The Harmony of Law vs. Grace
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1 Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. 2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. 3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, 4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? 6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. 7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. 8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. 9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? 11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
Main Thought
Main Thought
In this account of the woman caught in adultery in John chapter 8 we can see a stark contrast between the law of Moses and the gospel of grace in Jesus Christ. It is clear that the pharisees hated Jesus and would do anything they could to try and discredit his ministry and his message. The believed they had all of the answers but in reality they failed to see God in the flesh as he stood before them and taught them truth.
The plotting and planning never seemed to end as they continued their quest to publicly humiliate him and eliminate his influence. This account in the gospel of John is no exception to this practice. However, as the Pharisees and the Scribes bring this woman to Jesus under the condemnation of the law, He turns the very law they are using back on them. Here is the great truth in this passage. The law demands payment, to that there is no denying. The penalty for adultery is death for the man and the woman. Yet it is our response to the condemnation of the law that makes all the difference.
You see it is not just the obvious, extremely egregious infractions of the law that make us guilty before God. All of us, no matter the level of sin, stand on level ground GUILTY before God! The purpose of the law was not to include some and exclude others, it was to reveal to all that they are indeed guilty.
Man has no reasonable response to the penalty of sin. We can like these Pharisees and Scribes, locate some other sinner we have determined to be more guilty than we are and somehow try to justify ourselves, but that will not work.
But we are all as an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; And we all do fade as a leaf; And our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
If our righteousness are but filthy rags, then where does that leave our sin?
The truth is that all must come face to face with their sin. This woman had come face to face with her sin and she humbled herself in the sight of Jesus laid her guilt at his feet and called him Lord. The Pharisees and Scribes, one by one walked away from Jesus as many do today. They were not able to accomplish their goal, the conviction of Christ only grew greater and instead of submitting themselves to him they instead walked away, possibly to further bolster their own righteousness.
This is what Paul describes in Romans chapter 10
Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
Then Jesus stands alone with this woman. All must come alone to the foot of the cross, humbled by our sin in repentance asking for forgiveness. When we do Jesus gives grace. Grace to save and grace to sanctify!
Introduction
Introduction
Balancing two sides of truth can be a difficult challenge.
Is God a God of Judgement, or is God a God of forgiveness?
Is Jesus Christ man or is Jesus Christ God?
Is God who gave the law contradictory when he offers escape from its judgement?
The simple answer to this questions is God is both and all of these things. For some this is a hard concept to grasp but it is no less true no matter the difficulty it poses in our understanding.
In the story before us this morning, we have an example of what we have just described. We have harmony of law and grace. We have a God of righteousness, delivering undeserving grace!
I. The Demand of the Law
I. The Demand of the Law
4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
Why did God give the Law?
Paul was preaching about this truth in Galatians
Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
The purpose then of the law was to show us the seriousness and the severity of our sin!
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
A. The Command of the Law
A. The Command of the Law
“Moses in the law commanded us”
Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
How many commands are in the Bible? - Some say there are 613 in the NT alone....lets just say there are hundreds!
Did the law command that this woman be stoned?- Yes
And the man that committeth adultery with another man’s wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.
Application - They were trying to trap the Lord, they were not interested in justice - Moses in the law commanded many things- what had he commanded you?
B. The Condemnation of the Law
B. The Condemnation of the Law
“he that is without sin among you”
So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Application - Here is where the Bible gets personal. Most people are fine when it’s someone else’s sin, but when the tables are turned on us, that's when things get a little uncomfortable. Is there any in here this morning without sin?
C. The Conviction of the Law
C. The Conviction of the Law
“and they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience”
And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
Definition: It means to be exposed! It means to put pressure on something!
i. The Conviction struck their heart
i. The Conviction struck their heart
“by their own conscience”
Keep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life.
While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.
God knows your heart and he knows how to reveal what is in it!
Illustration: A well-known professional golfer was playing in a tournament with President Gerald Ford, fellow pro Jack Nicklaus, and Billy Graham. After the round was over, one of the other pros on the tour asked, "Hey, what was it like playing with the President and Billy Graham?" The pro said with disgust, "I don't need Billy Graham stuffing religion down my throat!" With that he headed for the practice tee. His friend followed, and after the golfer had pounded out his fury on a bucket of golf balls, he asked, "Was Billy a little rough on you out there?" The pro sighed and said with embarrassment, "No, he didn't even mention religion." Astonishingly, Billy Graham had said nothing about God, Jesus, or religion, yet the pro stomped away after the game accusing Billy of trying to ram religion down his throat.
R.C. Sproul, The Holiness of God.
ii. The Conviction stirred a response
ii. The Conviction stirred a response
“went out one by one”
It seems from the text that even the crowd that was listening to his teaching previously had also left!
Perhaps they left to further bolster their self righteousness - Paul described this in Romans 10
Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
We have seen the Demand of the law, now I want us to notice the deliverance of grace:
We have seen the Demand of the law, now I want us to notice the deliverance of grace:
II. The Deliverance of Grace
II. The Deliverance of Grace
10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? 11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
Here is where the story turns and the Lord does what only the Lord can do.
QUOTE: “grace is getting what we do not deserve”
Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
A. The Wonderful gift of grace
A. The Wonderful gift of grace
“neither do I condemn thee”
She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
B. The Wonderful growth of grace
B. The Wonderful growth of grace
“go and sin no more”
She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
Notice the order: Forgiveness - then growth, Salvation then Sanctification
Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
The only way the law of God can be harmonized with the grace of God is through the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. As he stood alone with this woman he said “neither do I condemn thee” yet, he was about to be condemned himself, for her and for all mankind.
The Purpose of the law of God
Commands
Condemns
Convicts
In proper response to the law of God, we can receive the grace of God!
The Plan of the grace of God
The Wonderful gift of grace
The Wonderful work of grace