If we could truly grasp how merciful and kind God has been to us, how much differently we would feel about ourselves, and how vastly different we would treat others! John chapter 8 records the story of the woman caught in adultery. The religious leaders threw her 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.”John 8:7  Jesus had no stones to throw, and once confronted with their own righteousness, neither did those who had thrown her at Jesus’ feet.

It is interesting how the Scriptures 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? Jesus said, “But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Matthew 5:28 Adultery is sexual immorality. I wonder how many commit sexual immorality in their minds and hearts yet condemn others for their sexual sins. And mind you, in the Scripture above, all those sins are listed together and bear the same condemnation. According to the Scripture above, it is not just homosexuality that God is speaking of; it is also those who steal, commit sexual immorality, slander other people, and those who swindle people out of their money.

Idolatry is putting something before God. How many of us have fallen into the sin of putting something in our lives before God. Do our relationships come before God? Does our family, marriage, business, or hobbies come before God? How many have refused to give the first of their money to God? How many have not given God the first of their time and passion? Also, I wonder how many of us have been greedy? How many of us have taken something that wasn’t ours? These are only a few of the sins that God considers serious.

A judgmental attitude comes from the law and is why apostle Paul wrote these riveting 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.” Clearly, no one who relies on the law is justified before God because “the righteous will live by faith.”Galatians 3:10-11  

No one who judges others can escape the absolute perfection required by the 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 In other words, if you cannot keep the whole law without fail, you are guilty of breaking the entire law. WOW!

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.” Mat 22:37 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! I rest my case upon the blood of Jesus. And I, just like Jesus, with the woman caught in adultery, have…

NO STONES TO THROW!