GO AND SIN NO MORE

In John 8, the Bible tells us the story of the woman caught in the very act of adultery. It is striking that only she was forced to face this firing squad of stones aimed at her, while the man involved was not present, even though it takes two to commit adultery.

The religious leaders of the day dragged her into the temple and set her before Jesus. In what they believed would be the ultimate “gotcha” moment, they pointed out that Moses wrote in the Law that she should be stoned. Jesus bent down and began writing on the ground. What He wrote, we do not know; perhaps He wrote the commandments, but we simply cannot be certain.

They continued to press Jesus, eager for blood, ready to stone the adulterous woman. However, He met their cry for vengeance by stating, “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.”

Then He continued to write on the ground, and one by one, her accusers departed.

Eventually, Jesus looked up and found that none of the mob remained. He was the only one in the crowd who could have cast a stone, as He had no sin. Instead of tossing even a pebble at the woman, He spoke some of the most powerful words ever uttered about sin:

“Go and sin no more.”

Our contemporary culture often distorts compassion into mere compromise, suggesting that a loving Jesus would never label anything as sin. Yet, the very Jesus who embodied mercy also proclaimed truth.

He did not overlook sin; instead, He offered liberty and freedom from it.

In a world saturated with the allure of pornography and the seductive whispers of sexual impurity, many find themselves ensnared in a cycle of addiction. This bondage can feel inescapable, where the fleeting satisfaction of temporary pleasure often leads to deeper shame and despair. Yet, it is in this struggle that Jesus extends His hand, inviting us to break free from such chains.

Grace is not the same as approval; it embodies forgiveness and a call for us to turn away from sin, walking in freedom. The grace that Jesus offers is not a mere pass for our actions but a power that enables us to overcome the addictions that bind us.

If Jesus beckoned, “Go and sin no more,”

Then we too must walk that sacred shore,

The path of freedom, where grace ignites,

A wondrous journey, where forgiveness delights.

In every step away from darkness and shame,

We reclaim our lives, no longer the same,

For in His love, we find strength to resist,

Embracing the truth that sin cannot coexist.

“Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭ESV‬‬