For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  John 3:17 NIV

It seems everyone in the world knows John 3:16. What a great promise. God loved the world. He sent us His Son. Through belief in him we have eternal life. Great stuff! I wonder how many people have noticed an even greater truth that lies in Jesus’ next statement.

Before you spend too much time thinking about 3:17, place yourself in the mind of the woman caught in adultery (John 9). You are drug through the streets of the city. You are guilty of adultery and soon everyone will know it. What’s worse, in a matter of minute’s rocks and stones will shower down on you. There will be no place to hide. No chance to defend yourself. You’d manage, you think, to deflect the first few. But it would be a losing battle.

You kneel before the feet of a great teacher. You are surrounded by your accusers. Hope is gone. You decide your best defense is no defense at all. You kneel and cover your head with your hands. Perhaps your hands will at least deflect some of the pain for a time. You brace yourself for the first stone and wait. But it doesn’t come. Imagine the agony and the knot in your stomach.

“Woman, where are your accusers?” A gentle voice breaks the silent anguish that grips your very soul. Cautiously, you look up and to your shock, you are alone with the teacher. Gathering your thoughts, you speak.

“There are none, sir.” You pause to let that sink in. “Th-there is no one here.”

“Then, neither do I condemn you. Go, and leave the life of sin you are living.”

I don’t think any of us can fully grasp the relief the woman felt that day. Death was literally moments away. The stones were in hand. The verdict was in. The law and sentence were clear. Yet, at the last possible moment, the pardon rang loud and clear. NO CONDEMNATION!

All of us find ourselves, at some point, where the woman found herself that day. We become grossly aware of our weaknesses and failings. We suffer the pain of the consequences that our poor choices bring to fruition.

Three times in the book of John alone, Jesus references His mission on earth in relation to condemnation. In John 3:17 Jesus tells us that he came to bring life. He didn’t come to condemn us. He didn’t come to burden us with the law. He came to release us, to free us, to deliver us from condemnation. He came to bring us life!

In John 9 He demonstrates that principle in the account of the woman caught in adultery. Later, in John 12:47-48, in some of Jesus’ last teachings on earth He repeats the fact that he did not come to judge those who rejected him. They would be condemned for that rejection, for sure, but it would be their own words that would condemn them and they would be judged by another [Father God] for their actions.

Condemnation will come to those who reject Jesus. Romans 3:23, and other passages speak clearly to the fact that we, as mankind fall far short of God’s standard. Romans 6:23 teaches that our sin nature will lead us to death without a Savior.

But Romans 6 & 7 teach us something else about condemnation In this section of Paul’s letter to the Roman church, he reveals his own inner struggle with sin. The things he desires to do, he fails to do. The things he attempts to avoid, he finds himself doing. What truth does this ‘wretched man’ find in his struggle?

Romans 8:1 gives us the answer. ‘There is therefore, NO CONDEMNATION to those who are in Christ Jesus.’ There are many out there that will be willing to point out our faults, question our motives, and mock our sincere intentions.

There will be times we fail miserably, and deliberately and we condemn ourselves. It is in those darkest moments, when we realize our guilt and huddle in a fetal position before the Lord, waiting for the rocks to fall, His gentle, soft voice beckons us: ‘Neither do I condemn thee. Go, and sin no more.’

(excerpt from ‘Living GRACE-fully with Sin’)