Forgiveness... there's no catch

John 3:16

"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."

People think God is angry at us, the human race, and judgmental. That He is waiting and needing to punish us. Holding this heavy rod over our heads, waiting to beat us.

But note, it says WHOEVER believes shall not perish! 

whoever [huːˈɛvə]

pron

1. any person who; anyone that 

2. no matter who 

So therefore it reads as: That anyone who believes is saved. 

John 3:17

"For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."

Jesus never came to condemn.

Jesus wasn't sent to pass judgement. 

We are drilled into our minds about his suffering and if we don't behave right because of all he did, we need to be punished. We are drilled in with a sense of guilt 

BUT Jesus said the exact opposite. 

Jesus did not come to draw blood from you! Jesus already gave his blood. If He already paid the price, what price do you need to pay?

Romans 8:1

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus"

Now- this now! Today now!

No condemnation!!! None whatsoever.... If your in Christ. 

No condemnation - God has not decided against you. 

If God be for you, who can be against you! 

God is on your side!!

Some preachers can tend to get mad over this blanketing forgiveness aspect! 

Judgement IS NOT coming for the children of God. All you got to do is believe. 

There are preachers out there today who behave like the self righteous Pharisees. 

Beware the doctrine of the Pharisees because the Bible teaches that a life can change. 

You serve a God who is IN LOVE with you.  

John 8:1-6

"But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.² At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. ³ The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group ⁴ and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. ⁵ In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” ⁶ They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him

Who were the Pharisees? These were high priests of the Jewish faith that followed the law of Moses and added the constitutions of elders. 

They added to the Laws of Moses. 

They paraded themselves around and bolstered that they were holier than the common people. 

They exclaimed and taught that all that happened in your life was a result of God and fate. Now this concept worked great for them because they were the top of the food chain. They exclaimed they were blessed by God and hence prosperous. 

The Pharisees caught Mary Magdalene in bed with another man. 

Adultery is an act condemned even to this day. We still drop the hammer on adulterers in today's world.  ( example: Tiger woods, etc. )

Moses law said to stone her, as stated in Leviticus 20:10. 

“‘If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife —with the wife of his neighbor—both the adulterer and the adulteress are to be put to death."

Note, the law states that the woman AND the man gets put to death. 

The man wasn't even present when they brought Mary. Where did he go? How convenient. 

The Pharisees took bits and pieces of scriptures of what they wanted to. Preachers still do this to this very day. 

So, the Pharisees asked Jesus .. What do you say to this offense of the law?

John 8:6-8

"But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. ⁷ When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” ⁸ Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground."

Modern Day translation:

Want to live a happy life, then don't chuck rocks until you look at yourself. Are u without sin? Watch yourself first. 

John 8:9

"⁹  And they who heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the eldest even unto the last, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing in the midst."

Heard - they understand and comprehend  

Convicted - realize they were wrong.  Their conscience. 

Conscience - helps distinguish Right and wrong. 

John 8:10

"When Jesus had lifted Himself up and saw none but the woman, He said unto her, “Woman, where are those thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee?”

Woman, where are your accusers? She was guilty .. Period! 

Has no one condemned you?

Condemned - judged and passed judgement. 

John 8:11

"She said, “No man, Lord.” 

No man condemn, Lord. She addressed Jesus as Lord.

Lord- deliverer, savior, redeemer 

John 8:11

"And Jesus said unto her, “Neither do I condemn thee; go, and sin no more.”

Jesus says (Jesus, the one who wrote Leviticus 20:10 himself - for he is the Word ) says to Mary  "I don't condemn you either" 

Moses brought the law, but Jesus brought grace. 

(Grace = undeserved, unmerited, unearned favor. Its a gift. it can't be worked for)

 

You don't get what you deserve, but instead you get what God wants you to have. 

Jesus forgave her BEFORE she even repented 

Jesus said "Go and sin no more." 

The law and Pharisees said - first you must clean up your act (change your life around), come before God, and then God will DECIDE weather to forgive you

Jesus just said plainly "go and sin no more" - with no catches, clauses, or maybes. 

Knowing that kind of forgiveness is there alone will stop you from sinning

John 11:25

" Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even though they die;"

Do we believe in Him more than we believe in ourselves?

He, Jesus, is our stand up and recovery! No matter how many times we fall! 

Be delivered from the weight of guilt and condemnation. 

Psalm 136

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. 
    His love endures forever. 
² Give thanks to the God of gods. 
    His love endures forever.
³ Give thanks to the Lord of lords: 
    His love endures forever.

⁴ to him who alone does great wonders, 
    His love endures forever.
⁵ who by his understanding made the heavens, 
    His love endures forever.
⁶ who spread out the earth upon the waters, 
    His love endures forever.
⁷ who made the great lights —
    His love endures forever.
⁸ the sun to govern the day,
    His love endures forever.
⁹ the moon and stars to govern the night;
    His love endures forever.

¹⁰ to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt
    His love endures forever.
¹¹ and brought Israel out from among them
    His love endures forever.
¹² with a mighty hand and outstretched arm; 
    His love endures forever.

¹³ to him who divided the Red Sea^[a] asunder
    His love endures forever.
¹⁴ and brought Israel through the midst of it,
    His love endures forever.
¹⁵ but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea; 
    His love endures forever.

¹⁶ to him who led his people through the wilderness; 
    His love endures forever.

¹⁷ to him who struck down great kings, 
    His love endures forever.
¹⁸ and killed mighty kings —
    His love endures forever.
¹⁹ Sihon king of the Amorites 
    His love endures forever.
²⁰ and Og king of Bashan —
    His love endures forever.
²¹ and gave their land as an inheritance, 
    His love endures forever.
²² an inheritance to his servant Israel. 
    His love endures forever.

²³ He remembered us in our low estate
    His love endures forever.
²⁴ and freed us from our enemies. 
    His love endures forever.
²⁵ He gives food to every creature.
    His love endures forever.

²⁶ Give thanks to the God of heaven. 
    His love endures forever.

His LOVE endures FOREVER!