NO STONES TO THROW!
If we could only understand how merciful and kind God has been to us, how much differently would feel about ourselves and how vastly different would treat others! In John chapter 8 we read the story of the woman caught in adultery. She was thrown down in front of Jesus to see if Jesus would follow the law of Moses which commanded her to be stoned. Jesus said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Jesus had no stones to throw and once confronted of their own righteousness neither did those who had flung her at Jesus' feet.
It is interesting to me that the very Scriptures that we Christians have used to condemn homosexuality or other sins are the very Scriptures that condemn us if we choose to live by our own righteousness.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 9Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men a 10nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Isn’t it interesting how we can strongly judge someone else’s sin while failing to look at our own? Idolatry is putting something before God. Jesus said in Matthew 5:28 that if a man looks at a woman with lust in his heart that he is already committed adultery. How many of us have fallen into the sin of being greedy? How many of us have taken something that wasn’t ours? This is only a few of the sins that God considers serious.
This is why apostle Paul, wrote these powerful words.“All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written, cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the book of the law.” Galatians 3:10In other words, if you’re not able to keep the whole law without fail, you are guilty of breaking the entire law. Apostle James said it like this, “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.” James 2:10
The truth of the matter is that you and I are fully and totally, without question, guilty! We haven’t even begun to mention all the sins of pride, arrogance, selfishness, rebellion and the like – not to mention the most important command – Love the Lord your God with ALL your heart with ALL your soul, with ALL your mind and with ALL your strength. And in this case, if you miss the word ALL, you missed it ALL.” There is not one of us that does not sin against God on a daily basis when considering the fullness of God’s righteous commands.
The writer of Hebrews implores us by saying, “Let us, therefore, come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16 I am convinced that I stand before God by grace alone! And I,Just like Jesus, with the woman caught in adultery, have…