Introduction:
Today’s society is one of criticism and finger pointing. People are so quick to point the finger and make accusations about others before they take a look at themselves. No matter what you seem to do, nothing seems to be right or good enough. People on our jobs and even in our families tend to find fault in everything we do and say. It’s like you have to be on point 24/7 because you cannot make a mistake.
But in the life of a Christian, things are supposed to be different. If we find a brother or a sister at fault or have fallen into sin, we are to restore them in love. Is that happening today my brothers and my sisters? Stopping with that, it brings me to my first of two points.
Development:
Point Number 1: Don’t Point The Finger Because We’re All Full of Sin/Judging Others
As I read the scriptures, it seems that the picture has been painted quite clearly. Here we have a woman that was caught in adultery. The bible says that the woman was brought before Jesus the Christ by the religionist better known as the Pharisees and the Scribes. They were too strict in their rules and regulations. Not only were they interested in the conviction and execution of this woman, they were also trying to trap Jesus Himself.
These religionist along with the crowd were vindictive and revengeful. Doesn’t that sound like some Christians of today? Well preacher how can you talking about Christians of today like that? Well my brothers and my sisters I have to keep this thing real. There are some folk right in the church that are waiting to see you fall so that they can find criticism and fault in you so that they can attack your reputation, character, witness, and your ministry.
Well why are they like this preacher? There are many reasons but I do know one is jealousy. Let’s say that God has blessed you and He has you working in a particular ministry and your gifts are being exercised. And if you noticed I said that you are working in your given authority and marvelous things are occurring within your ministry.
Let’s say that there are others that are working in a ministry and they are outside of their given authority and things are not going well. You now have some jealous enemies. And let’s say you have become a victim of sin and fall. They are just like vultures waiting to devour you. These people have the exact same evil spirit as those that were condemning the woman caught in adultery.
The woman was guilty of a very serious sin. The law said she was to be condemned to death. Her accusers and the people were right, legally justified in their charge. They even used Scripture to condemn her sin and to support their right to condemn her.
Casting stones is not based on how much Scripture a person knows, or on how great a person’s calling and gifts are, nor on the position a person has. It is based upon moral goodness and perfection, and no man has achieved that.
Romans 3:9-12 speaks of this. It says, "What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Matthew 7:3-5 says, And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.
The sinful spirit that possesses those people are:
1.)A spirit of self-righteousness that lacked forgiveness.
2.)A spirit of criticism that lacked love.
3.)A spirit of judging that lacked compassion.
4.)A spirit of condemning that lacked sympathy.
5.)A spirit of punishing that lacked restoration.
The religionists were nothing but hypocrites. They felt and claimed that they better than the woman because of who they were. There was the complete failure to do as Jesus Himself said and that was to Love thy neighbor as thy self which is found in Matthew 5:43.
In John 8:7 Jesus said to them, He that is without sin...let him first cast a stone. No man is without sin. Every one of the men standing there knew it, and every one of them was convicted within his conscience. They all left, leaving Jesus and the woman alone.
Point Number 2: We All Are In Need of a Second Chance
Jesus alone has the right to condemn and to forgive. When it comes to sin and judgment, every person stands alone before Christ—stands naked and stripped of all righteousness, for no person possesses righteousness. There are no accusers, not among men. No man can condemn the woman nor anyone else. The only righteousness and the only perfection, the only One who is not guilty of sin, is Christ and Christ alone. He alone is worthy to stand in judgment.
In this passage of scripture Jesus is showing us that He did not condemn the woman but he gave her a second chance. Jesus wished to forgive and did forgive: Neither do I condemn thee.
Luke 17:4 says, And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.
Ephesians 1:7 says, In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.
Galatians 6:1 says, Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.
Conclusion:
Just before I take my seat, I just want to mention a man that will forgive you for your sins. No Matter what they may be, he is willing to forgive you.
Jesus made a challenged to the woman. In this challenge was a warning. Jesus said to the woman to go her way and to sin no more. Jesus was telling her to stop sinning and to make a fresh start. The warning is loud and clear that repentance is a must for forgiveness.
But I do know when I do mess up and fall short, 1 John 1:9 says, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
I know this true because of my life. But biblically I know this is true because of a man that came into this world 40 and 2 generations ago to set the record straight.
He took that walk down the road of Golgotha to the Hill of the Skull which is better known as Calvary. They hung Him high and stretched Him wide between two thieves. He died on that old rugged cross and they put him in an old barred tomb.
Every body though it was all over for Jesus the Christ, but early Sunday morning, He got up with all power in His hands. Hallelujah Amen.
