Latest / Calvary Church with Ed Taylor Podcast / #20260426 - No Condemnation in Jesus

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#20260426 - No Condemnation in Jesus · Calvary Church with Ed Taylor Podcast

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Welcome to the study of God's Word recorded live at Calvary
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Church in Aurora, Co. To learn more about the many
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resources available through Abounding Grace Media or to tune
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into our live stream services, visit us online at Calvary Co
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dot Church or download our free Calvary Church app.
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Now let's open our Bibles and study God's Word.
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All right, the. Title of today's message is No
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condemnation in Jesus. No condemnation in Jesus from
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John. Chapter 8.
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We'll look at the verse 1st 11 verses here, but with that
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title. I understand and I've had lots
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of conversations even this morning that many people do come
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into this place feeling condemned, feeling condemned
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because perhaps you've been caught up in sin in your life or
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there's compromise in your life. You know that God has given you
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chance after chance after chance, but you also know you've
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blown it over and over again, and perhaps what you're feeling
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this morning. Is that God is?
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Angry with you? Or perhaps you're feeling like
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God is frustrated with me. Or at the very least, God is.
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Disappointed with me and sometimes we think about the
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way. We would get in trouble.
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With our parents and we tend to think sometimes maybe God
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responds to us the way that mom did or the way.
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That Dad did. And and you know.
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That God Forgives we we we have the verses it's written.
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We know that, but there are a number of us this morning I.
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Believe that are. Having a hard time?
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Believing that God Forgives. Me.
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I know he forgives the person to my right or to my left, but I'm
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having a hard time believing it for myself.
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Well, you're not alone. You're not alone, as we're going
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to see in the. Text Today there's a particular.
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Woman here. That.
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Also felt the same way. So we're going to read this
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together, John chapter 8, but we'll pick up here in the last
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verse of Chapter 7 verse. 35 here.
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Where it says and everyone went to his own house in chapter 8
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verse one. But Jesus.
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Went to the mount. Of olives.
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Now this was during what? Was called the Feast of.
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Tabernacles. This was one of three mandatory
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feasts where people from all. Over the region.
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Would come to the city of Jerusalem and at this point in
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jesus's ministry, some of. Those people that had travelled
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to be there at the temple to hear Jesus, we're.
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Beginning to believe that. In fact, this could be.
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The Messiah. This could be the one, the
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long-awaited one that we've been, we've been expecting and
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yet. There were the religious
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leaders, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the scribes.
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They refused to see that Jesus was the Messiah, it tells.
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Us in Chapter 7. One of the reasons is because he
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was from Galilee. He was a.
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Galilean. And they saw Galileans.
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A sort of backwoods Hicks. Uneducated kind of country
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bumpkins. That's how they picture.
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Jesus, that's how they wanted to try to represent.
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Jesus to the people. And it was creating all this
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conflict, all these. Debates.
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If you read through Chapter 7 you'll just see this.
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Anger and this hatred and it's heating up there kind of to a
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boiling point. As we wrap up chapter. 7.
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Particularly because the day before Jesus disrupted their.
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Feast with his preaching. He was in the temple.
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The scribes, the Pharisees, got very upset.
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At him. They felt like he was.
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Disrupting what they wanted him to do.
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And so they sent the temple. Police to arrest.
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Him to arrest him and in. Chapter 7.
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Verse 45. They're then asked.
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By the temple police as. They come back empty handed
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without Jesus. They ask him, why haven't you
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brought? Jesus.
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We asked. You to arrest him and it.
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Says that, they say we've. Never heard a man.
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Speak like this before. So.
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So there they are, going to arrest Jesus.
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And then they stop and they hear him preach, and their jaws are
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open. They've never.
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Heard this before. Powerful.
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He captured them, they were hanging on his words, and they
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come back without arresting him. And this is all happening here
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in the final six months of Jesus's life, as he is fixing
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his. Face towards the cross towards
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the whole. Reason that he came and now
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this, this drama and these debates, these arguments, these
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attempts to arrest Jesus. At one point, his life was even.
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They were attempting. To take him by stoning and this
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is all. Beginning to sort of heat up.
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Climb Acting. Of course, at the cross.
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And the pattern of. Jesus would be to teach.
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In the temple during the day. And then he would.
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Retire outside of the city. Later in the evening.
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And if you know anything about Jesus, you know one of his.
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Favorite places? Was the Mount of Olives and
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this. Is where Jesus would.
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Love to go and lay down under a tree and rest.
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This is where, by the way, the Bible.
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Tells us he's going to come again and he is going to land
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back on the Mount of Olives when he returns a second time one of
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his. Favorite places, of course.
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And it tells us here. In verse 3 early.
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In the morning, this was the next morning, now he came again
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into the temple, back into the precincts here, and all the
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people came to him. So evidently these crowds that
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had come for this. Feast were were still there.
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And it says that he sat down and he taught them.
