Go and Sin No More

 

John 8:10-11a “When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you,”

 

I remember years ago talking to a young Christian lady who was once on one of the Little League baseball teams that I managed. We were discussing how liberal and immoral the culture was becoming today and how the teachings of compromising the Word of God, fabricating ideas that are contradictory to the Commandments and the Moral Law of God, and the belief that an all-loving God not only will not punish Sin, but make-believe that this God-of-their-own-making has no issue and is fine with their willful sinning. 

 

She pointed to the Bible passage above, where the woman caught in the forbidden sexual act of adultery was brought by the Jewish Scribes and Pharisees before Jesus and states that Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. Then asked, But what do You say?” He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one. The young lady the I was talking to said, “see, Jesus did not condemn her. So, there is no condemnation or conviction of sins committed by us.”

 

I replied by telling her that I loved the story of the woman caught in adultery in John 8, but she had conveniently stopped a little short on the conclusion and missed the main point in John 8:11-12, where Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” Sin is the Greek word “hamartanō”, meaning to miss the mark of the high calling of God. To err, to do or go wrong, to miss or wander from the path of uprightness and honor. To wander from the law of God, violate God's law, that is sin. 

 

In Psalm 51:1-4, King David pleaded in prayer: “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight.” Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines “Sin” as: The voluntary departure of a moral agent from a known rule of rectitude or duty, prescribed by God; any voluntary transgression of the divine law, or violation of a divine command; a wicked act; iniquity. Sin is either a positive act in which a known divine law is violated, or it is the voluntary neglect to obey a positive divine command, or a rule of duty clearly implied in such command. Sin comprehends not action only, but neglect of known duty, all evil thoughts purposes, words and desires, whatever is contrary to God's commands or law.

 

How do you sugar-coat, whitewash or downplay a wicked, evil act of iniquity (in thought, word or action) against your sovereign, just and holy Creator of the Cosmos; your Maker? This god sent Jesus to die for our sins as our redeeming Savior. He is the Light of the world with the light of life that shines and illuminates the darkness of sin and unbelief. The Christ is not a get-out-of-jail free card so that we can continue in our sinful ways. The Lord Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:18-21, “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

 

The transformational work of the Holy Spirit in the repentant Believer regenerates our spirit connection with a new heart that has spiritual discernment aligned with the Word, Will and Way of God. The renewing of your mind and soul with the dedication, devotion and desire to please your heavenly Father and not let Him down. Ephesians 1:3-5 proclaims, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.” Go and sin no more.

 

In Christ, Brian