Church 12/05/2020
Sermon series: God's Christmas presents/presence to mankind
Tonight's thesis: The present of forgiveness
2 At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” 6 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger.
John 8:2-6 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=John%208:2-6&version=NIV
The Pharisees set this up to trap Jesus. If Jesus lets her go, the Pharisees could Point at Him as someone who doesn't love God's law. If He says to stone her, then He would be seen as someone who isn't compassionate, and would lose His popularity with the people. Jesus recognizes this as a setup. His response was to give forgiveness.
Everyone needs forgiveness
7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there.
John 8:7-9 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=John%208:7-9&version=NIV
12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
Matthew 7:12 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Matthew%207:12&version=NIV
The point is everyone deserves judgment. Everyone has sinned. Everyone needs forgiveness.
...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 3:23 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Romans%203:23&version=NIV
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Romans%206:23&version=NIV
Why did the Pharisees drop their rocks? Jesus reminded them that they too were also in the same boat as the woman they caught in adultery.
To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless,
Psalm 18:25 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Psalm%2018:25&version=NIV
God wants you to have His present of forgiveness
This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
Matthew 1:18-21 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Matthew%201:18-21&version=NIV
And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
John 8:8-11 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=John%208:8-11&version=KJV
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
John 3:17 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=John%203:17&version=KJV
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 6:23 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Romans%206:23&version=KJV
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=John%203:16&version=KJV
Forgiveness changes you
She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
John 8:11 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=John%208:11&version=KJV
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Romans 1:16 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Romans%201:16&version=KJV
The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.
1 Corinthians 2:14 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20Corinthians%202:14&version=NIV
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
1 Corinthians 2:14 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20Corinthians%202:14&version=KJV
Bottom line: don't put the cart before the horse. RECEIVE JESUS FIRST. Receive His forgiveness. Receive Him into your house and into your heart.