Judgment and Grace (3 things)

• The John 8:1-11 contriversy…
  • This is a controversial section of book of John – and has been brought into question…
    • The problem is the earliest copies of the Book of John do not contain this story…
    • There are two theories as to what might have caused this:
    • 1^st – The story was added some 300 years later to the Gospel account…
      • Meaning this is not a real story from the life of Jesus – it was made up…
      • The problem with this theory is it means the Word of God is un-trustworthy…
      • If one part of the Bible is not true – they you have to question all of it!
      • But God is more than able to preserve HIS WORD – and every part of it is TURTH!
      • II Timothy 3:16 – “All Scripture is inspired by God – and teaches us what is true…”
    • 2^nd – The story was taken out of some copies because of its content…
      • Meaning some early copyists took the story out because it seems to allow adultery…
      • This is more likely theory – the story was removed because it was not understood…
      • Far from condoning sin – it focuses on forgiveness / and turning from sin!
      • There are many churches today who ‘leave out’ portions of the Bible…
      • Only teaching passages that are comfortable – ignoring whole books of the Bible…
      • But the truth of God is found in the ‘whole counsel of God’ – not just part…
      • Acts 20:27 – “For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.”
        
• 1^st – The woman caught in adultery… vs. 1-5
  • 1^st – Jesus spent the night on the Mount of Olives… vs. 1-2
    • Perhaps at the home of Mary / Martha / and Lazarus – village of Bethany…
      • Then the next day He returned to the Temple and sat down to teach the people…
      • In Jesus day the teacher sat and the people stood – I kind of like that…
      • It keeps the audience attentive – try falling asleep while standing up!
        
    • It would appear this story takes place the very next day after the feast of Tabernacles…
      • They had tried to arrest Him – wanted to kill Him – and still Jesus came back!
      • I love the persistence of Jesus – nothing was going to keep Him quiet…
      • If you share Jesus with someone – and they do not receive the message that day…
      • Just come back the next day and tell them again – and again – and again!
  • 2^nd – The Scribes and Pharisees brought in a woman caught in Adultery… vs. 3-5
    • The Law commands the woman be stoned to death – Deuteronomy 21:21…
      • The Law of Moses was very clear on the penalty for an adulterous relationship…
      • God does not take sin lightly – He gave serious consequences to teach us to be holy…
      • If the penalty for sin is severe enough – if it costs is high enough…
      • It will keep people from committing sin – the Law taught consequence…
    • But there was a problem – the woman was caught in the act – so where was the man…
      • Deuteronomy 21:22 – “Committing adultery, both he and the woman must die…”
      • The Law stated that both the man and the woman were to be put to death…
      • It is possible the reason why the leaders knew where the woman was…
      • Is because the man she was having an affair with was one of them…
      • That may be the reason why only the woman – and not the man – was arrested!
        
• 2^nd – He who has no sin – cast the first stone… vs. 6-9
  • 1^st – ‘What do you say’ – the leaders asked to test Jesus… vs. 6
    • They hoped to catch him ‘breaking’ the Law of Moses – so they could condemn Him!
    • Interesting they knew Jesus would not condemn the woman to death…
    • We often think of God as angry – ready to beat us up for our sin…
    • That could not be father from the truth – He wants more than anything to forgive us…
    • Jesus was willing to die for us – so that we would not have to pay for our own sin!
  • 2^nd – Jesus did not answer them at first – but when they insisted – ‘he who has no sin…’
    • He then knelt down and began to write something on the sand…
      • Though we do not know what Jesus wrote – it is a good bet it was the people’s sins…
      • This is the only time in the Bible we read about Jesus writing anything…
      • And it appears what He ‘records’ are the sins of those who reject Him…
    • We will all one day stand before Jesus – to give an account – Revelation 20:11-12…
      • There will be two sets of books opened – ‘The books’ and the ‘Book of Life’…
      • If your name is not found written in the Book of Life – the Books are opened…
      • A written record of everything you did – every word you said – even every thought!
      • Then you are judged according to your works – written in The Books…
    • From the oldest to the youngest they all left…
      • The oldest went first – because they had lived longer and therefore had more sin!
      • But in the end no one was able to stay – because everyone had sinned!
      • Romans 3:10 – “No one is righteous— not even one.”
  • 3^rd – Jesus point – be careful when you condemn others…

