GO AND SIN NO MORE

Image credit to: LUMO Project

Many accounts have been written on the miracles of Jesus – on how He healed the sick, made the lame walk, gave sight to the blind, and many more.

But an even greater miracle is how God shows His immense mercy to forgive us of all our sins, no matter how many and how grave those sins are.

Such a miracle happened in the life of a woman whose story is written in John 8:1-11. Throughout her story, from the beginning to the end, we witness God’s mercy as she was forgiven of a very immoral sin.

GOD SHOWS MERCY TO REVEAL OUR SECRET SINS

Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act.” (John 8:3-4)

The story takes place in the temple where Jesus came to teach. While He was there, some of the scribes and Pharisees who sought to test Him brought to Him a woman who was caught in the act of adultery. In Jewish Levitical law, this sin was punishable by death.

Image credit to: LUMO Project

They brought her to Jesus to judge her and get her executed. But what they didn’t know is that instead of bringing a death sentence upon her, they actually led her to the very person who would save her.

This was God’s mercy in action. God allowed this woman’s secret sin to be exposed for a purpose. He wanted her to realize her wrong and repent of it so that she may receive forgiveness.

In the same way, God wants to reveal our secret sins not to shame us, but to help us overcome them. Because if our sins remain hidden, we can be deceived into thinking that we will get away with them. But the truth is, nothing escapes the eyes of God. First Samuel 16:7 tells us that man can only see outwardly but God sees a man’s heart.

If we continue living in those secret sins, we may escape punishment on earth but we cannot escape punishment in eternity. The Bible clearly tells us that the time will come that every secret sin will be revealed by God (Romans 2:16, 1 Corinthians 4:5, Luke 12:2-3).

It was once said that: “Those who think they can evade shame by sinning in secret will discover one day that open disclosure of their secrets before the very throne of God is the worst shame of all” (Grace to You). Certainly, it is better to confess and have your shame exposed in this earth rather than in eternity before everyone in the throne room of God.

The only remedy for our sin is confession before God and God-given people. James 5:16 tells us this: “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.”

For couples, it is important that we are open with our spouses about the things we deal with or struggle with. For single people, it is important to be accountable to spiritual authorities such as our cell group leaders.

GOD SHOWS MERCY TO NOT CONDEMN US

Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?” …But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear. So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.”
(John 8:5-7)

The accusers tried to provoke Jesus to judge the woman but Jesus had a very unexpected response. He said that whoever was sinless should cast the first stone.

Image credit to: LUMO Project

After Jesus spoke these famous words, the woman’s accusers began to be convicted of their own sins and left. Ironically, the ones who brought the woman out in the open to be judged of the sin of adultery were also secretly sinners themselves.

As the accusers went out one by one, Jesus and the woman were left alone (John 8:9). Being left alone with Jesus meant several things:

 • According to the Levitical Law, there should be more than two witnesses to accuse someone of guilt. But since no one except Jesus was left, the punishment cannot be given to the woman.

 • Unlike the accusers, Jesus did not have to leave the woman alone because He was actually the only One who had the right to cast the stone because He is sinless (Isaiah 53:9).

 • Sometimes, just like this woman, after everything we’ve gone through in our lives, we may feel left alone with God. When this happens, may our ears be open to hear His voice. It is in those moments of being alone with God that our lives can be changed, just as it happened in this story.

As she was left alone to talk with Jesus, what she heard Jesus say next must have overwhelmed her:

“Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” (John 8:11)

Even though Jesus had all the reasons to pass judgment on her, He chose to forgive. Such is the mercy of God. Truly, God is a merciful and gracious God, longsuffering, abounding in goodness and truth (Exodus 34:6).

GOD SHOWS MERCY TO RESTORE US

There is, of course, a balance to this. Jesus not only forgave her but He also commanded her to “go and sin no more.” This meant that she was not free to go on living in sin. God’s desire was not only to forgive her but to also fully restore her to live the righteous life she was called to live.

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead. (Philippians 3:13)

To “go” meant to forget what lies behind, to walk away from the past life of sin. 

And as we leave our dark past, we are called to “go” to Christ. For as we spend time with God and get to know Him, He transforms us to become more and more like Him in character. Thus, may we always cry out for an encounter with God. Just like Jacob wrestling with God until He changed him, may we desire for the Lord to purge and transform our innermost being (Genesis 32:26).

To “sin no more” can be seen in the light of James 1:14-15 which tells us that getting to sin is a process that begins with one’s desires. Though the tendency may be there, we can always choose to deny ourselves so that we would not give in to temptations (Luke 9:23, Romans 8:13, Gal. 5:24). We can also overcome sin by walking in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16). We can choose to say “no” to sin. We are not made to yield to sin, we are destined to live in victory!

Conclusion:

This story of how God forgave this woman proves to us the miracle of God’s mercy. This mercy is something that God wants each one of us to experience. Just like this woman, we are totally guilty as charged. Yet, God chooses not to condemn us but to let us go free from the eternal punishment we so rightly deserve.

May we draw near to our merciful God, confess to Him our secret sins, receive His forgiveness, and go to Him and sin no more.


Source:
“Nothing Safe About Secret Sin.” Grace to You, November 2017, www.gty.org/library/articles/A214/nothing-safe-about-secret-sin