Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery
Key Passage: Exodus 20:14
Date: July 16, 2019
Take your Bible and turn to Exodus chapter number 20. If you would please, Exodus 20. And we’re on the Ten Commandments. I’ve been covering that for a while.
After today, we’ll only have three more weeks of the Ten Commandments, and three more commandments to cover. Maybe I should say it that way, you know. But Exodus chapter number 20 in God’s Word. I’ve tried to mention this everyone; I think I have every one of the times we’ve preached on it. But the commandments—ten commandments—no one is saved by them.
You’re not saved by keeping the law. The law actually tells you you’re not good enough to keep it. You need a Savior. That’s what the law is all about. We mention that every week. Some will add, “Well, if you break this commandment, you’re going to hell.” Well, no, the honest truth is, all of us have broken the commandments. If it’s according to that, we’re all going to hell. If you reject Jesus, you’re going to hell. You can say amen right there.
And so don’t let someone bring the law back into your salvation. Jesus says your salvation—He’s the one that kept the law. So be careful with that. And then let me say this: It’s been interesting for me to do a series on the Ten Commandments. Sometimes we can become so law-oriented that the law begins to condemn us.
Be careful of that. We’re to strive as a child of God to live up to the moral law that God’s given us, but you’re not going to be there. And praise the Lord, in Christ there’s no condemnation. See? And praise the Lord, I have acceptance into the family of God through Christ, and because of that, I want to live for Him. So be careful with that.
And then let me say this: Be careful as you get into the law; sometimes you get about condemning yourself, and sometimes you get about condemning others. You become very judgmental. You understand? And we don’t want to go there either. As a law, God gives much learning, and you’ll be better off to keep the moral law for sure. God can bless you more, and you’ll be closer to your Heavenly Father. There’s no chastening in so many things. So we do want to learn from the law, but I kind of warn you about those two things: Don’t fall into condemning yourself or condemning others through the law. Are you all with me this morning? How many of you got ham in the oven you’re ready to get out of here? Anybody like that?
Praise the Lord, you didn’t raise your hand. Good. Someone said, “I didn’t come to leave,” amen. Let’s just go ahead and get something while we’re here, all right, you know. It’s been good so far, music, everything’s been wonderful. Let’s just go ahead and dine from God’s table a little bit. Get something from His Word this morning. All right. Exodus 20, and we’re in verse number 14, the Seventh Commandment. Let’s stand, if you would, please. Exodus 20.
In verse number 14, Exodus 20, verse number 14 of God’s Word, the Bible simply says, “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” Would you read that out loud with me? Here we go: “Thou shalt not.”
Three things I believe the Lord would have us try to accomplish this morning. One is preventive maintenance is the best maintenance. If God would use this morning to prevent someone from committing this harmful, hurtful sin, it would be a victory.
Then the Bible says if we confess our sins. That confessing over there in 1st John 1:9 has to do with sin as God sees it. So we’re going to take a look at this sin and see how God sees it today. Then beyond that, I confess and I get forgiveness and cleansing. So our purpose is preventive, then the sin as God sees it, and then to get forgiveness and healing today. So would you pray and ask God to help us accomplish those three things this morning? If you’d pray, I’m going to pray on the outside of the heart and ask God to do so. Would you please?
Father, Lord, we do come. Lord, I’m reminded of that verse over there: the letter killeth, the Spirit bringeth life. Father, would you send your Spirit and bring life today? Give me wisdom, Lord, as I handle your sword. I just—you know, I’ve had a hard time, Lord, knowing how to handle this one today. So would you guide me? I yield to you. But Lord, would you prevent? Would you help some to see it as you see it so they can get full forgiveness and cleansing? And then, Lord, I pray you to bring healing to many, many people today. And Father, we’ll brag on you. We’ll thank you for what you do. I can’t do those things, Lord; only You can. Would you do so? We’ll thank you for it. Father, we’re asking in your Son, Jesus’ name, so we’re praying in faith. Thank you in advance, Lord. Amen. Thank you so much for standing. You may be seated. Now, to really get into this subject here, we’ve got to discuss a little bit of the definition of some words.
I looked; I was going to announce in announcement time if we had some little ones in here. I don’t think I’ve seen anyone to do now. Let me just say this: If you’ve got a little one in here, we are going to be dealing with this subject, this commandment, “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” So if you got little ones in here, you might want to take them to the nursery, your primary church, or junior church. Junior church, one, just saying for us. It would be a good thing. I will not be inappropriate. A difficult subject, if you will, here. Let’s talk about some definitions. Y’all ready this morning?
“Thou shalt not commit adultery.” What is adultery? Adultery is a married person being with someone sexually that is not their mate. It’s cheating. It’s a husband cheating on his wife. It’s a wife cheating on her husband. Fornication, a Bible word, is a little bit broader. It’s being sexually active outside of the bonds of marriage. It could be single people, but it’s outside the bonds or the bearings of marriage sexually is fornication. Now, I’ve used the word marriage already a couple of times, so we need to, in our time, define biblically the thing of marriage.
