FORGIVENESS

FORGIVENESS - John 8:1-11

INTRO: FORGIVENESS! Often used and more often Mis-used.

When a wrong is committed, “I Forgive You.”

Debts are often FORGIVEN.

“Forgive and Forget.” MIs-used is “I will forgive you but I won’t forget.”

The ACCUSER(S)-

Teachers of the Law and the Pharisees- TEACHERS = experts of law. LAWYERS.

Pharisees = important religious and political leaders of the Jews.

Both of these groups opposed Jesus and denied He was who He said He was.

Mark 3:22 “The teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.””

Matthew 23:23 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.”

Where did they get their attitude?

John 8:44 “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

This same ACCUSER is active today, accusing YOU; threatening YOU; causing you to believe God doesn’t love you.

THE ACCUSED - 2-3

Woman represents humanity. That’s why she’s unnamed.

Adultery = immoral relationship out of the bounds of marriage.

Forbidden by God. EX 20:14 “14 “You shall not commit adultery.”

The ACCUSED had consequences - OT was DEATH. LEV 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.”

YES! It was, and is, the worst of sins, disgusting to God; and all humanity.

Sin is funny - it will deceive you and think your sin isn’t as “BIG” as another person’s sin.

Believers are no longer guilty of sin; BUT believers are forbidden to ACCUSE others.

MT 7:1 “1 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.”

Rom 2:1 “1 You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.”

James 4:11-12 “11 Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another.

12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?”

THE ADVOCATE -

We have an ADVOCATE = a professional in the field of law; one who stands up for you when you can’t defend yourself.

1 John 2:1 “I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.”

WE HAVE AN ADVOCATE!

That’s not an excuse to sin.

Look at what the ADVOCATE does…stoops and writes on the ground with His finger. TWICE!

Some say...

While we don’t know what He wrote, we do know He didn’t fall for the TRAP .

IF Jesus condemns her - Violates His other teachings about the sabbath.

IF Jesus doesn’t condemn her - Guilty of NOT keeping the law.

I believe ADULTERY was used as an illustration of God’s divine mercy AND to reinforce His Purpose and His Promise.

His Purpose - To establish a New Covenant. MT 26:28 “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

His Promise - 1 John 1:9 “9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

One by one they walked away...

After all had left Jesus stood up and asked,”Where are your ACCUSERS? Has no one condemned you?” She answered “No one.”

Then Jesus, the one who could condemn her; the one had not sinned; said “Neither do I.”

He also said”Go - leave your life of sin.”

He proved the Soul was more important than the sin.

CLOSE:

The ACCUSER has the goal of keeping you separated from God. He accuses You of NOT being loved by God. He accuses God of not being faithful to you.

The ACCUSED are all of us. RO 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

The ADVOCATE, Jesus, established FORGIVENESS of ALL SIN committed by ALL PEOPLE.

Choose for yourself - leave your life of sin. Live for the glory and honor of God.