“GO AND SIN NO MORE!”

By Michael K. Farrar, O.D.

© God’s Breath Publications

 

In John 8:11 we find the conclusion to a significant confrontation between Jesus and the Jewish religious leaders. He was in the temple courts teaching the crowd which had gathered to hear Him share. He is interrupted by teachers of the law and Pharisees who bring a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They force her to stand before Jesus and all those present as they present their case against her. They ask Jesus what they should do with her. While many would think asking for such a judgment would be a sign of respect for Jesus, it was a devious plan of deception. It was an attempt by the Pharisees to trap Jesus in an action that would enable them to bring charges against Him. Jesus seems to take the situation lightly and casually begins to write on the ground. He announces that anyone who is without sin may stone her. He continues writing on the ground as one-by-one the woman’s accusers leave. Without anyone left to condemn her Jesus says that He does not condemn her either and then makes a short but powerful statement.

 

“Go and sin no more.”

 

This short sentence spoken by Jesus to the woman who has been caught in a sin is a turning point in her life. His words could be viewed as a command or a caution. He could be giving either advice or instruction. Whatever Jesus’ intentions, He is giving the woman an opportunity to make a choice to change her life. This short statement has reams of meaning; both for the woman accused and for us as well.

 

Jesus grants this woman forgiveness just as He grants us forgiveness when we accept Him as our Savior. As a child of God, each time we confess our sins to Him when we have disobeyed He grants us His merciful forgiveness.

 

1 John 1:9

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins

and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

 

Jesus goes beyond simple forgiveness with the woman and us also. Each time we sin as His child and repent, He grants us forgiveness, and we can be assured that the Father, Son and Spirit agree that we should, “Go and sin no more.” The Lord gives the gift of grace, but words of instruction for holy living are also spoken. If God forgave us each time we sinned but expected no change, the Christian life would be meaningless. Scripture over and over again tells us to “Be holy as God is holy” and to “live blameless before men.” Jesus’ command of “Go and sin no more.” is a command to make a change, to repent and take action.

 

While the woman accused of adultery very likely sinned in some way after receiving forgiveness, Jesus still thought it very important to give instruction to hold her accountable. It was a cautionary statement. Jesus told the woman she was free to go about her life, but she needed to heed His words; that she must strive to avoid sin or she would be right back in the same situation again.

 

Jesus speaks to us the same way. Each time we come to Him as His child to ask forgiveness for our sin, He grants us His grace by forgiving us for our lack of obedience. Each time we are given an opportunity like the adulterous woman to go and sin no more.  

 

Forgiveness from God is glorious; it grants freedom to make a choice to live a life of obedience to Him. Sin binds people to itself more than the strongest glue. It places a burden of defeat and death upon each of us and tells us that we can do no good. It strives to permeate our lives and brainwash us into thinking that we have no choice but to continue to sin.

 

God’s forgiveness breaks this chain of events. It whitens the blackest of sins and washes clean the filthiest of sins. It provides an opportunity of choice whereby we can change our direction down the path of sin and choose to walk down the road to righteous living.

 

But do these words place us in a hopeless situation? It’s easy to say, “Go and sin no more.” but how do we accomplish this? In truth, we can never accomplish this on our own. We can strive, work and attempt to live without sin on our own in the flesh but we will always fail unless we seek the answer God provides. Scripture offers us the answer in how we can fulfill these words of Jesus, “Go and sin no more.”

 

Galatians 5:16 17 tells us, “So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature.” Victory over sin and its stronghold in our lives can only be achieved by living by the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Nothing will enable us to win spiritual battles without the help of the Holy Spirit. No matter how much we desire to do good, no matter how many books on the Bible we read, no matter how often we attend church, without the Holy Spirit guiding and empowering our lives we can never fulfill the words of Jesus’ request, “Go and sin no more.”

 

How do you respond to these five crucial words spoken by Jesus to the adulterous woman?

 

Do you want freedom from those personal sins that no one knows about that seem to have cancerous tentacles throughout your life?

 

Do you want to experience the freedom that comes from overcoming a life lived serving the flesh?

 

Do you want consistency in your Christian life rather than the roller coaster of sin, repentance, sin, and repentance?

 

Do you want a change in direction, a choice that will send you off down a path that leads to godliness?

 

I suggest you seek the Lord and ask Him for help. If you have never accepted Christ as your Savior, tell Him you accept His sacrifice and desire to have His Spirit live within you. If you are a child of His but are not living according to His wishes, ask His Spirit to guide you and instruct you in how you may fulfill the command, “Go and sin no more.”

 

1 John 1:9

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”