Skip to content Forgiveness and Second Chances from John 8 Aug 13 · 13 min ...more
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Grace, Truth, and Freedom in Christ 0:09 Good morning. Welcome to Stand on the Word, and thanks for joining me this morning as we turn to John chapter 8. What does grace and truth look like in action? That's what we're gonna look at in part this morning.0:21 Verse 31 of chapter 8, if you abide in my word, you are my disciples indeed. Now these chapters in John are a bit long, but I encourage you not to speed read. Read through, take your0:33 time, meditate upon these deep theological truths that John pulls out of Jesus's words and his teachings. Now verses 3 through 11, Jesus shows how to apply0:45 biblical truth with the account of the woman caught in adultery. Look at verse 3. Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had sent her in the midst, they said to her,0:56 teacher, this woman was caught in adultery in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us that such should be stoned, but what do you say? This, they said,1:08 testing him that they might have something of which to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with his finger as though he did not hear. Now some suggest1:20 that Jesus was writing her client list in the dirt, which included some of those accusing her. Verse 8. So when they continued asking him, he raised himself up and said to them,1:32 he who was out without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first. And again, he stooped down and wrote on the ground. Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience,1:45 went out 1 by 1 beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had raised himself up1:57 and saw no 1 but the woman, he said to her, woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no 1 condemned you? She said, no 1, lord. And Jesus said to her, neither do I2:09 condemn you. Go and sin no more. Now this passage has often been misused, so let's stop for just a moment and take a look at what it2:20 says and what it doesn't say. What it says is there is forgiveness to be found for all sinners regardless of the sin. Jesus now remember, he he didn't come2:32 to condemn us as we read in John 3 verses 17 and 18 because we're already condemned. Jesus came to save us from our sins, but we must respond to2:44 him and believe in him. We must confess our sins. There was forgiveness for this woman and for the men whose names were written in the dirt. That is what it says. Here's what it2:56 doesn't say. It does not say there are to be no moral judgments of right and wrong. Jesus didn't say to the woman that her actions were a private choice, therefore,3:08 beyond the concern of the larger community. He didn't say that. He didn't say morality doesn't matter. He told her to go. Judgment was not going to be executed upon her, that3:20 is stony. She had a second chance. He said, go and send no more. Alright. Verse 12. Then Jesus spoke to them again saying, I am the light of the world. He who3:31 follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life. Now this is a powerful and enlightening declaration, pun intended. The the the path of this life3:44 is illuminated by knowing Jesus. Now that doesn't mean that we're gonna be able to see all the way to end of the journey and know every turn and curve that's, ahead of us, but it does mean that we can see3:55 clearly what is before us and successfully navigate the path of life. I cannot overemphasize how knowing Jesus and following him, that is obeying his4:07 word. If you love him, you'll keep his commandments. That by doing so, it impacts our lives and it keeps us from the pitfalls that are in this world, and it keeps4:19 us on the straight and narrow. Now to be clear, again, I I say this every time, but I I don't I don't wanna I don't want somebody to say, well, you didn't give us the small print. Jesus gave us the small print. Look.4:31 Life is gonna be filled with challenges and difficulties even if you're a follower of Jesus Christ. But he doesn't leave us to navigate them alone. He does not leave us without hope4:43 and purpose, which gives us strength in the midst of those challenges and difficulties. Verse 17, it is also written in your law that the testimony of 2 men is true. I am 1 who bears witness of4:55 myself, and the father who sent me bears witness of me. Now remember, the father testified of Jesus at his baptism and on the mount of transfiguration. John also5:07 writes in first John chapter 5 that the father testifies of the son when we believe. When we believe and trust in him, it is evidence of the father's testimony of the faithfulness of the son. Verse 19,5:19 then they said to him, where is your father? Jesus answered, you know neither me nor my father. If you had known me, you would have known my father also. These were Jesus spoke in the treasury as he taught in the temple,5:31 and no 1 laid hands on him for his hour had not yet come. Again, we see this that no 1 laid their hands on him because his hour had not come. Now this is divine providence and protection.5:43 And I believe this applies to our lives as believers, as followers of Christ. We do not have to fear that our lives are somehow going to be cut short prematurely. That the any5:55 even in the midst of the of the challenges that we face look. Now that does not mean that things do not happen to believers, you know, right, a year after this, Jesus was crucified.6:07 What it means is that God's plans and purposes will be fulfilled in our lives if we are walking in submission and obedience to him. We don't have to worry about somehow6:19 missing out on our purpose and calling in life if we're obeying God. Satan cannot frustrate the plans of God. And and and and, frankly, I don't wanna live a moment6:31 past my mission and purpose. I really don't. I