The Strength To 'Go And Sin No More'

John 8:11
11… “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”

Imagine you were there at the temple when the woman caught in adultery was brought before Jesus by the scribes and Pharisees. Would you have expected Jesus to condemn her for her sin? Maybe you would have been surprised to hear Him say, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” (John 8:7) After all, she was caught in the very act of adultery.

Jesus, the only one in the crowd who truly had the power to condemn her, would not. If you had eavesdropped on their conversation after the crowd had left, you would have heard Him ask her, “Woman… Has no one condemned you?” (John 8:10)

He spoke such words of grace to her because He loved her. Also, by asking her the question, He was giving her a chance to speak words of no condemnation to herself — “No one [condemns me], Lord.”

Jesus not only spoke words of grace to her, He also gave her the gift of no condemnation — “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”

Could He do that? She did commit a serious sin. Had God gone soft on sin and compromised His holy standards? Of course not! Jesus could say that to her because He knew that He would be punished for her sins on the cross. He was therefore able to give her the gift of no condemnation.

Today, you have the gift of no condemnation because the Son of God was condemned for all your sins. (Romans 8:1) God cannot condemn you when you sin because He is faithful and just to what His Son has done.

But we still find people saying, “Go and sin no more first, and then I won’t condemn you.” But God says, “I don’t condemn you. Go and sin no more.” God gives you the gift of no condemnation so that you have the strength to go and sin no more!