Bible Study - Priceless (2) - Freed by GOD'S Forgiveness - John 8:2-11 - December 13, 2015

Bible Study – Priceless (2) – Freed by GOD’S Forgiveness – December 13, 2015.

This is lesson two (2) in our series entitled “Priceless: Finding Your Value in GOD.”

Our focus scripture is John 8:2-11.

We deserve punishment but GOD forgives.

The love of GOD compels HIM to forgive but our hearts play a vital role.

Our nature is to sin. GOD’S nature is to forgive and to love. Most Christians have heard, when witnessing to a person without CHRIST, the person to say “How can a loving GOD not allow me to enter heaven?” If that is your thinking, I ask you to reconsider.

It is GOD’S job to reveal Himself to every human who has or will ever be born. HE alone knows when and if a person responds to the light he or she has received. HIS handiwork is all around every one of us and it points to HIM. HIS Spirit works in every heart to bring about salvation. But HE did not make us robots but gave us the freedom to choose. How a person chooses determines his or her final eternal destination.

“JESUS extends mercy and grants forgiveness. Once again, we see how valuable we are in HIS sight. Not trash to be destroyed but a treasure to be reclaimed.” Herschel Hobbs Commentary, winter 2015-2016, page 27, published by LifeWay, Nashville, TN.

Let’s read John 7:45-52 and 53: (Background)

45 Then the temple police came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, "Why haven't you brought Him?" 

46 The police answered, "No man ever spoke like this!" 

47 Then the Pharisees responded to them: "Are you fooled too? 

48 Have any of the rulers believed in Him? Or any of the Pharisees? 

49 But this crowd, which doesn't know the law, is accursed!"

50 Nicodemus - the one who came to Him previously, being one of them-said to them, 

51 "Our law doesn't judge a man before it hears from him and knows what he's doing, does it?" 

52 "You aren't from Galilee too, are you?" they replied. "Investigate and you will see that no prophet arises from Galilee." 

Notice, this same Nicodemus who came to JESUS at night in John 3 challenged his fellow religious leaders. Nicodemus was urging his colleagues to check the law versus the life of JESUS. If they were to look into the law, they should see that JESUS was the promised Messiah. Nicodemus had gone to JESUS and he was convinced that JESUS was the promised Messiah. Notice how quickly the religious leaders put down Nicodemus. It takes courage and conviction to take an opposing stand against your peers.

[53 So each one went to his house.

[Notice the bracket at the beginning of Chapter 7, verse 53, ends with another bracket after verse 11 in Chapter 8 in some Bibles. This indicates that these verses are not found in the best, oldest copies of the New Testament. In some ancient manuscripts the story appears in other places in John’s Gospel or in Luke’s Gospel. We will treat the story as authentic and as part of John’s Gospel. Copied from the “Advanced Bible Study,” written by Dr. Warren McWilliams, winter 2015-2016, page 20, published by LifeWay, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-0175.]

Let’s read John 8:1-6:

1 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.

Those JESUS was teaching went home but JESUS went to the Mount of Olives. Likely to pray.

2 At dawn He went to the temple complex again, and all the people were coming to Him. He sat down and began to teach them. 

Surrounding the temple were several courts – Court of the Gentiles, Court of the Women, Court of Israel – JESUS was in an outer court where HE could teach all those coming to the temple.

3 Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, making her stand in the center. 

The scribes were those who copied the Jewish Scriptures and in doing so they became experts in their interpretation. The Pharisees also gave their interpretation of the scriptures along with the Sadducees. The Sadducees considered the Pharisees more liberal than themselves. The Pharisees believed in the resurrection of the dead but the Sadducees did not, that is why they were sad-u-see.

4 "Teacher," they said to Him, "this woman was caught in the act of committing adultery. 

They referred to JESUS as teacher. They were appealing to JESUS’ ego and attempting to flatter HIM by recognizing HIM as “teacher.” If they had considered HIM teacher they would have listened to HIM and put HIS teachings into action.

The woman was caught. We do not know who caught her or if it was a set up to challenge JESUS.

Leviticus 20:10:

10 If a man commits adultery with a married woman-if he commits adultery with his neighbor's wife-both the adulterer and the adulteress must be put to death.