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Now this. Is the third service of the day
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the. 4th service of the weekend. I've been standing this whole
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time. Typically what happens is in the
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Jewish. Culture, the rabbi would sit.
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And the congregation would stand.
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So could we try that for the rest of the message today?
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You guys all stand. Just kidding, but here's Jesus
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rising early in the morning to go again to the temple.
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To teach Jesus, by the way. We know this from studying his
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life. He's a morning person.
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None of us are. Because we're here at the 11:45
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service, but Jesus is tells us regularly he would get up to
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pray early. In the morning before his
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ministry and so. Here's Jesus he goes to.
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The temple he sits down to teach them and then verse 3, then the
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scribes and the. Pharisees brought.
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To him a woman notice caught in adultery, and when they had set
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her in the midst. The idea?
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Here is in the middle of the. Crowd that was there gathering.
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Around Jesus verse 4 they said to him, teacher, this woman was
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caught in adultery notice in the.
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Very act. This was probably the night
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before and they found her and they.
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Drug her here to Jesus. So if you're.
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Taking notes this morning, the first thing we want to jot down
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number one point #1 the weight of condemnation.
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The weight of condemnation. We're going to see this here in
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verses one through 6. Because the Jewish law very
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clearly. Stated you should not commit
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adultery. Leviticus, chapter 20, verse 10.
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Would say it this way. The man who commits adultery
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with another man's wife. He who commits adultery with his
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neighbor's wife. Notice this.
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The adulterer and the adulteress.
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Surely should be put to death. So this was a capital?
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Offense. In Israel, you committed
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adultery. It was worthy of.
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Death. And you may be asking.
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Well, why does it rise to that level of capital?
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Punishment. Well, the answer is.
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Because adultery would break up a relationship.
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Which would then destroy the the fabric of a family, which would
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in turn destroy and decimate the fabric.
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Of a society. And so adultery.
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Was, and it still is today, a very big.
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Deal Because of the incalculable damage that it causes.
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And some of us here, our lives have been touched by adultery.
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Maybe it was our mom or our dad. We had to live through that and.
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Maybe you were the one that committed adultery on your
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spouse, or maybe they were the one that committed.
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Adultery towards you, but it's. Painful, and some of you
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understand. That the fallout of that the way
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that it is. Damaging and here.
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These religious leaders describes the Pharisees.
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It tells us they show up. Dragging this woman to Jesus.
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But they were hypocrites. They were hypocrites because
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they are breaking the law here. And the reason why is because.
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The Jewish law stated there had to be a process.
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Behind this, you can't just catch somebody, put them in
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front of a crowd of people, and demand that that person would be
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stoned. No, the first.
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Step that the law told. Them they were supposed to.
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Do was. Would be to give the man or the
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woman a warning to warn them first.
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Then if it happened again with this particular woman, she
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should be tried in a court of law.
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And there were very specific, clearly defined stipulations in
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order for this even to go to court.
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So for example. There had to be.
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More than one 2-3 witnesses that had to not only see them leaving
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the same house together or even seeing them leave the same.
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Bedroom together, but they had to all.
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At the same time, catch this couple in the physical.
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Act. They would then be witnesses in
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a court of law and if there's any discrepancy in any of their
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testimonies, then the case would be thrown out.
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So it was very strict the way that they would this process
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would work out, but above the Jewish.
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Law, The Roman law. Stated that Jewish leaders.
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Couldn't even exercise the death sentence the Romans took.
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That right away. From them and that's why later
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on when. Jesus was arrested.
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The Jewish leaders had to go to Pilot to ask.
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Them the Romans to crucify Jesus because they didn't have the
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right to capital punishment and by.
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The way these religious leaders. They know all of this.
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They were very studied. In these things, but instead
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what they do. Is they they grab this.
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Woman, they drag her it. Says here that they put.
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Her in the midst of the crowd. They're interrupting.
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Jesus as he's there this. Morning teaching the woman, of
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course, no. Doubt is afraid.
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And I'm sure she's crying here and no doubt she's embarrassed.
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Because she is. Being publicly shamed in front
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of a group of strangers, just having her business put out
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there in front of everybody. By these religious leaders.
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And they knew that the. Default of Jesus was to forgive
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was to forgive. And let me just add something
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here to you this morning. Jesus would never embarrass.
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You the way that they. Are embarrassing this woman, I
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want you to know that. If you're caught.
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Up in sin. If you're feeling the shame of
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it this morning, he would never put you in the midst.
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Of a crowd. To make a public.
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Spectacle of you or to. Humiliate you.
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That is not the. Heart of Jesus.
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That might be the heart. Of some religious leaders,
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perhaps even still today. That's not the heart of.
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Jesus. But we have an enemy, our Satan,
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who very much would. Love for you to be.
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Stuck in this place of humiliation, feeling ashamed and
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condemned, and then just in. Despair over all of it.
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He would love for you to be stuck there.
