10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" 11 "No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."

Jesus demonstrated grace by offering to the woman caught in adultery a free pardon. To find out if she received the grace of God depends on her response if she kept from sin or if she continued in her sin. She needed to consider if she was willing to accept forgiveness. Many who have fallen into sin have been forgiven, but they have not accepted that forgiveness and wallow around in false guilt.

Jesus doesn’t leave it there. A new challenge is given. “Go and sin no more.” It was a call to change. It was a call to leave sin. Jesus’ grace had been applied - she can start anew and fresh. Leave the past behind and don’t put yourself in this situation again. The best way to confront sin is to change direction with God's Spirit living in us.

Jesus demonstrated compassion then and does so today. Jesus took her sin, and He takes our sin. He sends us on our way without condemnation. Christ expected that forgiveness would cause the woman to abandon her sin. This was the gospel of the second chance. The woman knew she should have been killed. Jesus was giving her a new start.    

There are lot of people who have had sexual sins.  Satan will likely attack as he is the accuser. Resurrecting past failures is one of Satan's most effective tools for discouraging and immobilizing believers. David prayed, "Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you are good, O Lord… (Ps. 25:7).    

Forgiveness and restoration are the core of the gospel.  All through the Bible the Lord invites His people to return to Him in repentance.  King David himself was forgiven and reclaimed for meaningful service by the Lord.  As a forgiven and renewed person, he was used by God to teach others and exalt the Lord with music and words.   

Jesus heard the charges of the sin and the law requires death. That is right. “The wages of sin is death.” We stand guilty. each one.  “But the gift of God is eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 6:23) He took the punishment on the cross and also offers His grace and forgiveness to us.  As we accept His compassion, our response is the call to love and serve Him with our mind, heart, soul, and action. We are given the power to change. We no longer are condemned.

Dale