SCRIPTURE: Romans 5
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
We have peace with God. Jesus removes the barriers between God and us, and removes the label “condemned” from over us. No condemnation, as far as God is concerned. He does not label us as no-good sinners, but as fully restored, fully loved children. Sure there is still “stuff” in our lives that is unholy, unacceptable, unlovable. But God has chosen to deal with that stuff through Jesus, so that we can be welcomed back, so that with His help we can start living more and more like He created and saved us to live.

A sinful woman is brought to Jesus, after being caught in adultery (uh, where is the man, then?) According to the law, she must be stoned. In a fascinating scene, Jesus invites the person with no sin to throw the first stone. Then He stoops to the ground and starts writing in the dirt. What was He writing? The text doesn’t say, but my guess is that He is writing the names of the women these religious leaders had committed adultery with. Notice how when they leave, the oldest leave first – their lists were probably the longest. Jesus then turns to the woman: “’Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ ‘No one, sir,’ she said. ‘Then neither do I condemn you,’ Jesus declared. ‘Go now and leave your life of sin.’” [John 8:10-11]

The critical point here is our identity, as opposed to our behaviour. How does God identify us. As guilty sinners or as forgiven, much-loved children? We were born as children of Adam, therefore sinners. But now, through Jesus, we are children of God, therefore saints (holy ones). Our starting point with God is peace, joy, love, justification. God is favourably disposed to us, because of Jesus. Sure, our sin is great, but His love is greater: “where sin increased, grace increased all the more!” [Romans 5:20].

This does not leave us free to sin (Paul will have more to say about this). No, we hear, like this woman, two points: “Neither do I condemn you” and “Go now and leave your life of sin.” Because we are loved, because we are forgiven, because God paid the huge price through Jesus for our shame and guilt (while we were still sinning), we respond out of love and gratitude and joy. Our motivation for being good and holy and Jesus-like is not in order to be accepted but because we are already accepted. We have been justified by faith, not by what we have done. We have peace with God already! His love, His hope, His joy are already ours to enjoy. Therefore we leave our life of sin…

PRAYER:
Lord, impress this message on my heart: You love me, You forgive me, You accept me. Help me to start living in this, to start living like this!