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So here they set this woman in the midst of the crowd, and in
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verse 4 again it says they said to him Teacher.
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Again, they called him Teacher, but they really had no desire at
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all to be taught by him. Nonetheless, Teacher this woman
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was caught in adultery in the. Very act.
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And the Greek indicates she was in the act of committing.
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Adultery while they caught her while they caught her.
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And you may be thinking as I was thinking.
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OK, where's the dude? In this this picture right?
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Didn't we just read it's supposed to?
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Be the man and the woman that are supposed to be caught, and
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there's a lot of. Ideas of what?
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Happened to this guy, some said that when they went in to catch
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them he outran her and they caught her instead.
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Some people. Have said that perhaps this.
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Man. Was let go because.
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Women in this. Culture were treated as lesser.
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Than men. And so they caught her.
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Instead as the guilty party. But what?
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Most likely. Happened.
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Is this because they. Caught her in the act, in the
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act, this whole thing. Was probably a setup.
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It's probably a setup. Remember the day before chapter?
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Seven, they tried to arrest Jesus.
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They couldn't. So now they have another plan, a
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Plan B, another opportunity. And this particular opportunity
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now seems seamless, like we're we're going to get him at this
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time, scholars. Tell us that there were.
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Likely pre arranged. Spies that were at this.
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Location. His bedroom, Her bedroom,
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wherever. It was where she was caught.
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And the man with who? She was caught was likely part
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of the setup, is what scholars would tell.
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Us and and in that case they would have just let him go.
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So the. Spies that witnessed the event.
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It was a setup. The quick arrest, again without
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due. Process, but that was a setup
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dragging her to Jesus. In the most.
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Public way possible. And the most public place.
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Possible was also a setup. Interrupting his teaching.
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Moving. People out of the way to get to
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Jesus. All of this dramatic setup.
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She was just a. Pawn that they were using.
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To try to trap Jesus. We're going to see that they all
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they wanted was to accuse. Jesus, that was their goal.
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In all of this and yet here. She is, obviously, she's guilty.
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Carrying now this shame, publicly humiliated, And yet, I
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wonder in the midst. Of all of this, had she heard of
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Jesus? Because.
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His name was being mentioned. People were talking about him.
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Had she heard of his teaching that he had power not only to
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heal? Disease.
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But he also had the power to forgive.
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Sin and though. She was guilty.
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Of a serious crime, even caught in the act of it, and she had no
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one there to defend her. Would perhaps this Jesus?
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That everybody was talking about.
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Would. He be willing to forgive
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somebody like me? Like me, And maybe that's the
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question you're asking this morning.
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Would he be willing to forgive somebody like me?
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Well, these religious leaders. Continue verse 5.
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Now Moses in the Law commanded us that such should be stoned,
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and by the way, they. Were right.
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You can read that again. We read it together.
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Leviticus 20 verse 10. Deuteronomy 22 verse 22, then
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they. Ask Jesus.
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But what do you say, Jesus? Which, by the way, is a great.
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Question. What does?
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Jesus say, well, they're. About ready to find?
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Out what? Jesus.
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Is going to say and notice this verse. 5 here this they said.
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Testing him that they might have something.
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Of which to accuse? Him so.
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They were right. In the sense that she had broken
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the law. But their motives were wrong in
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all of this. They didn't care about the
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woman. They didn't.
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Care about the law. They didn't care about any kind
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of justice. They didn't care about this
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woman's husband. Wherever he is at this.
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Point. I don't even know if he knows
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what's going on. They simply wanted to set.
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Up a trap for Jesus. It was all about trying to
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accuse him. And by the way, they.
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Thought that they had. Him here, there.
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There could have been no other way around it.
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There are only one of two options.
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See, if Jesus recommended that this woman be released, then
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he'd be. Accused of breaking the law.
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Of Moses and he was He would discredit himself, his claim of
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being the Messiah. On the other hand, if Jesus
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recommended stoning this woman, then he would be guilty of
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breaking Roman law because again, they took capital
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punishment away from the Jewish. Leader, so he'd be.
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Accused of being in defiance of Rome.
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And he would be. Arrested is it?
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That's it. Those are the 2.
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Options they got them, and above that they wouldn't mind again if
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his reputation of forgiveness and his reputation of being a
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friend of sinners would be. Discredited.
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They'd be OK with that as well. So again, I'm sure they're
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thinking we caught them. Finally, this woman caught in
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the act. This is the perfect setup.
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And you can imagine, in this moment, the crowd in stunned
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silence. Imagine.
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Religious leaders drag. A woman in here this morning,
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what would we do? We'd be probably looking at this
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in silence. What's going on here?
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The disciples. Are off at a distance.
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They've never read this chapter. They're wondering what's about
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ready to go down the. Pharisees, of course, with
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their. Smug looks are looking down upon
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this woman. And then you have this woman.
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No. Doubt with her eyes.
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To the ground. Shame.
