Yet Jesus doesn’t stop there. He says in verse 11...
““Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.””
Friends, listen…
Grace does not condone sin, but leads to spiritual growth
I mentioned to you earlier that a cop pulled me over for speeding and then let me go without giving me a ticket. Notice my attitude wasn’t, “Great! He let me off the hook, so I can now go as fast as I want, regardless of the speed limit, and he’ll just forgive me again.” No! My first reaction was to have a praise session in the car for the grace that was shown me. Then I pull of slowly, driving under the speed limit. Cars started passing around me.
Listen again to Paul in Romans...
“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?”
The attitude of a person who has received the gift of God’s grace is to have a heart that is overwhelmed by the love of God. And out of that heart of love flows a changed life of spiritual growth and obedience to Christ. And listen…Christ does not tell you to “go and sin no more” and not give you the grace and power to do it. He gives us the Holy Spirit to help us grow in grace! Praise God for His grace! The gift of God’s grace is not just forgiveness of sin, but also the power to grow spiritually.
I love how Aunty Ellen says it...
““In His act of pardoning this woman and encouraging her to live a better life, the character of Jesus shines forth in the beauty of perfect righteousness. While He does not palliate sin, nor lessen the sense of guilt, He seeks not to condemn, but to save. The world had for this erring woman only contempt and scorn; but Jesus speaks words of comfort and hope. The Sinless One pities the weakness of the sinner, and reaches to her a helping hand. While the hypocritical Pharisees denounce, Jesus bids her, “Go, and sin no more.””
In 2008, I was going through a difficult time and needed the assurance that God loved me and was with me. Have you ever been in a place like that? So my wife and I decided to get away for a few days and stay by my parents in South Carolina. My brother Andrew had just moved back in with them too. I remember my brother telling me he wanted me to hear a song. He then proceeded to play me a song that touched me in a very deep place in my heart. I remember going for long walks that weekend, talking with Jesus, as the song continued to play in my head. I believe this song speaks to us all right now…including the writer. I want you to listen to the words of this song and let it touch your heart as it did mine.
This jar of clay and all its weakness;
Somehow inside dwells Your fullness.
Even though I’m not yet flawless,
You are forming me.
Your grace for me is all I need
All I need is here
Your grace for me
Is all I need
All I need is here
Everything that I desire really may not meet my needs.
Help me to seek first Your kingdom.
You’ll provide for me.
Your grace for me
Is all I need
All I need is here
Your grace for me is all I need
All I need is here
Valleys come and tears aren’t dry yet and there are things I don’t yet see.
But I’ll rejoice despite of hardship; You’ll watch over me.
Your grace for me is all I need
All I need is here
Your grace for me is all I need
All I need is here
Your grace for me is all I need
All I need is here
All I need
All I need is here in You
