Three Lessons to Learn from the Adulterous Woman

John 8: 1-11

John 8:1–11 (NLT)

1 Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives,

2 but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them.

3 As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd.

4 “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery.

5 The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?”

6 They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger.

7 They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!”

8 Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.

9 When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman.

10 Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”

11 “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”

INTRODUCTION:

I. SIN BRINGS ABOUT PERSONAL CONDEMNATION. (John 8:1-5 ).

John 8:1–5 (NLT)

1 Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives,

2 but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them.

3 As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd.

4 “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery.

5 The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?”

A. Sin is impossible to keep hidden. (John 8:1-4 ).

John 8:1–4 (NLT)

1 Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives,

2 but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them.

3 As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd.

4 “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery.

(Numbers 32:23 ).

(Luke 8:17 ).

1. Like trying to hide a skunk.

B. Sin brings with it a certain and severe condemnation. (John 8: 5 ).

John 8:5 (NLT)

5 The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?”

(Romans 6:23)

Romans 6:23 (NLT)

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

(Romans 5: 12 ).

Romans 5:12 (NLT)

12 When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.

(James 1: 15).

James 1:15 (NLT)

15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.

II. TRYING TO CONDEMN SIN IN OTHERS, WHILE IGNORING YOUR OWN SIN BRINGS SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES. (John 8: 6-9 ).

John 8:6–9 (NLT)

6 They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger.

7 They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!”

8 Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.

9 When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman.

A. Jesus is not impressed with our fault finding. (John 8: 6)

John 8:6 (NLT)

6 They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger.

1. He does not judge us by our standards, but by his. (Isaiah. 55: 8-9).

Isaiah 55:8–9 (NLT)

8 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.

9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

B. Jesus puts his finger of conviction on our sin. (John 8: 7-9).

John 8:7–9 (NLT)

7 They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!”

8 Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.

9 When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman.

1. He awaits our response.

2. Only one response is proper. (Isaiah 1: 18).

Isaiah 1:18 (NLT)

18 “Come now, let’s settle this,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.

III. FREEDOM AND FORGIVENESS ARE GIVEN BY CHRIST ALONE. (John 8: 10-11)

John 8:10–11 (NLT)

10 Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”

11 “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”

A. Focus must be given to the only one who can condemn. (John 8: 10).

John 8:10 (NLT)

10 Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”

1. It doesn't matter what men say, but what Christ says. (Matthew 10: 28 ).

Matthew 10:28 (NLT)

28 “Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

a. People who would keep you from Christ don’t really care about you.

2. It is dangerous to let someone else keep you from Christ. (Matthew. 10:32-33, 37-38)

Matthew 10:32–33 (NLT)

32 “Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.

33 But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.

Matthew 10:37–38 (NLT)

37 “If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine.

38 If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine.

* Illustration:

Conversation with Don Mouton

B. Finding freedom? Is a simple process. (John 8: 11 ).

John 8:11 (NLT)

11 “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”

1. Completely turn your back on your sin. (Luke 13: 3).

Luke 13:3 (NLT)

3 Not at all! And you will perish, too, unless you repent of your sins and turn to God.

2. Believe and confess in Christ. (Romans 10: 9-13)

Romans 10:9–13 (NLT)

9 If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.

11 As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.”

12 Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him.

13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

3. Choose to follow Jesus as Lord of your life. (Matthew 4: 19 ).

Matthew 4:19 (NLT)

19 Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me...”

Conclusion:

Illustration:

“follow, follow. I would follow on” – Hymn

By Robert Lowry / William O. Cushing

1

Down in the valley with my Savior I will go, Where the flow'rs are blooming and the sweet waters flow; Everywhere He leads me I will follow, follow on, Walking in His footsteps till the crown be won.

2

Down in the valley with my Savior I will go, Where the storms are sweeping and the dark waters flow; With His hand to lead me I will never, never fear, Danger cannot fright me if my Lord is near.

3

Down in the valley, or upon the mountain steep, Close beside my Savior will my soul ever keep; He will lead me safely in the path that He has trod, Up to where they gather on the hills of God.

Chorus:

Follow! follow! I will follow Jesus! Anywhere, everywhere, I will follow on! Follow! follow! I will follow Jesus! Everywhere He leads me I will follow on!