Sin No More

The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” (John 8:3-11 ESV)

This story is repeatedly cited by Christians trying to justify their sins. Yes, Jesus forgave the adulterous woman. Yet we seem to completely ignore last part of the passage. He also commanded her to “sin no more.” Jesus was not saying the woman did not commit sin. He was merely pointing out she was not alone. Everyone sins. As he tells us in Matthew 12:31, every sin (except one) is forgivable. This does not make it acceptable.

Jesus also said, in Matthew 5:17-18, he did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it. That not one stroke will be removed from it until all is fulfilled. And in verse 19 he goes on to say:

“Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”(ESV)

Jesus makes it clear, repeatedly, He is the only way of salvation. He also makes it clear, repeatedly, we are not to use that salvation as an excuse to ignore the law. We are granted forgiveness because it is impossible for us to be completely free from sin. There is still an expectation that we try to avoid it!

Works do not save us. We still ought to perform them. We can not earn our salvation. We still ought to avoid sin. God desires our obedience. Even if he does not require it, it is the least we can do to display our gratitude for His incredible gift of eternal life in His presence!

Let us stop teaching others to relax the law, lest we be called least in the kingdom of heaven!