Live God Adventures

Condemnation, guilt, and shame are all things I have struggled with on and off since I turned from the world and surrendered my life to Jesus. Each time I stumble or struggle the waves of guilt and condemnation start back up again. I can tell someone else that there is no condemnation for their sins but applying it to myself, for some reason, is so much more difficult.

I have been reading significantly more scripture than I ever have in my life. Let me pause here and say I highly recommend increasing your bible reading, it’s so important and powerful. I also recommend reading the Old Testament along with the New Testament. That’s what brings us to today’s thought.

I’m reading in Deuteronomy right now, there’s so much richness in this book. I love when the Lord opens our eyes to something we may have heard, learned, or read before but for some reason, it hits us different. That’s what happened to me today. Read Deuteronomy 17 for context. I’m going to pull out a few scriptures below, but go read the whole chapter.

““If there is found among you, within any of your gates which the LORD your God gives you, a man or a woman who has been wicked in the sight of the LORD your God, in transgressing His covenant, who has gone and served other gods and worshiped them, either the sun or moon or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded, and it is told you, and you hear of it, then you shall inquire diligently. And if it is indeed true and certain that such an abomination has been committed in Israel, then you shall bring out to your gates that man or woman who has committed that wicked thing, and shall stone to death that man or woman with stones. Whoever is deserving of death shall be put to death on the testimony of two or three witnesses; he shall not be put to death on the testimony of one witness. The hands of the witnesses shall be the first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So you shall put away the evil from among you.”

Deuteronomy 17:2-7 NKJV

This is what I feel is appropriate for my sin. I think I’ve finally figured it out. As I read this I was nodding, “yup, stone me. I deserve it.” But at the same time I remembered another portion of scripture…

“Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?” This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear. So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.””

John 8:2-12 NKJV

New law. No condemnation. Mercy. Grace. No fear. No shame.

Yes, my sin deserves death. But Jesus took that death, that punishment, when He bore my sins on the cross and died for me.

The only one who could actually condemn her wouldn’t. All the others were convicted and left. Jesus was all she had. He forgave her and told her to turn from sin.

One law tells you to get 2-3 witnesses and stone the sinner, bringing guilt, shame, condemnation and separation. But in the New Testament Jesus brings her close, causes the rest to leave. He doesn’t condemn but He challenges her to go and sin no more.

There are numerous other scriptures about sin, I will include them so you can personally study them. Specifically Matthew 18:15-19 comes to mind in regards to a “sinning brother” but notice each time there is room for repentance. It’s up to us to accept the forgiveness, repent, and go and sin no more.

I recently read a book, But God by Herbert Cooper. I highly recommend it. In the book he talks about having accountability for specific sins you deal with. I will tell you that I have cried many nights about sin, about my past, about struggles, and specifically told the Lord that I could just neeeever confess to anyone I actually know the things I struggle with. But God. 😉 I finally talked with two of my most trusted friends, shared with them my struggles and felt so free, not condemned, cared for, loved, and seen. Like Jesus said in John 8, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

Shine light on what’s hidden. Shine light on the lies of the enemy. Shine the light of Gods Word and His truth on whatever you’re facing.

There truly is no condemnation, friend. If you have a hard time accepting that, like I did (do), you’re not alone. Talk to someone. Shine light.