From Now on Sin No More

by Zeke Flores

There she sat, crumpled on the ground and completely humiliated. She was plainly guilty of her adultery, but her only defender turned the legal quibble into a moral quandary. Who had the right to judge her? No one, it seems.

One by one, they dropped their stones and shuffled away.

Jesus chose forgiveness over condemnation, but make no mistake: It was not some sort of "cheap grace" that He extended. His explicit instructions, "Go and sin no more," detail the acceptance He offered. Just a moment ago, she was humbled in humiliation; now, she had an opportunity for righteousness and self-respect. We can only imagine that the woman sought to do just what Jesus said: go and sin no more.

What about you?

Jesus accepts you, but He accepts you on His terms. That makes sense since He's a Sovereign King. When we try to insinuate Him into our lives without making room by clearing out sin, we fail miserably.

If we want His forgiveness, His instructions to us are the same as He gave to the woman: Go and sin no more.

"Jesus stood up and said to her, 'Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?' She said, 'No one, Lord.' And Jesus said, 'Neigther do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more'" (John 8:10-11).