He Came To Save; Not To Condemn
Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them. As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd. “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?” They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust. When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.
John 8:1-11 NLT.
Liberating Power of God’s grace!!!
God’s Law is holy, good, and perfect. But we are imperfect people:
So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin.
Romans 7:14 NLT.
Our fallen human nature makes us susceptible to sin. And the law condemns us if we sin. It brings guilt, which dampens our confidence to relate with God.
Though you may not be caught like this woman, your Conscience will always accuse you. Satan, who knows your secrets, is also bringing your case before a righteous Judge:
… For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth— the one who accuses them before our God day and night.
Revelation 12:10 NLT.
Nevertheless, you shouldn’t be dismayed. God is greater than your Conscience (1 John 3:20). And satan is accusing you before Jesus the righteous Judge who also is your Advocate:
Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.
Romans 8:33-34 NLT.
Jesus Christ paid the ultimate price. And Your debt was fully paid. He wants you to come to him, in repentance, confessing all your wrongs to him:
But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.
1 John 1:9 NLT.
So run to Him; Receive His forgiveness and walk by the power of His liberating grace:
This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.
Hebrews 4:15-16 NLT.
His blood is ever potent to cleanse you when you stumble. His grace will enable you to resist temptation, so you live a holy life:
So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.
Ephesians 1:6-7 NLT.
If you identify with this story and would love to receive the mercy and forgiveness of God, I urge you to say this prayer:
Lord Jesus, I’m thrilled by your love for me. I honor you for dying to save and rescue me from a life of sin and shame.
I’m grateful that rather than condemning me, you empowered me to go and sin no more. I will forever appreciate and live for you.
Thank you so much, my loving father.
Pst. Mike