He Washed All My Guilty Stains

Read John 7:53-8:11

John 7:53–8:11 (ESV)

They went each to his own house, but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. 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.”

Intro

Last Week - The death, burial, and resurrection gives us hope in the life and the life to come.

Today’s Focus: Transformation in this life.

Particularly - How the Cross Frees Us from Guilt

(Story of Jeff Calling on My Way to the Conference)

- Has a co-worker (who is not a Christian) who expresses far left views on many issues, particularly on the subjects on homosexuality and abortion.

- The man asked my friend about his views on the subjects, to which he gently shared the Biblical positions.

- My friend suggested that they agree to disagree, but that wasn’t good enough for his coworker. He militantly argued his point and was appalled that he wouldn’t agree with him.

So, he called me and asked “why can’t people with these views just respect what we believe? That’s a question worth asking.

By God’s providence, in the first message of the conference, Dr. Kevin DeYoung shed some light on that very question.

Not too long ago the secular world held the position of moral relativism.

Rejected the idea of absolute truth.

You have your truth and I have mine (and we can live with that)

They were generally okay with Christians believing what they wanted, inasmuch as they didn’t push their views on them.

DeYoung Suggest that Times have changed: Absolutism

The secular world is no longer okay with us holding to Christian beliefs. They now they demand that we adopt their beliefs. And, until we do such , they demonize us.

Why? One reason is Guilt.

A) We Live in a World Racked with Guilt

All who are apart from Jesus—stand guilty before a Holy God.

The non-Christian world has no ability to deal with that guilt.

Beyond sinful behavior, consider what social media has done to the human race.

We now know of every tragedy that occurs in the world, such as poverty, and disasters, violence, death, and injustice.

There is then a sense that we need to do more.

How many go fund me posts have you seen over the last month?

This idea of not doing enough, can cause feelings of guilt.

The secular world attempts to deal with guilt via self-justification.

Evidence to Back Up That Idea

Victim Mentality

It’s like, I might be able to ease my guilt, if I can blame my actions on something that has happened to me.

E.g.—It’s like, I can justify destroying random people’s businesses, because I’m a victim.

It’s like, don’t be so sure. The victim mentality will not remove guilt.

2. People chase self-justification, by attempting to get EVERYONE to approve of their views and behavior (like what my friend experienced at work), or to at least remain silent.

It’s like, if you agree with me, you validate my behavior and beliefs.

The problem is that if even a single person holds a different view and expresses that view, then guilt remains.

The secular world believes that guilt comes from the outside, and that they must look within themselves to deal with it. The Bible teaches that guilt comes from the inside, and must be dealt with by looking outward—namely to Jesus.

Unbelievers have no means of dealing with guilt… and it eats them alive.

Why Listen: How Can You Find Relief from the Burden of Guilt?

As I pondered the subject of guilt this week, our text today came to mind; I believe it can shed some light on the subject.

Three Points: The Charge, the Inditement, and the Results

I. The Charge

Consider Verses 1-6

Jesus was teaching in the courtyard of the temple.

Many people were around Him, listening to His compelling word.

As He was teaching, the scribes and Pharisees interrupted Him, bringing—before Him—a woman caught in the act of adultery.

Remember scribes and Pharisees from our study in Matthew:

Were Religious elites

Looked hyper-spiritual

Despised Jesus: He constantly revealed their hypocrisy and self-righteousness.

John 8:4–6 (ESV)

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.

The men referred to Jesus as “Teacher” or “Rabbi,” addressing Him with mocking respect.

The approach Him as if they want his wisdom on the situation.

The Seventh Commandment Forbids Adultery (Ex. 7:14), so the Pharisees were right in that the woman was guilty according to God’s Law.

But their concern here, was not theLaw: Verse 6 tells us their motive: they wanted to back Jesus into a corner.

A) If Jesus chose to overlook her sin, they could charge him with disregarding God’s Law.

Leviticus 20:10 (ESV)

“If a man commits adultery with the wife of his neighbor, both the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.

You will notice the hypocrisy of the Scribes and Pharisees.

According to God’s Law, both the adulterer and adulteress were to be stoned, but they only brought the woman to Jesus. This shows the men were not really concerned with following the Law.

Many people are puzzled about the severity of breaking God’s Law in the OT. It messes with their picture of a kind and cuddly God.

But the serves to paint a picture of the seriousness of sinning against a Holy God.

People often ask, “How could a loving God judge sinners?”. When you get a Biblical picture of sin, the question should become “How could a Holy God acquit sinners”

If Jesus chose to overlook her sin, they would accuse Him of disregarding God’s Law.

B) If He chose to stone her, He would break Roman Law.

Under Roman Law, the Jews were able to adjudicate many of their own cases within their temple courts.

But capital punishment was a sentence that could only be pronounced by Roman authorities.

The Pharisees wanted Jesus to be seen as a threat to the Roman Empire so that they could get rid of Him.

So, the men our text—had come up with an elaborate plan to entrap Jesus. As they saw it, it was a lose, lose for Jesus.

But you can’t outsmart Jesus! He is omniscient—all knowing and personification of wisdom.

So, the charge against the woman is adultery.

II. The Inditement

John 8:6–9 (ESV)

... 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.

