There is a temptation to allow the devil to get into your businesses. When you sin, it is sometimes hard to remember that the devil doesn’t have any right to be talking to you. Even if you ARE guilty for whatever you did, it isn’t any of his business.
But YOU have to be the one to make the determination that it isn’t any of his business. You – like everyone else – have gone astray. The temptation is to listen to what Satan says and the lies he tries to tell, but as we will see there is now NO condemnation to the born again believer who walks not after the flesh but after the spirit.
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Romans 8:1 KJV
We’ve ALL gone astray.
In Isaiah 53:6, the prophet is prophesying what would happen to our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross. He was talking about our salvation and what it would take to purchase it.
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Isaiah 53:6 KJV
Blood had to be shed on the cross because of two facts:
- There is life in the blood. (Leviticus 17:11)
- The wages of sin is death. (Romans 6:23)
Sin required a life. That is true justice. To be truly forgiven and justified from sin, there had to be a life given for us.
Without Jesus our only option is to go to hell and pay for our sins ourselves.
But thank God we don’t have to do that!
11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.
Leviticus 17:11 KJV
Blood (or life) is the thing that justice and God’s Law required. Without it, there was no way for God to bring us into fellowship again.
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 6:23 KJV
Thank God for the FREE gift of Jesus Christ. He died on the cross and took upon Himself the sin of the whole world so that we being dead to sin could live unto righteousness (1 Peter 2:24 KJV).
Don’t you see? You aren’t special. God’s grace extends to you just as much as the next person. It is a lie to say that all but you have sinned. Just as much as it is a lie to say that because you have sinned you aren’t good enough to get to heaven.
YOU AREN’T GOOD ENOUGH – GOD IS!!
That is the whole point.
The woman who was caught in adultery
I want to spend a few minutes here today looking at the story of the woman who was caught in adultery. This story is found in John 8:1-11.
1 Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.
2 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.
3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,
4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
6 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.
7 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.
8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
9 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.
10 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?
11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
John 8:1-11 KJV
Now that we are all on the same page as to the story. I want to look at a few things here and pull out some things of note.
#1 It wasn’t about the woman.
The first thing I want you to notice is that this story really isn’t even about the woman. The religious leaders of the day (the Pharisees) were using her to try to trip Jesus up. Sometimes religious people will try to get you hung up on your sin.
If you are a christian, maybe they will tell you that because you did this or that there’s absolutely NO WAY you are going to heaven.
But remember what Romans 8:1 tells us, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus…”. These overly “religious” people are doing Satan’s job for him.
#2 Jesus acted like He didn’t hear them.
When we listen to the religious leaders of the day or the devil, we will end up thinking that God is up there with a legal pad keeping track of all our little sins just looking for a reason to cast us out.
But Jesus says, in John 6:37 KJV,
37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
John 6:37 KJV
See Jesus didn’t say, “WHAT!? Get the stones! I’ll throw the first one. This heathen! What horrible sin she has committed.”
No that’s what WE do. Are we supposed to? No. We are to be imitators of Christ.
God isn’t hung up on your sin – YOU ARE. Jesus wants to have a relationship with you.
#3 ALL are guilty.
The truth is that we are all guilty. And now some religious person might say, “Not ME. I would never do something like that.”
But look what Jesus says in Matthew 5:32 and in Matthew 5:28.
32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
Matthew 5:32 KJV
28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
Matthew 5:28 KJV
What is the point? The point is that all of us have gone astray.
#4 Jesus forgives every time.
You see, no man can condemn you because each one is just as guilty as the next. And the only man that could condemn you – Jesus – has forgiven your sins.
10 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?
11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
John 8:10-11 KJV
Neither do I condemn thee.
So then why do you feel condemnation? The devil tries to come to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). And if you let him he will, but the Lord is here to bring life, peace, joy and love.
Salvation is in your hands.
What do I mean? Salvation is waiting on you to take action. You can’t work your way to heaven and you can’t convince God you’re good enough. The only way to God is through Jesus. You have to repent, confess His name and then you’ll be saved.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Romans 10:13 KJV
The Bible says that with the heart man believes unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made. There are a few steps that you need to take if you want to be saved. It starts right here.
9 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.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Romans 10:9-10 KJV
#1 Believe in your heart
You have to believe that Jesus is the Son of God. Believe that God sent him to die for you and me that we would be able to come to God freely. You have to believe that Jesus not only died on the cross but that He is alive forever more.
Jesus isn’t special because He died. There are a lot of dead “gods”. Jesus is the Son of God because everything that the Bible prophesied has and will come true. Jesus is alive and you have to believe that is a fact.
Finally and most importantly, you have to believe that God wants to be with you.
Jesus is the only way to salvation and everlasting life.
#2 Confess with your mouth // Call on the name of Jesus
This next part is the easiest thing you will ever do. Call on the name of Jesus. All you have to do is tell Jesus what you believe and you will be saved.
Here is an example prayer that you can pray.
Jesus I believe that you are the Son of God. I believe that you came to earth to take my place in the punishment of my sins. I accept the free gift of salvation that you offer me. Thank you for dying on the cross and rising again three days later.
In Jesus Name Amen.
If you prayed that prayer for the first time, congratulations! You are part of the family. Now it is time for you to celebrate. Get connected with a local church and start learning about who God is for yourself.
As always we will continue to preach and talk about God’s word on this blog. If you find this helpful, let us know we would love to hear from you. Check out our previous post here and all the other posts we have to offer.
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