Stone throwers!

(John 8:7) "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her."

We can all relate to dreams and the reality they carry with them. Even last night I had a simple dream about reversing into a barrier and denting a rented car, server enough to need to call on panel beaters to have it fixed. In fact the metal had peeled back leaving the cars body as if a can-opener had gone to work on it. The accident seemed trivial and yet the damage it left was severe. Is it not the same with sin? Sin often leaves people damaged, distraught and in need of help. This is why so many look to the counsellors of this age for help. But we must understand that the scars of sin go deep and no patchwork will ever free us from its yoke and the bondage it has on us. It has been this way from soon after the beginning, when sin entered in through one man, Adam!

How many like snakes? I know that I am not particularly fond of them, we are aware of the danger some of them pose, get bitten and you’ve had it. It is like that with sin and we all have fallen by its lures in one form or another. With some it is obvious and their sin cannot be missed yet with others one has to look deep to root them out, but both individuals are damaged goods! Both need repairs and so we go through life from repair shop to repair shop and yet we never are freed of our sin, that enslaving bondage, we may have patchwork done but have you ever seen what new fabric does to old, it aggressively pulls at it. Sow a new piece of fabric onto an old pair of jeans, before long the hole is in fact bigger and in need of a larger repair until they have run their course and eventually thrown on the rubbish dump. Why? Sin has an amazing ability to destroy and keep one in bondage. Some sin is obvious while others are just as deadly and yet they need to be rooted out, hence the psychologist.

God has proved through the law to all of mankind that patchwork will never cut it, we need a new beginning, a new start and this is why I love Him, because for me He bled and died for me. Yes, the Lord Jesus Christ paid the ultimate sacrifice, it was Him alone that died for sin and yet He was sinless. This in itself is phenomenal; He has broken the shackles of sin once and for all. This is why we need to be born again, it is a simple new start not by new a year’s resolutions or some form of patch work through some consoling group, they may well have their place, but they have nothing to do with a new beginning in Christ. At salvation the slate of sin is wiped clean, forgiveness by God the Father is sealed, never to be remembered. Why? Because of God’s love and Christ’s perfect sacrifice, it has nothing to do with our abilities or any patch up work through life. Reject His forgiveness and hell will be your final destination. Just like an alcoholic would need to understand that he has a drinking problem, so too do we need to understand that we are sinners in need of a Saviour before we will ever find forgiveness.

My concern is now not for the sinners of the world but for the believers, the forgiveness that is required from all of God’s children after salvation. We seriously lack compassion in this area of our lives. Once again I speak on behalf of myself and others that I am in fellowship with, so if you are clear in this matter then praise God, but if not pay attention!

The Lord Jesus teachers us in that what is known to many as the Lord’s Prayer a very important truth to daily living and that is this; “and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” (Matthew 6:12): - A good example to highlight the importance of coming to grips with this truth would be the woman caught in the act of adultery. So, let us spend some time here…

“The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?" This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her." And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground.

But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more."]] Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."” (John 8:3-12)

Here is the danger of not wanting to forgive others for sins committed whatever they may be; "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. (Matthew 23:27-28)

This is why Christianity is full of forgiveness, it is to help us take our eyes of the law in that sense and to remember what Christ achieved on our behalf. We are all guilty in one form or another even after salvation if we were to base our salvation on our own works, we would all deserve hell, if it had not been for the Lord Jesus and His accomplishment. May we never forget this and may we remember to forgive those who trespass against us just as God has forgiven us for our sins.

Signing off

Tyrone