Alliance Church
Pastor David Welch
“No Condemnation”
Introduction
Most all of us have encountered at one time or another, the assault of two terrible tormentors whose devastating duty is to block any progress toward maturity. They are closely related and work as a nasty team. Guilt and Bitterness Guilt is a failure to realize our forgiveness by God. Bitterness is a failure to reciprocate forgiveness to others.
God created man to live righteously after his image and character. Just as we experience physical consequences and damage when we violate the laws of health the soul suffers damage every time we violate spiritual principles embedded since creation. Every time we lie, steal, gossip, neglect love and forgiveness no matter how large or small, the soul suffers injury. Along with the consequences of violating Biblical principle comes guilt and condemnation. Violation of law brings declaration of condemnation. This condemnation of the law and people rips at the very core of our being that longs for acceptance not rejection, significance not ridicule, holiness not regrets.
The early church included this section in John’s Gospel. Most scholars agree that it was probably not a part of the original text (not found in the earliest of manuscripts) nor was it actually written by John (vocabulary and style variations from the rest of the gospel). However most also agree that it is an authentic record of the teaching and ministry of Jesus that bears exploration and completely harmonizes with all the other records of his teaching and ministry. This section records a powerful incident in the ministry of Jesus that centers on a woman in the cancerous grip of rejection, ridicule and regrets.
First, explore this incident with me from three perspectives.
• The wicked ethics of the Scribes and Pharisees
• The worthy example of Jesus
• The wonderful experience of the woman caught in adultery
Then pause to reflect on some personal application to our own lives today.
But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. And early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people were coming to Him; and He sat down and began to teach them. And the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the midst, they said to Him, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. "Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?" And they were saying this, testing Him, in order that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down, and with His finger wrote on the ground. But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." And again He stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And when they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the midst. And straightening up, Jesus said to her, "Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?" And she said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; go your way. From now on sin no more."] John 8:1-11
The wicked ethics of the religious rulers
John, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, provides us some insight into the internal motivation behind their actions. God never evaluates by action alone but always includes the motivation behind the actions. The evaluation of our life here will revolve around motives. The word of God skillfully discerns the very thoughts and intents of our heart. The Scribes along with the Pharisees were considered the lawyers of the day; experts in Law of Moses. Society often called upon them to render judgments concerning legal matters. Often times they pronounced judgment without being called upon. Here they try to force Jesus into rendering judgment in a capital case. Their motives had nothing to do with upholding the law. They tired to back Jesus into a situation where they could generate a reason to accuse him. They wanted some legal reason to arrest Him that would pacify the people. This wouldn’t be the first time they tired to trip up Jesus and failed. Since he was the sinless Son of God they would never find anything they could legally stick. In fact, later in the chapter he challenges them to try to find something.
It is also obvious that had they held any concern for upholding the standard of righteousness found in the Law, they would have also dragged the male offender to justice as well. They make a glaring point concerning the fact that this offender was “caught in the very act of adultery.” How did they catch this woman? Where was the guy? Was it perhaps one of them or their friends?
They failed to demonstrate any compassion or concern for this woman whatsoever. It is very dangerous to set oneself up as a judge of others when ones motives are faulty. Intent on tripping Jesus up, they persisted and continually pressed Him to answer their inquiry. “What do You say?” Hoping to either offend the crowd or publicly speak contrary to the Law.
The worthy example of Jesus
How did Jesus respond to this test? So often Jesus responded in a most unexpected manner.
First Jesus responded to the accusers, the condemners.
Then Jesus addressed the woman who sinned.
Writing something in the dirt, Jesus invited the one who had NO sin (the unsinful one) to be the first to execute judgment on this sinful woman. Since the text does not reveal what Jesus wrote in the dirt, it is fruitless to attempt to figure it out and was not vital to the point of the illustration.
We do know that a realization of personal guilt came over the accusers and one by one from the oldest to the youngest they silently pealed off into anonymity perhaps not wishing to endure communal exposure of their sin as they done to this woman. Jesus challenges them to judge their own sins first. Not unlike instruction given before.
"And why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? "Or how can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye. Luke 6:41-42
Jesus, the only sinless one among them worthy of pronouncing judgment, addressed the woman. Jesus asked her, “Did not one condemn you?”
The word translated “condemn” here come from the union of two words:
“kata” down on or against “krino” judge
“krino” has a broad range of meaning from discernment, assessment, judgment, to law.
With the attachment of the preposition “kata or down on / against” the word becomes more intense and bears the idea of one not only judging one guilty but executing punishment. It sometimes carries the idea of both pronouncing sentence and carrying out the execution. These judges were interested in a both pronouncing sentence and carrying out the punishment. Jesus in characteristic mercy forgoes deserved condemnation. His purpose was not to judge the world but that the world through Him might be saved. In fact, he talks about not judging later in this chapter. Along with the declaration of no condemnation, Jesus admonishes her concerning sin.
“Henceforth no longer go on sinning”
From this point no longer continue your lifestyle of sin. It is important to note that even though Jesus mercifully withholds condemnation for sin he emphasizes the need to life holy before God.