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Can't look at anybody overwhelmed wishing that.
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If she could just go back, she would do it all.
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Over again, she would never have.
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Caught eyes. With a man that she committed
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adultery with and she's feeling at this moment her.
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Life is over. Likely even.
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Within a matter of minutes, depending on Jesus's response,
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she's embarrassed because she's being drug right into the
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middle. Of all of these.
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Strangers, Can you imagine we? Put up all of your.
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Business on the screen there. How you would feel?
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Well, I imagine in the scene there's the bustling sounds of
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all the temple in the background, but here the crowd
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is silent. The accusers have made their
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points. The accusers.
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Have asked their question, this woman hearing only the sound of
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her pounding heart, and all eyes are on Jesus.
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So there's the weight of. Condemnation point number.
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Two, there is the. Response to condemnation, verses
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6 through 9, the response to condemnation, and you could add
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there the Savior's response to condemnation continuing here in
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verse 6. It tells us this, but.
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Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with his finger as
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though he did not hear. Now notice Jesus didn't respond
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to them. Verbally here, but he.
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Did something here physically. He stopped and he stooped and
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then he wrote in the dust and the dirt of the ground with his
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finger. And we all want to know, OK,
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what did he write down? What was it?
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And there's all kinds of. Speculation.
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You can grab a commentary on the book of John and they.
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Will give you all all ideas perhaps of what he was.
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Writing. But the reality is we just don't
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know because we're not told. We're not told.
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This is one of those questions, when you get to heaven, we can
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ask them. Jesus, what?
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What? What did you write?
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Very, very curious. What was that about?
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What we do know is this, when Jesus stooped down and when he.
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Started to write. It took.
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All of the attention off of the woman, that's what we know.
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He was lowering the temperature of that moment and he was easing
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her pain and I. Believe that was the whole.
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Point the whole point as one. Preacher said she was bowed.
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Down in humiliation and here is Jesus bowing down to her.
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Level he was low with her. He was identifying with her.
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He was drawing near to her in the midst of her humiliation.
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And my friends, I just want to say.
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To you today that he. Draws near to you, whatever you
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are carrying this morning as well.
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He bows down. He Stoops down and he.
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Sees you, He sees you. His word says when we pray, He
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bends and he inclines. His ear towards us.
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So he sees you this morning just as he sees this woman.
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And it tells us in verse 7 when they continued asking him, no
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doubt at this point they had these big stones in their hands
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ready to throw them at her. But it says he raised himself up
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and he said to them. He.
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Who is without sin among you? Let him throw a stone.
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At her first. Now they tried to ignore what
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Jesus was doing on the ground. Whatever was happening there,
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the language indicates that they keep on asking him.
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They keep pressing him to give an answer, because evidently
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they felt like his silence was just an attempt.
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To evade their question. And so they're pressing him even
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more. Jesus, stop stalling and answer
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us. What do you say?
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What? Are you going to do about this
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woman? Make it very clear, Jesus.
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Where you stand if you really are the Messiah.
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That you say you are. Stake your claim right here and
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right now. And as he stands, he simply asks
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them a question. He who is without.
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Sin among you, throw your first stone.
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Throw it, cast it. Without sin there, by the way,
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is the only time that that. Phrase is used.
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In the New Testament without sin and it doesn't mean perfect.
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He, he who is. Perfect.
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Throw the stone, because that would mean then that any of us
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that are, you know, that that are sinless.
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We're the only ones that can call sin.
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Out right if we're perfect. That's not what Jesus is saying.
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It means this. He who is without sin means let
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the person who has no guilt on their conscience at all throw
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the first stone. And again, what's remarkable?
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Here about Jesus is he didn't. Say that the woman didn't sin,
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right? Or he.
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Didn't say that her sin was no big.
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Deal. Or that he was.
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Denying her guilt because Jesus, more than anyone else, Jesus
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knew the legal penalty for adultery was stoning.
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He was aware of that. But he's making a greater point
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here. He knew.
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That the religious leaders were. Trying to trap him.
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That's what they were trying to accomplish here.
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And He was in turn taking the mirror that they were putting on
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the woman, and the mirror that they were putting on Jesus, and
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He was turning it and forcing them to.
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Look at themselves. Because he was.
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Causing them to examine. Who they were?
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In order to expose their motives that they weren't the ones to
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bring the charge against this woman, because their hands were
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unclean themselves. And in this, the genius of God,
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he foiled their plan to trap him.
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Verse 8 tells us. This and again he stooped down
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and wrote on the ground. And now for a second time.
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We don't know what he was writing, but this was now giving
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the. Religious accusers.
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A chance to drop their stones and to slink away.
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It tells us in verse 9. Then those who take note of
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this. Heard it.
23:50
Being convicted by their conscience, it's interesting
23:53
that the. Religious leaders who heard.
23:55
What he said were convicted. It wasn't what he had written on
23:58
the ground that had the greatest impact on them.