Deuteronomy 22:22-26:

22 "If a man is discovered having sexual relations with [another] man's wife, both the man who had sex with the woman and the woman must die. You must purge the evil from Israel. 

23 If there is a young woman who is a virgin engaged to a man, and [another] man encounters her in the city and has sex with her, 

24 you must take the two of them out to the gate of that city and stone them to death-the young woman because she did not cry out in the city and the man because he has violated his neighbor's fiancée. You must purge the evil from you. 

25 But if the man encounters the engaged woman in the open country, and he seizes and rapes her, only the man who raped her must die. 

26 Do nothing to the young woman, because she is not guilty of an offense deserving death.

Notice that the man that was involved was also to be stoned to death or die.

5 In the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do You say?" 

Notice that they did not refer to the man involved. The next verse gives us a clue to their scheme.

6 They asked this to trap Him, in order that they might have evidence to accuse Him. Jesus stooped down and started writing on the ground with His finger. 

Notice, the motive of the religious leaders was to trap JESUS. The law stated that a woman caught in adultery was to be stoned to death. But the law also included both parties. Notice the man was not included in this case. Stoning to death was not common during this period in Hebrew history because of Roman rule. The Roman’s were to carry out any executions, thus as in the case of the crucifixion of JESUS.

So the religious leaders wanted JESUS to be put into a compromising situation. Would HE not consider sin as sin or would HE uphold the Jewish law concerning the penalty for sin and be at odds with the Romans? Let’s see.

JESUS had stooped down and was writing on the ground with HIS finger. What HE was writing we do not know. Was HE praying and asking GOD, HIS Father for wisdom? The word “writing” carries the idea of drawing. Was HE doodling? Some speculate that HE may have written, where is the man? We do not know.

Let’s read John 8:7-9:

7 When they persisted in questioning Him, He stood up and said to them, "The one without sin among you should be the first to throw a stone at her." 

The religious leaders demanded a response from JESUS. So HE stood up and spoke. The law required the offended person to throw the first stone. Then that was a cue for others to join in throwing their stones.

8 Then He stooped down again and continued writing on the ground. 

JESUS stooped down again and continued writing. Some speculate that JESUS was writing various sins and in doing so convicted those with stones in their hands of their sin. But again, we do not know.

9 When they heard this, they left one by one, starting with the older men. Only He was left, with the woman in the center. 

Notice that those making up the mob began to leave starting with the older men until only the woman was left. Again, we have to speculate why the older men left first. Were they wiser? Did they realize that they had committed sin either physically or mentally? Did the younger men wait for the older men to lead the way?

There are times when we have to walk away from a situation. It could be that the older men were wiser and needed to be an example for the younger men. Bottom line, we do not know but it gives us a lot to ponder as we examine our attitudes toward others because we are all sinners saved by GOD’S grace.

Let’s read John 8:10-11:

10 When Jesus stood up, He said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" 

11 "No one, Lord," she answered. "Neither do I condemn you," said Jesus. "Go, and from now on do not sin anymore."]

Notice the ending bracket after verse 11.

JESUS stood up and asked the woman where those who were condemning her were? She responded with “No one, LORD.” Was her reference to JESUS as LORD a confession of her sin and her acceptance of JESUS as her Savior? Or was it a term of respect such as “Sir.” The original indicates that it was a term of respect. HE stood up for her. She knew that she was guilty.

JESUS made it clear that her accusers were no longer present and HE too did not accuse her. HE admonished her to go and sin no more.

When we ask JESUS to forgive us for our sins, HE does and we are no longer condemned by sin. We too must go and sin no more. But we do sin. That is when GOD’S grace is sufficient and the righteousness imputed to us by GOD maintains our forgiven and cleansed status before GOD, when we have truly been born-again. The indwelling Holy Spirit changes our old nature into a new nature through the process of sanctification. We take off our old clothes and put on our new clothes of righteousness.

When we are GOD’S child, the Holy Spirit brings to our attention our sin. When we confess our sins and repent, GOD forgives us, cleanses and restores our fellowship with HIM. Our salvation is never lost.

Salvation is not a license to sin but an opportunity to be made into the image of CHRIST and to obediently serve our LORD. GOD never overrides our right to choose.  Blessings!!!