“Straightening up, Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?’ She said, ‘No one, Lord.’ And Jesus said, ‘Well, I do not condemn you either. Now go and from now on, sin no more.”
The religious leaders caught a woman in the act of adultery and brought her before Jesus to see what He would say.
Even though she was just a pawn in their desire to discredit Jesus, His response still left them speechless.
Notice the order of Christ’s words.
“I do not condemn you. Now go and sin no more.” Even though according to the law she should be put to death, Jesus Christ said, “I do not condemn you,” and then He told her to “sin no more.”
Sometimes, the church gets this backward. We say, “Look, if you’re willing to change your life, then you can experience the love of Christ. Change your life first, and then you can be welcomed here.
But Jesus says, “I’ve forgiven you, now go and change your life.”
Never to be the same again!
When someone trusts their life to Christ, they are made new.
A new life means a changed life.
The labels are gone.
The shame is gone.
The guilt is gone.
They are a new creation.
And, in gratitude for this incredible gift, there should be an inner desire to change and live in a way that pleases God.
If there is no change, there is no gratitude. If there is no gratitude, God’s grace has not been grasped.
Grasp God’s grace – and do it today.
Written by Bryant Wright, Founder, RFTH
DIG DEEPER
Read “The Gift of New Life” also by Bryant Wright