24:01
It was Jesus's own words. And so it says, when they heard
24:06
it being convicted by their conscience, they went out one by
24:09
one, beginning with the oldest even to the last.
24:14
So the. Elders among these religious
24:16
leaders. Who would have lived the?
24:18
Longest would have had the most since they were the ones that
24:22
left. First, followed by the.
24:24
Younger and the commentator DA Carson says those who had come
24:31
to shame Jesus now leaves and shame themselves.
24:36
The ones that have come to embarrass and humiliate this
24:39
woman, they now leave humiliated and.
24:44
It says here as it. Closes verse 9.
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Jesus was left. Alone and the woman standing in
24:51
the midst. There's still people here,
24:55
crowds still there, doesn't say they dispersed.
24:57
She's still standing there in the midst of them, but the.
25:00
Accusers dropped their. Stones.
25:04
And they walked away and you can imagine because 1 moment there's
25:08
all this intensity, they're raising their voice with their
25:12
accusations. You've got the on looking crowd.
25:15
And then a moment later here, everything is quiet.
25:18
Everything's quiet. And there was.
25:20
Jesus. And there was this accused
25:22
woman, and you can picture all these stones that are on the
25:26
ground around them, left unattended to.
25:30
And you had the weight of condemnation.
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Then you had the response to condemnation.
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And then our last point #3 the final word to condemnation
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versus 10 and 11. The final word to condemnation.
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Because this woman's life is going to be transformed this
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very day in a wonderful way. Verse 10 When Jesus had raised
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himself up and saw no one but the woman, he said to her woman.
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Where are those accusers of yours?
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Has no one condemned you? Jesus stands up here for a
26:08
second time, this time to talk directly to the woman.
26:13
We haven't heard her speak yet. We've only heard her spoken
26:16
about and it would appear that this is the first time that
26:20
Jesus and this woman made eye contact.
26:24
And Can you imagine what the? Face of Jesus looked like.
26:27
When he looked into her face and he says woman.
26:30
Where are these accusers of yours?
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Has no one condemned you now? He says woman to her.
26:40
This was not derogatory as it may sound in our culture.
26:43
You know, if I say woman to my wife, I'm going to be sleeping
26:45
on the couch tonight that we we don't.
26:48
Talk that way today. But the word woman, even in the
26:52
language it indicates. It was with Sweet.
26:54
Tenderness. It was a term of endearment.
26:59
Jesus with Mary Magdalene said the same thing, woman.
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The woman at the well, he said the same thing.
27:05
When Jesus was on the cross, he saw his mother out on the crowd
27:09
and he said to her, woman, it's a term of endearment.
27:14
But notice this, he says woman. Because he saw her.
27:19
He saw her. Not the adulterous, not the
27:22
guilty one, not the law breaker, but the woman.
27:27
The woman who was once somebody's little girl that ran
27:29
around the village. Somebody's.
27:32
Little girl that probably baked. Bread with her mom And if they
27:34
had? Dolls.
27:35
They played with dolls. Together, and at some point she
27:38
became a teenager, and at some point she met a man.
27:43
She fell in love. And they were either betrothed.
27:46
Or they got married here because the consequence would have been
27:48
the same either way, but somewhere along the way.
27:52
Through a series of. Circumstances.
27:54
Her heart began to harden, much like some of us may be here
27:58
today, and her walls went up and she gave herself to another man.
28:06
But when? Jesus looks at her.
28:09
He calls her a woman, calls her a woman.
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Woman. Where are those accusers of
28:14
yours Has. No one condemned you and to
28:17
condemn is a legal term which means to judge down because
28:22
you've been guilty of a crime and this woman look into the.
28:26
Face of Jesus. Responds in verse 11 and she
28:29
says no one Lord, no one. She doesn't say, hey, I'm not
28:33
guilty. Let me tell you what.
28:34
Happened. Let me defend myself only.
28:38
That her accusers who drug her out into the.
28:40
Open were no longer there and then Jesus says five of the most
28:45
comforting. Words a guilty soul could ever
28:49
hear. Continuing verse 11.
28:51
Jesus says to her neither. Do I condemn you?
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Neither do I condemn you. Now go and sin no more.
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Now he doesn't say. Take note.
29:06
If you go and send no more, I won't condemn you.
29:10
That's the way we. Often tend to read it because
29:12
sometimes. That's the way we see.
29:13
Jesus in our mind, as if. Jesus would say to her.
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I'm covering you today. But if you blow it.
29:19
Again, you're going to be in bigger trouble.
29:21
You messed up. You should be ashamed of
29:23
yourself. Just be glad I'm letting you off
29:26
now. Go and be perfect now.
29:28
It's not what Jesus is saying. He didn't say go and sin no more
29:32
and I won't condemn you. He says neither do I condemn
29:36
you. Now go and sin no more.
29:40
There is salvation first, then there's sanctification.
