John 8:7-11
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." 8Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
9At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"
11"No one, sir," she said.
"Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."
Many people do not see their need for God or salvation. By comparing the Pharisees and the adulterous woman in this passage, we can learn about essentials steps to salvation. We can also help people see this truth.
CONVICTED BY THE LAW
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." 8Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. (John 8:7-9)
In this passage, the Pharisees were condemning the adulteress while not being aware of their own sin. In verse 7, Jesus makes them aware of their sinful condition by pointing them to the law, which is the perfect standard of God.
He told them that anyone who knew no sin could throw the first stone. The word Jesus used for sin is hamarteĊ (ham-ar-tay-o), which means missing the mark. To God, sin is anything that falls short of His standard, which is perfection. For example, people see sin as outward actions like murder or adultery. However, God sees being angry at someone as murder in the heart (Matt 5:22), and looking at someone with lust is adultery in the heart (Matt 5:28).
"Jesus makes the Pharisees aware of their sinful nature through the law".
For people who do not know the law, we need to point them to it, so they can see their sin (Rom 7:7). This is because people need to acknowledge their sin before they can repent and be saved. Therefore, let us follow Jesus example and point people to the perfect standard of God to help them be aware of their need for God.
SAVED BY GRACE
10Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"11 "No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin." (John 8:10-11)
Verses 10 to 11 shows the adulteress, standing without excuse in front of Jesus. She knew the severity of her sin, and realised the impending judgment, which was death. However, she acknowledged her sin so she was also able to receive God’s forgiveness and salvation. .Jesus told her that
He would not condemn her, and she was forgiven, free to start a new life. For some one who acknowledges and repents of their sins, God forgives them in His grace. Romans 8:1 states that “…there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”.
After we point people to the law, we then tell people of God’s mercy and grace.
In evangelism, after we point people to the law, we then tell people of the good news of God’s mercy and grace. We can share about the amazing gift of salvation. Only after someone truly feels the weight of their sin can they fully appreciate God’s gift of salvation. This can be likened to a cancer patient who recognizes the value of a miracle cure, and grasps at it only after he/she realises that cancer is a deadly disease. The result of such a revelation is a truly repentant heart and a life turned away from sin.
CONCLUSION:
Let us apply these steps when we share to others, first by making sure they see their sin and need for God by pointing them to the law, and then explaining the good news of salvation by grace.
Questions to Ponder.
Do we sometimes excuse ourselves, or judge others by our own standards instead of God’s perfect standard?
Why was it that the adulteress received forgiveness and not the Pharisees?
Do we sometimes excuse ourselves, or judge others by our own standards instead of God’s perfect standard?
Why was it that the adulteress received forgiveness and not the Pharisees?
Written by Charis Chua
