Go and sin no more
Early one morning, Jesus was teaching at the temple and while doing so, the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman whom they had caught committing adultery. They asked Jesus if she should be stoned. Jesus responded, in John 8:7
“He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” John 8:7
One by one they started to leave. When they had all gone, Jesus asked the woman, “Where are your accusers?” After looking around and not seeing anyone, she told Jesus that there was no one. Jesus then said to her in verse 11,
“Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” John 8:11.
Go and sin no more. Jesus’ words to this woman raises a question. Was it possible for this woman caught in adultery to live a life without sin, or was Jesus asking her to do something that he didn’t think she could actually do? Is it possible for us to live lives without sin, or is it something that God commands without expecting actual success?
The Definition of Sin
The Bible gives us the definition of sin in 1 John 3:4. It says,
“Whosoever commits sin also transgresses the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.”
From this verse we see firstly that sin is an action. It is an act that is committed. It is not a state of being or a circumstance. We are not born it, nor do we become it. We do it. Secondly, we see that this action that is committed is a violation of the law of God.
In Romans 7, Paul also uses this definition when he describes the state of a person who is struggling with sin. He says in verse 7,
“I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.”
Once again, we see that sin is a violation of the law of God. It is by the law that we know what sin is. Furthermore, Paul’s explanation tells us which law it is that we need to keep. He says “Thou shalt not covet” which is one of the ten commandments. We see then that sin is an action that is a violation of God’s law of ten commandments.
Jesus was once asked, “Which is the greatest commandment” and He answered saying,
“‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40
In making this statement, Jesus was not adding to or taking away from the ten commandments. Instead, He taught us the two eternal laws of love from which the ten commandments are derived. The ten commandments are the details and examples of violating God’s eternal law of love. The ten commandments tell us what sin is. God’s eternal law of love tells us how God created us to behave. In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus also highlighted several other ways that we could violate God’s love laws.
God requires that we keep His ten commandments. The ultimate requirement, however, is that we keep His two eternal love laws. Any time we violate one of the ten commandments, we are violating a love law. Any time we violate a love law, we are sinning.
Falling into Sin
James tells us how the act of sin comes about. James 1:14 and 15 says,
“every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin” (KJV)
We cannot sin unless we are tempted. It is not sin, until we give in to that temptation. Sin is always a choice. It is not a state of being. It has nothing to do with our nature as human beings. It is always a choice. In fact, the Bible tells us that God does not allow any temptation to come our way that our nature is unable to handle. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says:
“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV)
If you take the way of escape that God provides, then you will be able to bear the temptation. If you bear the temptation, you will not fall into temptation. You will not sin. Take special note of the focus of this verse. The focus is not on your ability as a human being. The focus is on the faithfulness of God who ensures that you are able to bear the temptation and overcome sin.
When Jesus told the woman caught in adultery to go and sin no more, he did not look at her ability to determine whether or not it was possible for her to do so. He considered His faithfulness to ensure that she would never be tempted above what she can bear.
This verse tells us that, if God is faithful, then it is possible to live without sin. This verse tells us that God is faithful and, therefore, it is possible to live without sin. The possibility of a living a life without sin is not dependent on our ability as human beings. It is dependent on the faithfulness of God.
If we believe that God is faithful, then we will live lives without sin. The reason we sin is that we doubt God’s faithfulness.
Hastening Jesus’ Coming
Not only is it possible to live a life without sin, but it is also what Jesus is waiting for before He returns to earth. Consider these few verses from 2 Peter 3:
“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9
The promise spoken of here is Jesus’ promise to return to this earth. Why has he delayed His return? Because He is patiently waiting for us to repent, to turn from our sins. Peter continues:
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat…Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God. 2 Peter 3:10-12
He says that we should look for and hasten the coming of Jesus. How? By being holy in our conduct and by being godly. In other words, by being like Jesus. By keeping the ten commandments. By keeping the eternal laws of love. He continues:
Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation. 2 Peter 3:14-15
Jesus wants us to be saved. He is patiently waiting for us. With patience, He forgives us when we fall, in the hope that we will live in accordance with His laws. What should be our response? To to look forward to His coming and to be diligent in purifying our lives so that we are without spot and blameless.
Partnership with God
Take a look at the things you are filling your mind with. Are you filling it with the words and instructions of Jesus? Or are you feeding on the immorality of the world? Are you listening to impure music? Are you taking pleasure in watching people kill, steal, commit adultery, and disobey God’s laws on TV? Paul instructs us in Philippians 4:8 to be incredibly particular about the things we allow to occupy our thoughts. He says,
“Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Philippians 4:8 (KJV)
Power from God
God called the world into existence by His word. Every command that He has given us has that same creative power. Every command is a promise that He will provide the power needed to carry out that command. All we need to do is believe that what God said we should do He has given us power to do as well. “Go and sin no more” is a promise that says “I have given you the power to live without sin.”
God has given us the strength to keep all of His commandments, including the fourth commandment that tells us to Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. He has given us the power to keep His eternal love laws; to love Him supremely and to love our neighbours as ourselves. All that is required on our side is that we believe and do.
He is delaying His second coming until we have a constant faith that does not waiver, a faith that will trust in Him completely. He has given us everything that we need. May we have faith in His word. May we reach the point where we are living without sin. May we, by so doing, hasten the coming of Jesus.