29:45
Jesus doesn't clean his. Fish before he catches.
29:48
Them. He.
29:49
Catches them first and then does that work of cleaning them.
29:52
So he's saying to her here, there is no condemnation from
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me, I'm not bringing judgement on you.
30:00
You're forgiven. Your guilt is pardoned.
30:04
You've been given another chance.
30:07
And we need to be reminded of this this morning.
30:10
That it is always. God's privilege and.
30:12
God's delight to show. Grace to undeserving sinners.
30:16
It's his privilege and it's. His delight to show grace.
30:21
To you and to me. This is why Paul.
30:24
Would say this and. The whole first chapter. 7
30:27
chapters of of Romans. He would write about because of
30:31
the fact. That we're sinners, we are under
30:33
condemnation. And then he would talk about his
30:36
experience trying to fight sin and experience many of you feel
30:38
this morning in your life. He would say this that I do.
30:42
The things I don't want to do and the things that I I should
30:45
do, I don't do those things. And every time I want to do
30:48
good, evil is right there with me.
30:50
How many of you? Guys can relate to that struggle
30:52
like oh Lord help. Me and then he.
30:55
He. Feels the way that maybe.
30:56
You feel here in Chapter 7 of Romans verse 24, oh wretched
31:00
man, that I am like I am just the.
31:03
Worst. I don't know what I'm going to
31:05
do. I don't know how I'm going to
31:06
overcome this. I don't even know.
31:08
Lord, do you even love me anymore?
31:11
Like what is going on? He says.
31:14
And he asks who will deliver me from this?
31:17
Body of death, he feels. That in himself wretched.
31:21
Body of death. But then he answers his
31:25
question. Romans 725I thank God through.
31:30
Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 81 There is therefore now
31:35
no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.
31:39
There's no condemnation because Jesus has taken.
31:43
Care of that for you. For me, for this woman, he
31:47
doesn't say. Paul there in Romans 8.
31:50
Now try harder. Now do more.
31:53
Now follow these 10 steps and be a better Christian.
31:55
No, he says. There is therefore.
31:57
Now, today, this moment, there is no condemnation if you are in
32:05
Christ Jesus and listen often where we find ourselves when it
32:11
comes to our walk with the. Lord is this.
32:13
We know. That Jesus said there's no.
32:15
Condemnation. But we still tell ourselves.
32:19
That were condemned as if my word is greater than his word.
32:24
Because I feel. Condemned.
32:25
I must be condemned. But you know your feelings lie
32:29
to you, right? Your feelings don't always tell
32:32
you the. Truth.
32:33
And Can you imagine what this woman felt when?
32:35
She heard these words after. Being under heavy accusation and
32:40
crushed underneath her own guilt.
32:42
To hear Jesus say to. Her.
32:44
Neither Do I condemn you? I wonder, in that moment, did
32:49
she just break down and start crying with relief?
32:53
Did she? Fall at the feet of Jesus, did
32:56
she? Turn and just run away to get
32:58
away. From the.
32:59
Situation. We do know that there had to
33:02
have been some faith on her part in order for Jesus to make this
33:06
declaration. But as.
33:09
This author Ken Guyer says of this scene here.
33:13
He says her tears would. Come.
33:16
But they would come later, perhaps even years later.
33:20
As she would watch her. Husband go out the front door to
33:22
work as she would. Say goodbye to her kids as they
33:27
would leave. Over and over again she heard
33:30
his voice. Neither do I condemn you.
33:33
Now go and sin no more. Don't live this way anymore.
33:38
In Jesus's statement there, He's not excusing her sin as a
33:43
matter. Of fact, what she.
33:44
Doesn't know what the crowd didn't know as that he was on
33:48
his. Way to pay for her.
33:50
Sin with his own. Blood.
33:53
He had his face fixed towards the cross.
33:56
And with the cross in. View he was able to.
33:59
Pronounce that there was no condemnation, knowing that her
34:02
sin would be nailed to the. Cross.
34:05
He didn't dismiss her sin. He knew he was going to die for
34:09
her sin. That was what he was going to
34:12
accomplish and the. Reason why it tells.
34:14
US in John 317 For God did not send his Son into the world to
34:19
condemn the world. Do you hear that he?
34:22
Has not come to condemn you. But that the world through.
34:26
Him might be saved. What grace and what mercy
34:33
because of our loving Savior. He knows every sin of yours.
34:39
He knows every motive, he knows every bad thought and he says to
34:44
you and I today, I don't condemn you, I don't condemn you, I
34:52
don't judge down on you as. If you're guilty.
34:56
Now go and sin no more. So listen if you're.
34:59
Here with a heavy heart because it's been weighed.
35:02
Down with sin and with guilt. You can come to Jesus today and.
35:07
Hear these words for yourself. He is the same yesterday, today
35:11
and forever. And that's.
