~ 3 Categories of Sinners in One Chapter ~
Those who are
immoral, those who live to a high a moral standard, and those who are proud are
all sinners according to Jesus Christ in John 8.
Immoral & Despised Sinners
~ “But
Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Now early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people
came to Him; and He sat down and taught them. 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’ (John 8:1-11).
Moral & Respected
Sinners ~
“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.’ The
Pharisees therefore said to Him, ‘You bear witness of Yourself; Your witness is
not true.’
“Jesus
answered and said to them, ‘Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is
true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know
where I come from and where I am going. You judge according to the flesh; I
judge no one. And yet if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone,
but I am with the Father who sent Me. It is also written in your law that the
testimony of two men is true. I am One who bears witness of Myself, and the
Father who sent Me bears witness of Me.’
“Then
they said to Him, ‘Where is Your Father?’ Jesus answered, ‘You know neither Me
nor My Father. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also.’ These
words Jesus spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one laid
hands on Him, for His hour had not yet come. Then Jesus said to them again, ‘I
am going away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin. Where I go you
cannot come.’
“So
the Jews said, ‘Will He kill Himself, because He says, “Where I go you cannot
come”?’ And He said to them, ‘You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of
this world; I am not of this world. Therefore I said to you that you will die
in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your
sins.’ Then they said to Him, ‘Who are You?’ And Jesus said to them, ‘Just what
I have been saying to you from the beginning. I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but He who
sent Me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him.’
“They
did not understand that He spoke to them of the Father. Then Jesus said to
them, ‘When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and
that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things.
And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always
do those things that please Him.’
“As
He spoke these words, many believed in Him. Then Jesus said to those Jews who
believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed’” (John 8:12-31).
Proud & Blind Sinners ~ “Then
Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My
disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.’
They answered Him, ‘We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been in
bondage to anyone. How can You say, “You will be made free”?’ Jesus answered
them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And
a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.
Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. I know that you
are Abraham's descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no
place in you. I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have
seen with your father.’
“They
answered and said to Him, ‘Abraham is our father.’ Jesus said to them, ‘If you
were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham. But now you seek to
kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did
not do this. You do the deeds of your father.’ Then they said to Him, ‘We were
not born of fornication; we have one Father — God.’
Jesus
said to them, ‘If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth
and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. Why do you not
understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. You are of
your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a
murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is
no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he
is a liar and the father of it. But because I tell the truth, you do not
believe Me. Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do
you not believe Me? He who is of God hears God's words; therefore you do not
hear, because you are not of God’” (John 8:31-47).
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW
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