Saturday, January 5, 2019

Forgiven and Set Free

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“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. 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? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.”

John 8:9–11

In an attempt to trap Jesus, the religious leaders brought an adulterous woman before Him and asked what should be done. They thought they had placed Jesus in a no-win situation. If He said she should be stoned, they would accuse Him of breaking Roman law. If He said she should not be stoned, they would accuse Him of breaking Jewish law. Instead of falling into their trap, Jesus pointed out that they were not following the law of Moses which required those who testified against someone in a capital case to carry out the sentence themselves. “The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So thou shalt put the evil away from among you”(Deuteronomy 17:7).

After the ashamed accusers (who were not really interested in following the law) had left, Jesus gave the woman two things that she desperately needed: forgiveness for past sins and the ability not to be bound by her past life. When we trust Christ as Saviour, we are not just forgiven but also set free. Paul wrote, “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin” (Romans 6:6–7). No believer is compelled to sin, but instead can walk in freedom.

Today’s Growth Principle: 

Walk victoriously in the power you have been given to reject the bondage of sin.