A) Jesus Acknowledged the Sin of the Woman

John 8:11 (ESV)

... Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”

It is clear from that verse, that Jesus called adultery what it was—sin.

Jesus takes sin seriously: He never said “oh, it is no big deal.” He didn’t make light of her sin

The woman—in one sense—was indicted. She was guilty. Jesus didn’t argue that—according to the Law—she deserved to be stoned. But yet, Jesus offered her grace and forgiveness (I will speak more on that in a moment).

B) Jesus Exposed the Guilt of the Scribes and Pharisees

John 8:7 (ESV)

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.”

Jesus exposed the sin of the Scribes and Pharisees

Though they were self-righteous, they too, knew that they did not perfectly keep God’s Law.

Those men, walked away, still in their guilt?

Why did Jesus forgive the woman, but not the Pharisees?

A) The Scribes Pharisees

It is not that Jesus didn’t care about the Scribes and Pharisees. Nicodemus was a Pharisee, yet—as recorded in John chapter 3, Jesus offered Him salvation.

John 3:18 (ESV)

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

The Scribes and Pharisees in this story, rejected Jesus—they wished to destroy them, and—consequently—they remained in their sin.

B) The Woman: Why would God forgive her?

John 8:11 (ESV)

She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”

Notice that she called Jesus “Lord.” The implication being, that she received Him, that she had saving faith.

She owned her sin; she never denied it.

She didn’t play the victim card. It would have been easy for her to blame it on the man.

She stood heavy with guilt before Jesus, and clearly admitted her sin. Yet, because she trusted Him, she experienced forgiveness.

Forgiveness is not universal (Expound)

The Indictment: Both the Religious Leaders and the Woman were pronounced guilty.

III. The Results

A) The Scribes and Pharisees (who rejected Jesus)

Walked away unchanged

They still carried the weight of guilt, because they had sinned against a Holy God.

They walked away, still depending on their own righteousness, thinking that they could obtain righteousness through the keeping of the Law. Thus, they went away, still in their sin.

B) The Woman Was Transformed

Think of how the woman must of felt, being dragged into the temple and humiliated in front of Jesus and a crowed of people. She must have been humiliated, ashamed, overcome with guilt...

But, after her encounter with Jesus, she walked away free and forgiven, with the burden of her guilt removed.

The woman was justified—even though she was a sinner.

God demands righteousness, yet their are none righteous. Justification is act of God declaring someone to be righteous, even though he or she is a sinner.

How Could Jesus justify the woman, without compromising God’s justice?

Proverbs 17:15 (ESV)

He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous

are both alike an abomination to the Lord.

It is dangerous when parents threaten their children with punishments that they are unwilling to carry out....

Did Jesus commit and abomination??? That would be a major problem!

Many people think that—when God has a good day—that He chooses mercy over justice.

The God who doesn’t change, is equally merciful and just.

Jesus actions towards the woman was certainly merciful, but what about justice? How could the woman be justified, when she was clearly guilty and deserving of punishment?

Jesus—at Calvary— was about to become her substitute, paying the penalty of her—and every believers’—sin.

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

God imputed our sin to Jesus; He was guiltless before a Holy God, yet He bore the wrath owed to us. Our guilt was imputed to Him. Our sin was accredited to Him.

The wages of sin is death, yet Jesus took the death that was owed to us.

Romans 4:7–8 (ESV)

“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,

and whose sins are covered;

blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”

It is not that the saved have not sinned; it is that our sin is not counted against us?

Romans 5:1 (ESV)

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Why are Christians sins not counted against them? Because—by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone—Just as our sin was imputed to Jesus, His righteousness is imputed to us!

Justification does not comprise the justice or mercy of God because God’s justice was satisfied in Jesus!

We call this Penal Substitutionary Atonement

At Calvary, Jesus was forsaken, so that we didn’t have to be forsaken.

He took the penalty owing to us, that we might have life eternal and be reconciled to the Father.

In other words, Jesus became our Substitute!

The woman’s sin in our text, was not taken lightly. She was justified because she trusted in Christ.

Closing

How Do We Do with Guilt?

We are guilty because we’ve sinned against a Holy God.

We cannot justify ourselves.

The victim card will not work.

The blame game will not work.

Looking within and making peace with yourself will not work.

The only answer, is to look Jesus.

When you put your faith in Christ, you are justified. Your sin is accredited to Him (which he dealt with on the cross) and His righteousness is accredited to you.

Does this mean that we can go on sinning? By no means!

John 8:11 (ESV)

... go, and from now on sin no more.”

We are not saved by good works, but we are saved FOR good works.

God desires for His people to walk in Holiness—in obedience to His Word.

Your desire to live a life pleasing to the Lord serves as an evidence of your salvation.

Some of you are experiencing those feelings of guilt and humiliation. You have gone the route of self justification, but to no avail. You still feel dirty, humiliated and embarrassed. Bearing guilt is a horrible burden.

Non Christian: Turn to Jesus in Faith

1 John 1:9 (ESV)

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

He is faithful AND just

And when we acknowledge our sin and turn to Christ in faith, we can be forgiven and CLEANSED! That burden of sins will be gone. Your garments that are stained with sin, will be white as snow.

Believers: Celebrate your justification! Those of you who are still experiencing guilt: Don’t look within, look to Christ. Remember who you are in Jesus!

There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel's veins; and sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.