The wonderful experience of the woman
Here we encounter a woman who violated a sacred trust. She committed adultery.
She engaged in sexual activity as a married woman or with a man married to another woman. This sin normally carried out in secrecy became a public spectacle. Her sin is open for all to know and judge. Most people continue sinning because they feel deep inside like they will not get caught or will never be held accountable for their violation of God’s law. No matter that God always sees every sin. We are terrified of condemnation, rejection, and ridicule. This woman committed one of the most hurtful acts in all relationships. Betrayal, lust, breaking of vows, destruction of family relationships. Especially the offended party would rise up and demand justice and pronounce condemnation. Jesus demonstrated such marvelous mercy and grace.
Mercy looks with pity on a miserable situation and withholds the punishment justly due the offender.
Grace extends blessing in spite of a failure to live according to a standard deserving of blessing.
What a powerful picture of God’s love we see here in this account. Of all those deserving condemnation for not only this sin but the numerous sins leading up to this day in time, this woman heads the list. Yet Jesus extends mercy for malice, grace for grief, justification for justice, concern for condemnation. In stark contrast to the wicked ethics of the religious leaders, we see the worthy example of Jesus who grants grace to the undeserving resulting in a wonderful experience of mercy and possibly salvation.
Once again the compassion of Jesus sparkles on a black background of evil just as we have seen with the disciples, guests at a wedding, Nicodemus, lame man, a political leader, a woman of questionable morals, a hungry crowd, an unbelieving crowd, a hostile crowd. Each time Jesus responds with such mastery and such mercy.
Application
Before we look at some basic lessons from this passage I want you to take a look into your own heart. Take a brief stroll back through your own hall of shame. None of us could honestly pick up a stone and be the first to condemn that woman because none of us have been without sin in our life. Why do we think that there are those who have? We all came here today with sin! Some have sinned since you came in here today. If Jesus gave us what we honestly deserved, none of us would be here today!
Lining the left wall of our hall of shame are all those things we have done in violation of God’s holy standard. The lies, the hatful thoughts and acts, the fleshly indulgence, the lustful thoughts and acts, the gossip, the malice, the jealousy, the dissention, the idolatry etc.
Lining the right wall of our hall of shame are those things we have failed to do that we should. The failure to devote ourselves to learning, prayer, fellowship, worship, the failure to love, endure, forgive, forbear, pursue relationship, give of our resources etc…
Many of the pictures and documents lining the walls of our halls of shame have never been witnessed by anyone. Even so we feel the shame of failure, the guilt of our sin. Our sense of shame increases all the more when people we care about become aware of the contents of our halls of shame. We stand before Jesus today with our lives fully exposed to His all knowing eyes. We stand guilty as charged before God as those who have thoroughly violated his law with the uncompromising consequences of a sin-damaged soul. Rejection, ridicule, regrets reverberate throughout our being.
What will the righteous judge Jesus say?
Following a very candid confession of the continuous internal battle between the newly created spirit and the left over fleshly desires, Paul declares that not only is there victory to be enjoyed through Jesus Christ but that our newly established relationship with Christ promises there will be no condemnation but justification and sanctification and glorification.
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Why is there no condemnation?
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.
For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:1-4
Christ set us free from condemnation.
Christ fulfilled the law in us.
We must change or focus from trying to keep the law to avoid condemnation. Our new focus is to hold fast to the head that has fulfilled the law for us and written the desires of God expressed in the law on our hearts. We must shift our focus from ritualistic adherence of laws to relational adoration of the lawgiver.
If you feel condemned and thrown aside and cast out, it is not God. There is NO condemnation, only encouragement and motivation to draw nearer to Him in love.
But I am such a failure.
I forgot to pray last week.
I didn’t read as much as a should have.
I lost my temper.
I failed to love like I should.
I was angry with God for not answering my prayer.
Satan’s greatest effort to derail us is to convince us to run or hide with shame from the only one who can do anything about our situation. Because of the work of Christ and his presence which dwells in us, we not only have hope for the present and spiritual hope but our whole being will experience the fullness of eternal life.
And if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells you.
Just as Jesus addressed the issue of sin for the woman, Paul follows this wonderful truth of no condemnation with an admonition concerning sin.
So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh-- for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him. Romans 8:10-17
You see we have a new relationship not with God as judge but with God as Father. Paul concludes his chapter on the wonderful work of calling, justifying, sanctifying, glorifying with this glorious series of questions.
What then shall we say to these things? (this marvelous work of God)
If God is for us, who is against us?
He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?
Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies;
who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:31-39
One last application!
Not only enjoy the wonderful experience of complete acceptance, but also emulate the worthy example of Jesus and eliminate the wicked ethics of the religious leaders. If Christ relinquished the condemnation business, who are we to resurrect it?
We must continually pursue one another in love.
Forgive
Forbear
Persevere
Suffer long
Endure.
For true love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
True love never fails. (I Cor 13).
If we fail to love those we do see our Christianity is not the real thing.
Genuine Christianity is demonstrated by how we love each other.
• Enjoy His acceptance in Christ
• Emulate His acceptance regarding others
• Eliminate the condemning spirit of the religious leaders
