir, do you know in whose presence you stand?" Bridge shook his head.

"There are but two powers known to the law that can save you from hanging by the neck until you are dead, dead, dead; one is the great God of the Universe, the other is J. Brown Ray, Governor of the State of Indiana; the latter stands before you…" Handing over the written pardon, the governor announced, "You are pardoned." Imagine the relief John felt when he heard those words!

Oh, that the sinner today would repent and receive the pardon from the Lord, believing by faith that all sins have been pardoned by our Lord Jesus Christ; that all sins have been washed away by power of His Name and shed atoning blood! What relief and joy to the sinner!

Verses 3-6: According to the Law of Moses, the punishment for adultery was death. The law required that both the man and the woman be brought before the authorities and stoned. The scribes and the Pharisees in the account above started off using the law incorrectly because they only brought the woman, not the man. They didn’t think about this, though, they just wanted to trap Jesus. They thought that if Jesus did not agree to stone the woman, they could accuse Jesus of breaking the law or if Jesus did agree to stone her the people could have gotten Him in trouble because only Romans, not Jews, could carry out executions. In verse 6 it says the people tempted Jesus. This is because they had already used the law incorrectly, but now they wanted to trap Jesus in not carrying out the law properly. They did not know the supreme wisdom of the Saviour, Master, and Lord.

Legalistic people even of today use the law incorrectly by trying to apply it as a harsh ruler over Christians. However, let us also not be incorrectly using the law by accusing of others of being legalistic when they are only trying to worship in Spirit and in Truth. Just because others do not do things the same way we do things doesn’t mean they are necessarily being legalistic. Remember Romans 14th chapter.

Verse 7: The woman in the eighth chapter of John was caught in very act of adultery. This is one of the sins that we learn about from our youth. Another is to kill. Another is to steal. I am not sure how it is in your country, but all too often people who claim to be Christians live in adultery. These same people would not kill someone, but they live in adultery and somehow justify it. Oh what shame they bring upon themselves. O what a great sin this is according to scriptures.

Now, however, let’s look at our own hearts. The Bible says that if we look upon a woman with lust in our hearts, we have already committed adultery with her in our hearts. The same for hatred, envy, greed, and so forth. Now, which of us can say we are free of sin?

James 2:10 says: “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, yet offend in one point he, is guilty of all.”Romans 3:10 “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.” and verse 23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” What is the penalty for sin? Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Which condition are you in? Are you in sin or are you in Jesus Christ? All mankind will meet Jesus alone like this woman did. It is infinitely better that we would meet Him while we yet live, than to meet him after we die, when he will be the final and ultimate judge. Either way, everyone will meet him.

Verse 8: In this verse, we see Jesus writing on the ground. What did he write? The Bible does not tell us, so no one knows for sure. However, it could have been the 10 commandments, it could have been to fulfill Jeremiah 17:13, it could have been the sins of the scribes and the Pharisees, or it could have just been the word forgiven.

Verse 11: The women confessed that Jesus is Lord: What does the Bible say about those that confess the Lord Jesus? “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:9). What is your confession today?

I hope we are not still fighting the battle with our flesh. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 3-4: For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

Here is a natural example of what happens when a person wars after the flesh on the issues of pardon:
Caleb Young, a young man in Kentucky, thought that one of the prisoners in the state's prison who was serving a life term had been too heavily sentenced. Bringing influence to bear upon the governor, he obtained a pardon for the man. He went to the prison and had a talk with the man. He said to him, "If you were to be released from this place, what would you do?" The man vindictively replied, "I would go and shoot the judge that sentenced me, the lawyer that prosecuted me, and the witnesses that testified against me." Mr. Young said nothing to the man about the pardon. He went out of the prison and tore the pardon to pieces.

Oh that we would humble ourselves before God and not reject the pardon that he offers through what Jesus has done for us on the cross.

“Neither do I condemn thee...” When Jesus spoke these words, He gave the power to the woman to overcome the old life and start anew! The repentant person today receives the Power of Holy Spirit to help them through this life! Jesus will not leave us comfortless, but wants to fill us to overflowing!

Then Jesus said: "Go, and sin no more" Now that this woman was set free, Jesus after giving her the knowledge that He does not condemn her, says Go, and sin no more. That is because sin is not a light issue and just because the Christian is under grace, does not mean they can live anyway they desire to fulfill the flesh. Romans 6:1-2 says: “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid…”

Let us live as forgiven saints with a new name, a new office, and a new outlook on life! Let us lift up Jesus Christ, so others would be drawn unto him!

No matter our life, our background, our country, our financial status, Jesus is the only way; He is the Way the Truth and the Life!

In Jesus Name! Amen

May God Bless your week! John R.