35:12
All he asks of you, you. Provide the Sinner, He provides
35:18
the Savior. You might say, oh, but I'm a
35:21
great Sinner. I would say to you he's a
35:24
greater savior. You might say, but you don't
35:27
know what I've done or what I've given into.
35:29
Or the people that. I've heard or the embarrassing,
35:31
shameful things that I've been a part of.
35:33
Well then you are the perfect candidate.
35:35
For a savior. You're the perfect one.
35:39
Listen, some of you may feel today like, well, I'd let God
35:42
down and I feel like I'm more of a liability.
35:45
But listen, He knows. All about what you've.
35:48
Done. And when he went to.
35:50
The Cross. The Bible.
35:52
Says he made a statement there. Paid in full, all of it.
35:57
He doesn't take a mortgage out on you and make monthly payments
36:01
on you. He paid once and.
36:03
For all for all. Of your sins.
36:12
And that is our story, isn't it? And then he tells this woman.
36:16
Now go and sin no more sin no more.
36:19
The tense here is go and continue in a life of sin no
36:23
longer. It wasn't that she wasn't going
36:24
to sin anymore, but don't continue in this don't live this
36:27
way anymore. He didn't condemn her, but he
36:32
didn't condone her sin either. What he?
36:34
Did is he freed her to live a life without?
36:38
Sin. Just like Paul would say.
36:40
Romans 8, Romans 6 verses one and two.
36:43
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that
36:46
grace may abound? Certainly not.
36:49
How shall we and I love this? How shall we who?
36:51
Died to sin. Live any longer in it.
36:55
See, Jesus doesn't just. Free us from the penalty of sin.
36:59
He frees us from the power of sin.
37:03
After Paul's great. Declaration of no condemnation
37:05
in Romans 81. He says here in Romans 8 verses
37:08
2 and 3. For the law of the Spirit.
37:10
Of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and
37:14
death, for what the law could not do in that it was weak.
37:17
Through the flesh God did. By sending His own Son in the
37:21
likeness of sinful flesh on account of sin.
37:24
Notice He condemned sin in the flesh.
37:27
He doesn't condemn you the Sinner, He condemns the sin.
37:31
And no condemnation in Jesus also means no power in that sin
37:37
anymore. So you are free.
37:40
You are free to walk. Away from it.
37:41
Today because you have a. Person living inside.
37:45
Of you believer the Bible. Says that when you put your
37:48
faith and trust in Jesus, you may have not have known this was
37:51
happening, but you were in. Dwelt with the Holy.
37:54
Spirit of God Himself. So because he is.
37:56
Living in you, you have everything you need.
38:01
You can go and send no more not by your resolve and by your.
38:06
Effort. But by your relationship with
38:09
him. He will help you, you just have
38:13
to draw close. To him, in the scene here, John
38:17
chapter 8 ends with no stones, with no accusations, with no
38:24
condemnation. Just a savior.
38:28
And a Sinner. And at the end of the day,
38:31
that's my story too. And many people in this.
38:35
Place right just a savior. And a Sinner.
38:37
And yet he changes. All of our lives.
38:40
And he sets us free. He sets us free people here.
38:45
Have been freed from addiction people here have been freed from
38:49
the pain and the trauma of. Abuse people.
38:53
Whose marriages were on the end of collapse.
38:56
Have seen Jesus step in and save their marriages.
39:00
It would have been enough. If Jesus just saved.
39:03
Me, that would have been enough, but on.
39:06
Top of that he restores. And he redeems and he takes
39:10
things that are broken, and he is in the business of fixing
39:14
broken things, fixing broken people, and condemnation.
39:19
Well, the reason? We can say that's done is.
39:20
Because it was dealt. With on the.
39:22
Cross of Jesus Christ. Listen, Peter says he.
39:25
Bore our. Sin upon the tree upon the
39:28
cross, and He became our propitiation, which means He.
39:32
Satisfied the wrath of God. On our behalf in regards to you
39:36
and I and our sin. Christ bore our sin on the
39:40
cross, and the fullness of God's condemnation was measured out
39:45
and there's nothing. Left of it today.
39:48
It was all placed on the cross the.
39:50
Condemnation of Almighty God was spent on Christ on the cross.
39:55
That's why there's no condemnation left to be measured
39:58
out to you and me, because we are in Christ.
40:01
He paid the price. In full.
40:05
And as the worship team comes back up, I just want to remind
40:10
you here. Today of what the cross of Jesus
40:13
Christ would say to you. No matter who you are, no matter
40:19
what you've done. The Cross would speak this.
40:22
Over your life, God is for you. He's not against you.
40:28
God loves you. He doesn't hate you.
40:32
Your sin is not too great. His grace is greater still God.
40:38
Hasn't forgotten you. He is seeking you.
40:45
The doors not closed. The way is open for you to be
40:48
forgiven and saved and free. Now, listen, if you're here this
40:54
morning and you don't know Christ and you don't know this
40:58
forgiveness, and if you were to die tonight, you wouldn't know
41:02
whether or not you would spend eternity with him, I want to
41:06
give you an invitation, as we do at the end of our messages so
41:10
often. Listen, church won't do anything
41:13
for you. We're so glad you're here.