• We are also sinners – and are no better than anyone else…
  • Luke 6:27 – “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven.”
  • It is easy to point a finger at the sins of others – but there are 4 more pointing back!
  • There are many today who would tear others down – so they do not look as bad…
  • Did you even notice how people love to gossip about those who are sinning
  • As though somehow we are more righteous – because at least were ‘not as bad’
  • Want to look tall – stand next to the short guy / white – next to the dark guy
  • If you want to look ‘good’ point out all the sin of the ‘bad’ guy…
  • But they could just as easily point the finger at us – we are all sinners!
• We might justify we are trying to ‘help them’ by pointing out there sin…
  • Let us first deal with our own hearts before we reach out to help others…
  • Get rid of your sin before we ‘try’ and help someone else for their struggle…
• Rather than judge – it is better to forgive – Matthew 18:23-35
  • There was a servant who owed the Master 8 billion pesos…
  • Which makes the next statement obvious – he was not able to pay…
  • But the master wiped away the debt – he was completely forgiven…
  • But the man went out and would not forgive a fellow servant who owed 100P…
  • If we focus on what others have done to us – then we want ‘justice’…
  • We want them to pay back every centavo they have cost us…
  • Our problem is we are looking in the wrong direction…
  • We are looking at what they have done to us – rather than what we have done…
• The Master found out – should you not have had mercy as I had mercy on you!
  • How could you not forgive so little seeing how much you have been forgiven…
  • When we consider all that Jesus has forgiven us – everything…
  • How could we not forgive our brother what little debt they may owe us…
  • When we really understand from our heart how much we are forgiven…
  • How can we not from the heart gladly forgive others!
    
• 3^rd – Jesus looked up – and only the women remained… vs. 10-11
  • 1^st – Jesus asked the woman – ‘where are those who accused you’…
    • There was no one left – with Jesus standing beside her – no one could condemn her!
      • God freely forgave us of all our sin – paid our penalty so we could have life…
      • We might get the idea we are ‘pushing our luck’ when we fall into sin…
      • As though we are guilty – God accusing us of our mistakes – condemning our sin…
      • Gave forgave us all sin – and He continues to forgive – ALL THINGS!
    • Men cannot make accusations against us – since it is God who justifies us…
      • People have a tendency to judge others – quick to notice other’s faults…
      • ‘You go to church – you believe in Jesus – and you do that…’
      • The world has the impression Christians are perfect – that only saints go to church…
      • The church is not for saints – it is a hospital for sinners…
      • You would not be surprised to see sick people in a hospital – nor sinners in a church!
      • Christians are not perfect – they are just forgiven – God justifies them…
      • And since God has forgiven us – who has the right to accuse us…
    • Even satan cannot condemn us – Jesus is our ‘lawyer’ at God’s right hand defending us!
      • Picture a courtroom – you are on trial for you sins – God is the judge…
      • Satan is accusing you – Revelation 12:10 – wants to see you condemned to hell…
      • He has all the ‘evidence’ he needs – all your sins / your immoral thoughts…
      • But Jesus – our defender – comes to our rescue – He points out one simple fact…
      • All our sins were paid for in full on the cross – we are found not guilty!
      • If satan could not condemn us – how much less men…
      • If men do try and condemn us – they will find they are arguing against God…
      • It does not matter if the world says we are guilty – God says we are innocent!
      • We have total ‘confidence’ in our walk with Jesus – cause the judge of all men…
      • Has found us not guilty – we are justified – forgiven of all our sin!
    • The list of those who cannot condemn me – includes me…
      • One of the hardest ‘men’ to not listen to – is myself – I condemn myself…
      • Conviction is good – the work of God’s Spirit telling us not to sin – but repent…
      • Condemnation is bad – focusing on our failures – dwelling on our mistakes…
      • Disappointed – frustrated – that we cannot keep ourselves from sin
      • When we are focused on our mistakes – we are not looking to Jesus…
      • We are condemning ourselves – even though God says we are NOT guilty…
      • I John 3:20 – “For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart.”
      • If we are caught up in self loathing / pity over our sins and poor choices…
      • We just need to get our eyes off ourselves – and put them back onto Jesus!
  • 2^nd – Jesus told the woman – ‘Go and sin no more’…
    • Jesus did not give her the Law/death – He gave her Grace/life…
      • But it was not a license for her to go back to her old ways – go back to sin…
      • It was an opportunity for her to start over – to start a new life!
      • Some might ask – since we have abundant grace – why not sin…
      • No matter how much we sin – no matter what sin – God forgives us…
      • So why not go ahead and sin a lot – we will still get to heaven – covered by grace…
      • We are not talking about making mistakes – occasional slip up…
      • As believers – we will make mistakes – but if we repent there is forgiveness…
      • But can we choose to live a lifestyle of sin contrary to the commands of God…
    • God forbid! How can we who are dead to sin – continue to live in sin – Romans 6:1…
      • Our lives after we believe in Jesus should also be different – changed…
      • If we are saved – our lives will be show the difference – James 2:17-18
      • It is easy to say we have ‘faith’ and ‘believe’ in Jesus – the proof is in our actions…
      • If we say we are Christians – but live like the world – then do we really have faith…
      • Like the picture of a mango tree – it can call itself a palm tree – proof is in the fruit…
      • We can call ourselves Christians – but are continually to living in sin – are we really!
      • Jesus did not forgive us so we could go on living in bondage to sin…
      • He set us free so that we could have a new life – living our lives for Him!