In this article, we talk about this theme, “You are not your sin.” And, to help with this reflection, read John 8:1-11.
First, read the previous reflections on this series, “God has called you to more:” 1)Called to abundant life, and 2)Facing the dark to reach the light.
The Law of Moses and Sin
Sin, according to the Bible, happens when we choose to disobey God’s word (God’s Law). It comes with consequences: spiritual, mental, emotional, physical, and societal.
From the Jewish Bible, which covers the books of the Old Testament in our current Bible. You come across much of the Law in the following books: Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
Civil or Political Law
These are laws that make God as the only King and Ruler over the people of Israel. That was the case until when the Israelites decided to be like all the other nations by having a human as king.
Read 1 Samuel 8 to learn more about that story.
Ceremonial Law
Ceremonial laws are for cleaning and rituals. For example, if you touch a dead body (human or animal), you have to cleanse yourself. In this situation, you stay away from worship and people for about 7 days (see Numbers 19:11-12).
These laws also had to do with cleaning your hands before eating, and more.
Moral Law
The Ten commandments fall under this category. These laws have to do with morality. In other words, our relationship with God and others on a spiritual and moral level.
The Law of Moses came with punishments. Sometimes, these punishments from breaking the law were not severe. In other words, they meant that you’d spend some time in prison. Or, they could mean whipping, scourging, flogging.
Other times, the punishments required burning or stoning to death for actions such as witchcraft, adultery, and more.
Jesus Christ and Sin
The story, as stated earlier, is from John 8:1-11. It helps us understand the way Jesus wants us to view the Law and sin.
The reality
The people, during those days Jesus was here on earth, relied on the Law of Moses, to punish this woman caught in adultery. And, the punishment, according the Law, was they would stone her to death.
A little hard to process for people from the 21st century. Right?
Here’s the reality when it comes to sin that Jesus brought to their attention,
“Let him who is without sin among you to be the first to throw a stone at her” – see verse 7.
Another piece of this reality is that God alone is holy, and that’s why we all need God.
Paul puts it this way, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
The Truth and Good News
When you come to Jesus as a sinner, no one can no longer condemn you.
After a few moments, there was no one left after Jesus said to the religious leaders and the crowd “Let him who is without sin among you to be the first to throw a stone at her.”
The only person standing was the woman. She acknowledged her sinfulness, and because of being in God’s presence through Christ, God forgave her sins.
The Challenge
Jesus asks the woman to go and from now on sin no more.
It’s what God asks of us all that even though there is grace we find in Christ, Jesus wants us to go and sin no more.
The reason is that you and I are not our sins. We are God’s beloved children made in God’s image. Even when we sin, we should remember that Christ is waiting for us in the midst of our messes, failures, imperfections, and sins.
Bringing it altogether
No matter how bad you mess up in life, God is always waiting for you to come back to him. Through Christ, God is on the ground drawing, just as Jesus did in our story, reminding you of your sinfulness and brokenness. He is drawing in the sand to remind you of the truth that you find forgiveness and freedom from sin only through Christ.