41:16
A Calvary church. Didn't die on the cross for you.
41:19
Religious organizations won't do anything for you.
41:23
If you. Recognize today that you've had
41:26
enough and you're like, well, I'm the first one to admit I'm
41:31
broken. No one needs to convince me that
41:34
I'm a Sinner. I I know that.
41:35
Already. And if you want to hear these
41:38
words said to you from Jesus, neither do I condemn you, then I
41:43
want to ask you to stand here publicly.
41:47
So that we can pray for you. If you want to give your heart
41:50
and your life. To Jesus Christ.
41:52
In this place this morning if you want to know.
41:55
That you are saved. There's a moment in time that
41:57
he's giving you. The Bible says today is the day.
42:01
Of salvation and again I want to ask you to stand and receive
42:04
Jesus and his forgiveness and eternal life.
42:09
You may be hesitant to stand because you may be thinking no
42:12
one. Has ever loved.
42:13
Me like this before no one you may find it.
42:18
Even hard to believe. The kind of forgiveness that is
42:21
being held out in front of you this morning.
42:25
But I come to tell you today that he.
42:27
Does love you that he does love you, Jesus the God.
42:31
Man fully God, fully man. Lived a perfect life.
42:36
Went to the. Cross bled his life.
42:38
Into the ground for you. He breathed his last breath.
42:43
He was buried, the Bible tells us.
42:46
Three days later, he rose. Again from the dead proving to.
42:50
You that he has the power to say to you.
42:54
There's no condemnation. Your sins are forgiven.
42:58
Also, I have the power to raise you up.
43:00
There is a life. Beyond the grave.
43:04
So is there anybody? Here Is there anybody here?
43:07
That would like to stand make a public profession of faith in.
43:11
Jesus Christ, this Jesus, this Jesus that we've just read
43:16
about, this Jesus that would speak a greater word over your
43:19
life. Amen.
43:21
This Jesus you. May have a lot of.
43:22
Labels over your life? Failure.
43:26
Adulterous, perhaps? Sinner, maybe mom and dad called
43:32
you things. It still to this day hurts you.
43:35
Maybe people have labeled. You something your entire life.
43:37
Well, there is a greater label over your life that God would
43:41
say to you. It is loved.
43:43
And he wants to forgive you, and he wants to set.
43:46
You free. And he wants to look into.
43:49
Your face, as he said. As he did the woman here and say
43:52
to you, my daughter, my son, neither do I condemn you, and I
43:57
will set you. Free to go.
43:59
And sin no more. Well, praise the Lord.
44:05
There's a number of people standing in this place.
44:16
Anyone else? Today's the day of.
44:20
Salvation, the Bible says. We don't know if we have
44:22
tomorrow. This may be the opportunity.
44:24
That God is. Giving to you, and it's very
44:28
simple if you confess with your mouth the Lord.
44:30
Jesus. And you believe in your heart
44:32
that God raised him from the dead.
44:33
You will be saved. You will be saved.
44:39
And that was sealed in his blood.
44:42
By the way. You're in a room full of people
44:44
that experience. What you're about ready to.
44:47
Experience right now. We.
44:49
All acknowledge that we were sinners, and at some point in
44:52
time we encounter Jesus ourself and we.
44:55
Are here to say to. You, you are amongst family,
44:57
you're amongst family. So if you would just in your
45:05
heart repeat after me, Lord. Jesus, I do I, I believe.
45:11
I'm a Sinner. I I felt the weight.
45:15
Of condemnation in my own life, but when I.
45:19
Look at the response. Of the Savior to me, when I hear
45:24
that final word to condemnation spoken over my life, that
45:27
there's no condemnation in Jesus, I put my faith.
45:32
There. I put my faith on the one who
45:35
hung on the cross for me to die. For me to pay the.
45:38
Price for my sin. And he rose again from the dead,
45:43
proving only he. Has the power to forgive.
45:47
Sin only he the sinless one could say to me.
45:51
I took. Care of it on your behalf.
45:54
So Jesus today I believe. That you're my savior.
45:59
I put my faith and my trust in you.
46:02
I ask. You to be the.
46:02
Lord of my life and I thank you for heaven, I thank you for
46:08
forgiveness, and I thank you for life beyond the grave.
46:12
In Jesus name, Amen. Amen.
46:17
We pray that you've been encouraged by this Bible study
46:19
delivered live from the sanctuary of Calvary Church for
46:22
prayer. Call us at 87730 grace that's
46:27
877-304-7223. To listen to this message in its
46:33
integrity or to join us for our live stream services, visit us
46:37
online at Calvary Co dot Church or download our free Calvary
46:43
Church app. Be blessed as you worship Jesus
46:45
this week.