TOPIC: NEITHER DO I CONDEMN THEE: BUT GO AND SIN NO MORE.

-WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT THIS MATTER-
Jesus went unto the Mount of Olives. And early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came unto Him; and He sat down, and taught them.

And the Scribes and Pharisees brought unto Him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, they say unto Him, Master this woman is taken, in the very act.

Now Moses in the law commanded that such should be stoned: but what sayest Thou? This they said, tempting Him, that they might have to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down, and with His finger wrote on the ground, as though He heard them not.

So when they continued asking Him, He lifted up Himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. 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, neither do I condemn thee: go and Sin no more…..JOHN 8:1-11.

-WHAT GOD SAYS ABOUT THIS MATTER TODAY-
Men and brethren, one of the subtle but sinister ways the gospel of Jesus Christ is being hindered is by labeling it as “condemnation”. In our days, whenever and wherever the true gospel of Christ is preached, certain folks, planted in the Church of Jesus Christ by the enemy, will quickly cry “condemnation, condemnation”.

Some, intending to oppose the truth, will shamelessly cry; “grace, grace, grace” but not the grace of our Lord: but grace according to the will and traditions of men and of women. For the true grace of our Lord helps folks to maintain holiness and righteousness even as Christians. And those that orchestrate this falsehood do so in a desperate bid to force their perverse and adulterous doctrines on the Church. Sadly many are buying into this shame – but to their great peril.

Men and brethren, the gospel of Jesus Christ is not about stone throwing. And that it is not stone throwing is not necessarily because those that preach it also live in glass houses, as it were. The truth is that Jesus never chooses the most righteous folks in the Church to preach His gospel: He chooses whom He wills, and makes them fishers of men and of women. And Christ chooses these men and women to preach, not themselves, but His gospel. Therefore the responsibility for what is preached is on Christ and not on even fallible men and women of God.

Men and brethren, the truth of this gospel is that some that preach it, even the truth of it, may not even make heaven at last. Yes, many that are preaching the truth of this gospel will not be counted worthy for the kingdom at last – and this is the word of God. And the reason is this – that this gospel is not just about what we preach, but much more also about how we live. It is not just enough to preach the truth, it is much more required of whosoever preaches the truth that he or she must also live the truth – for where much is given much also is required..

Brethren, it is recorded in Acts of the Apostles, chapter One, Verse one, that “The former treatise have I made, o Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and to preach”. According to the writer of that book, Jesus also practiced what He preached. Jesus was not only preaching, He was also doing what He preached. And so must all that are called into His ministry. Nobody will make heaven for just preaching the truth. Heaven is only for those that practiced the truth.

Brethren, why this explanation has become necessary now is this: that most of the folks who reject the truth of this gospel, do so on the basis that those that preach it are just pretending to be more righteous than others: thus the use of that inglorious phrase “holier than thou attitude”. But let me make it abundantly clear that no man or woman called by God will on His or her own desire to preach the truth, even the real gospel. Whenever and wherever we hear a man or a woman proclaiming the truth of this gospel, the truth is that necessity is upon that man or that woman to do so. Heaven demands that whosoever is called into this matter by Christ must continue in what Christ wroth even in the days of His flesh. And a certain and terrible faith awaits any man or woman who fails to do so.

Therefore, no man or woman, called to preach this gospel, and who preaches the truth of this gospel, deliberately steps out with an intention to condemn any person or group of persons – none that I know of. Why? Because the true gospel of Jesus Christ affects both the preacher and the hearer, and most times in equal measures. Brethren, when the true gospel is preached, everyone present must have something to take home – both old and young in the Lord. This is the mystery godliness. The true gospel is not a respecter of men and women.

But the truth must be said, that the popular gospel, the gospel that is according to the emotions and lusts of men and women, which seemingly does not “condemn”, is actually the gospel that brings folks into condemnation with their eyes wide open. That type of gospel that makes one feel “free” and “righteous” even in the midst of a sinful and worldly lifestyle, is actually the gospel that puts men and women into everlasting condemnation without their knowing it. That gospel that is founded on money making and acquiring the things of this life, very popular with many of today’s believers, is actually the very gospel that condemns men and women and puts them into the pit of hell. That fantasy gospel, that gospel of pleasure and reveling, that gospel of endless bliss on earth – these are actually that types of gospel that truly condemn folks and ultimately bring them into eternal torment.

Brethren, the true gospel of Jesus Christ, is that which saves men and women and then calls them to the fruits of repentance on a daily basis. It is life giving, and it upholds righteousness and holiness. It was the same gospel that the Apostles preached, including Apostle Paul. It is a gospel of day by day walk in God in righteousness and in holiness. And Apostle Paul himself acknowledged this truth when he openly confessed that he died daily. Yes, Apostle Paul died daily - daily dying to self, daily dying to the world, until he went to be with the Lord. And that must be the life of every true believer walking in the true gospel – to die daily.

Brethren, true righteousness in Christ is a daily walk – a continuous walk with and in the Lord until one goes to be with Him. The true road to heaven, though littered with all the abundance that life can offer, is also designed with persecution and offenses. And whosoever must make heaven at last can only do so through much trembling. This is the word of the living God.

Brethren, when Christ was questioned by Pilate on His mission on earth, He had this to say, “Thou sayest that I Am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Everyone that is of the truth heareth my voice” (John 18:37). Yes indeed, Jesus came into the world to bear witness to the truth and not to falsehood and perversion. Jesus came into the world to save folks from sin. Jesus came into the world to cause folks to live the God kind of life on earth – a life of holiness and righteousness.

Brethren, we know that as the Father sent Christ so Christ sends those that preach His gospel – with the same ordination, the same message, the same expectation – towards the same end. Therefore, we are sent to preach the truth, to bear witness to the truth – the truth that will bring folks to Christ and also cause them to remain in Christ till the end. We are sent to preach the truth that saves folks and not condemn them. But the truth is that whosoever continues in sin and compromise even after receiving the truth is already condemned – not by the preacher of the truth but by the very truth that he or she is daily trampling upon. This also is the word of God.