Neither do I Condemn Thee • Deshen Daily

She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more (Jn. 8:11 KJV)

One beautiful day in Jerusalem, a strange event took place. A man and a woman were caught in the very act of adultery. The woman was brought to Jesus from the bed of Adultery. The scripture is silent on the whereabouts of the man. I leave that up to your imagination what might have happened to him!

The Jews found the perfect case to make Jesus reject the Law so they will have an opportunity to accuse Him. They told Him the Law commands them to stone her, but were curious to know what Jesus would say. They knew He would not want them to stone her, despite what was written in the Law. They wanted to make Him publicly denounce the Law which will throw Jerusalem in an uproar.

However, despite what the law said, Jesus finally told the woman after He had baffled the Jews with His wisdom “ neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” This woman was a sinner, caught in the very act of adultery. If Jesus commanded her to be stoned, He would be justified because the Law said so. However, He did not come to tell sinners they are sinners and they are condemned. He came to tell sinners that there is hope, and He is their hope. Please note He did not give the woman the gift of “no condemnation” after she had repented, changed her ways and started living right. She was still a sinner, in her sin. The power to give her the freedom from sin came from the words “neither do I condemn you.”

This is the gift of grace to humanity. Jesus is our Hope, freedom, forgiveness, and justification from sin. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, for the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set us free from the law of sin and death!

MEDITATE

Is the gift of “no condemnation” given to us after we have “amended our ways”? Do you have to wait to be sinless before you receive this gift?

APPLY THE WORD

God will judge the world. The time is coming. There is no question that sin will come under the wrath of God. However, those who are in Christ have passed from death to life. So many Christians make the error of trying to live righteously before accepting the truth that there is no condemnation in Christ. Do not make this mistake. The power to live righteously comes after you have received and believed that truth. Otherwise, Christianity will remain a struggle with your own personal efforts. Rest in your Saviour, and enjoy the ride with the Holy Spirit!