LISTEN TO JESUS!
LISTEN TO JESUS!
The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” —John 8:3-11
Are we like the scribes and Pharisees, quick to condemn another even though we too could be condemned? In reality all people stand condemned before God. This is why Jesus came. He came to take the penalty and punishment for our sin at the cross. He was the final Lamb, the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). Jesus “is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world” (I John 2:2). “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot. He was known before the foundation of the world, but was revealed in the last times for your sake” (I Peter 1:18-20).
Sin’s condemnation of us has been resolved by the sinless Son of God at the cross and through His resurrection. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). He took the penalty and punishment for our sin and offers to us forgiveness and eternal life through Jesus. But He will not force Himself on anybody. He offers this wonderful life with Him as a gift. No amount of “good works” can earn this gift. It is to be received freely. Here is the fact of the matter—
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God. —John 3:16-21
So, when a person hears the good news about Jesus and what He has done, they can receive that free gift of eternal life from Him or reject it. Those who “call on His Name” (Romans 10:13) will never be condemned and will leave their evil ways. Those who reject Him do so because they want to hold to their evil ways. The result of that is to suffer God’s wrath in Hell forever because of spurning the Eternal, Pure, Spotless Son’s gift offered to you. Don’t do it! — Oh Dear Father please draw those reading this to Jesus who have yet come to know Him. May this be so in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus. So be it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYQ5yXCc_CA