Go And Sin No More

"Go and sin no more." Whatever happened to 'this' saying of Jesus? 

When Jesus was confronted with the woman taken in the very act of adultery, after her accusers had scattered, He told her "Go and sin no more."  In our society today, it seems that no one wants to accept that anything 'they are doing' is a sin. 

It's honestly not much better in the church. If someone is overtaken in a sin, they simply cry "You can't judge me!" If their sin is addressed, they say that you have a "holier than thou" attitude, or they reply "You without sin cast the first stone!" 

We have a movement today called "Red Letter Christianity". The prevailing thought of the day, in much of Christian leadership, seems to be that if Jesus didn't address it directly I won't either. It's very similar to a political administration's former policy "don't ask don't tell."  Worse yet though, is that the general Christian population seems to feel that if Jesus didn't address it directly it's not something I have to consider in my relationship with God. "What Jesus said I'll do, but what He didn't specifically say is open for interpretation."

But what happened to the portion of that Scripture in John Chapter 8, where Jesus said "Go and sin no more"?  Why have we forgotten that part? Why have we forgotten that Jesus did address the sin?  He called it exactly what it was. Sure, He refused to condemn that woman, but not because she wasn't guilty. It was was because that according to the Law she was 'already condemned!' He didn't have to tell her adultery was wrong, the Law did that.  She knew she was a sinner! According to the Law, her 'worthy-of-death state', had delivered her to the judgment of her accusers. Jesus though gave her mercy. It wasn't because she was sinless, but because He was, and He was willing to take her sin to Calvary with Him. 

I'm certainly not against mercy, I honesty need it as much as anyone. But let's call things what they really are. Sin is still sin! Perhaps Jesus isn't recorded preaching detailed messages specifically about adultery, or sex before marriage, or homosexuality, or something else... But it's because the Law of God had already revealed what sin is.  Sin is anything that transgresses God's Law (1 John 3:4). 

It's as if there no longer a moral standard. There are seemingly no absolutes, where sin is concerned. There is no accountability if one is in error.  "My sin is my own private affair and it's not any of your business."  Well as true as it is, that our own sin is our own business it's also true that those called by God as mouthpieces, (Preachers, Teachers, Prophets, Witnesses) are required by God to preach the whole counsel of God, including sin and repentance.  

How must we preach it?  With fear, and with mercy. How must we identify sin? Is it by the morals of the day? It's it by the standards of the church? Is it by the prevailing thought of our society? No, sin is still identified by the Law of God. Any transgression of the Law of God is sin, plain and simple, albeit somewhat old fashioned.

What must we do with sin? As preachers, we must declare it, and the remedy for it... Which is relationship with God through Jesus. As transgressors, we must repent of it!  ...then go and sin no more! In neither case do we deny it. 

Jesus came to show us the mercy of God. Certainly He desires to forgive us fully, but He also demands that we stop sinning.