don't wanna just occupy space. I wanna be living with purpose and meaning. When my work is finished on this earth, whenever that might6:43 be, I am ready to go home. Alright. Therefore, I refuse to live in fear, fear of disease, fear of danger, or whatever else the6:54 devil may devise. We cannot live in fear and faithfully follow the lord Jesus Christ. You heard me say this before, faith and fear are not compatible.7:07 We must live with a holy fear or reverence of God who is the creator and the sustainer of life. And when we do that, we're not gonna fear all the things around us. Now look at7:19 this definitive statement that we find in verse 24. Therefore, I said to you that you will die in your sins, for if you do not believe that I am he, you will die in your sins. Verse7:31 28, then Jesus said to them, when you lift up the son of man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself. But as my father taught me, I speak these things. And he who sent me7:43 is with me. The father has not left me alone, for I always do the things that please him. As he spoke these words, many believed in him. Then Jesus said to those Jews who7:55 believed him, if you abide in my word, you are my disciples indeed. Notice what the sign of discipleship is, abiding in the word of God. And then look at its8:06 power. Verse 32, and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They answered, we are Abraham's descendants and have never been in bondage to anyone even though they were under Roman8:18 occupation at the time. How can you say we will be made free? Jesus answered, then most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. You see, sin places us8:29 in bondage, but we're free when we obey God. You know, many it's it's so ironic that they say, well, following, you know, Christianity is just a set of rules and you just it's you can't do8:41 anything. Really. You have you're free to experience life as God created it. It is when we refuse to follow him that we are in bondage to sin.8:54 Verse 35. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore, if the son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. This, my friends, is true for9:06 you, found only in the lord Jesus Christ. Verse 37, I know that you are Abraham's descendants, but you seek to kill me because my word has no place in you. Now drop drop down to verse 42. Jesus said to9:18 them, if God were your father, you would love me. For I proceed forth and came from God, nor have I come from myself, but I but he sent me. Why do you not understand my speech? Because you9:30 are not able to listen to my word. You are of your father, the devil, and the desires of your father, you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the9:41 truth because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources for he is a liar and the father of it. But because I tell you the truth, you do not believe me. Which of you can9:53 fix me of sin? And if I tell you the truth, why do you not believe me? He who is of God hears God's words. Therefore, you do not hear because you are not10:05 of God. You see, following the father of lies, they cannot understand and hear the truth. Now don't don't miss what Jesus is saying. It's something he said before. There10:17 is no despiritualized zone. There's no middle ground. Okay? Jesus was very clear. He said that those who did not hear and believe him are of their father, the10:29 devil. You're either with God or you're against God. There is no in between. There is no in between. Jesus himself said that. Either for him or against him. Either gather or you scatter.10:41 Verse 50, and I do not seek my own glory. There is 1 who seeks and judges. Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he shall never see death. Verse 54, Jesus10:53 answered, if I honor myself, my honor is nothing. Yet my father who honors me it is my father who honors me of whom you say that he is your god. And I believe this applies universally.11:05 If we seek to honor ourselves, it is empty and it is meaningless. Rather, we should seek honor that comes from god. Verse 58, Jesus said to them,11:16 most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am. Then they took up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple going through the midst of them and so passed by.11:28 They knew the meaning of these 2 words, I am the preexistent 1. And he walked out through the midst of them. They were, I guess, blinded,11:40 unable to see him, and he walked out. Father, thank you for your word. I pray that we would hear we would hear your word, that we would see the truth of your11:52 word, and that we would apply it to our lives. And that as disciples of Christ, we would abide in your word, and we would find the freedom that comes from abiding in it. Give us the boldness, the12:04 courage to speak that truth in a in a in such a way that others would hear it, respond to it, and find freedom as well. Lord, I pray that we would we we would12:16 certainly, lord, have the peace and the joy that comes from following you, but, lord, also give us a sense of urgency for the hour in which we're living, that we would share the truth of the gospel with12:27 family and friends knowing the time is short and knowing that the only way to freedom and to eternal life is through Jesus Christ. For it is in his name we pray this. Amen. Alright. Thanks for joining12:39 me this morning, and until next time, keep standing on the word.12:45 Today's study comes from the Stand on the Word Bible Reading Plan available for free at f r c dot o r g slash bible. By following along in just a few minutes a day, you12:57 can read through the entire Bible in just 2 years. Learn more and request the free reading guide at frc dot org slash bible.In this video 0:00 Grace, Truth, and Freedom in Christ
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