God’s the one that created marriage, all right? It’s a shame; years ago, when I preached on something like this, I would not bring this first point up, but we need to today. But God said in Genesis 2, verse number 24, He says, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall cleave unto his wife.” God that created marriage said it’s a man and a woman that come together for life, right? It doesn’t matter what the Supreme Court says. It doesn’t matter what some politician—it doesn’t matter what a former president says. God said, “It’s a man and it’s a lady coming together for life.” That’s God’s definition of marriage. They can say it’s a marriage, but it’s not a marriage in the sight of God, and in the end, we’ll stand before God one day.
Now let’s go on about the definition of marriage. Malachi 2:14 says this, and I want you to listen real close. Don’t look it up; we’re running late for time. Just listen. It says, “Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the Lord hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously. Yet she is thy companion and the wife of thy covenant.”
Biblically, there must be a covenant, a covenant before God. A covenant between a man and a lady, before a preacher—I like that—before family, before friends, but it’s a covenant. There must be a covenant, right? It’s a man, it’s a lady, making a covenant. God said, “Now look, no, no, that’s your wife, because you covenanted before God.” When I marry someone, I say this so often anymore, but right before we get to the vows, I say, “I feel like Moses, where God said, ‘Take your shoes off; you’re standing on holy ground,’” because God was there. And God enters into marriage when they say those covenants before God in a special way. It’s a man, it’s a woman, entering into covenant with God.
Number three, we’re giving three things that must be involved in a marriage. Number three, government. Romans chapter number 13 says, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers.” He’s talking about God. Remember we studied it a couple weeks ago? God said, “I’m going to establish government” in Genesis chapter number nine, after the flood. I’m going to let them govern man. God is for government. We as morning Christians, we’re not anti-government people. You understand what I’m saying? Now, if they go against God, I’d rather obey God than man, but we’re not anti-government. We follow the government when we can. When I marry someone, I don’t say, “Well, that’s before God and the preacher and everything; the government should stay out of it.” No, I sign the official documents. So far, I’ve never forgot to send off the marriage certificate yet. Praise the Lord for that. I was worried about that. I put it in the mail that day typically. I did forget one time, and Sunday, the mom of the son said, “Patrick, he forgot to give you a certificate.” I said, “Oh, my goodness, man, we’ve got to get that mail in,” you know. But it’s a man, it’s a lady, and they’re covenanting before God. And our government in America gives out marriage certificates.
Y’all can say amen right there? Yeah. And then number four is the consummation of the marriage. He says, “And they shall be one flesh.” You understand the four things, y’all, with me? Let’s try to move along pretty quickly because that clock’s going back there, but it didn’t matter the past anyway, but it is going back there.
Now let’s just do a little bit of myth-busting this morning, all right, since we’re on this subject of marriage. Someone will say, “Well, Pastor, we’ve been living together for eight years, and so we’re married.” Actually, only 12 states honor common-law marriages. Tennessee’s not one of them. And in those 12 states, you have to do some specific things to be honored and have a common-law marriage. So no, no, no, no, you’re not married just because you’re living together. You all with me out there? “Well, Pastor, we’ve been together sexually, so we’re married.” No, you committed one of those, and actually that equals fornication. But no, you’ve not covenanted before God and with the government, and you’ve not honored God in this thing of true marriage. Y’all still out there? No, it’s not marriage, not at all. “Well, Pastor, we’ll just go in our back bedroom and have our own ceremony.” No, no, no. God says, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers.” “Say, Pastor, it’s just a paper.” Well, why in the world won’t you go get that paper then? Come on now.
God takes this matter of adultery very, very seriously. Our society and the prince of the power of the air—old smutty face—has been working at years, and you’re just kind of belittling this seriousness of adultery. I mean, nowadays they have TV shows called Desperate Housewives. Praise the Lord, I’ve not watched it, but I can only imagine with the title. Or Sex in the City, or some romance novel where there’s adultery all in it. And Satan just seems as if he is—he’s trying to make us think that it’s a commonplace. And unfortunately in America, in some cases, not all cases, it is becoming common. God doesn’t treat it like that. Y’all want to see how God—what God thinks about it? Y’all want me this morning?
Well, the first thing God says in the Old Testament about adultery: God says if a man—notice a man or a lady; it takes two to tango—but a man or a lady, if they’re caught in adultery biblically by the law—I’m not saying to do that today—but by the law, they were to be executed. That’s what God thinks about it. If we’re just to deal with justice, God said, look, let me just read it for you, Deuteronomy 22:22. “If a man be found lying with a woman married to a husband, then they shall both of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman.” Now, that’s God—just find out what God says about it. That’s what God said in the law. That’s God’s Holy Word, Deuteronomy 22; that’s what God thinks about that sin. Before I go watch it and let it in my living room, hey, God says that right there, that’s deserving of execution. Wow, what the Bible says! God takes it so serious that it’s the only reason God allows for divorce.
Now, I’m not saying just because someone has committed adultery, run out and get a divorce. No, no, no. That’s not God’s first option. God’s first option is for healing and reconciliation. But God does allow for it. Let me read it for you. Lest you think I’m just making it up, Matthew 5:32: “But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.” Saving for the cause of fornication, it’s actual sin. God says that sin is so horrible that I’ll allow you—listen—I’ll allow you to take a knife, a cleaver, you know, for cutting the meat, and I’ll let you take a whole chicken there, and I mean, I’ll just let you, boom, cut it down and cut it in two, because that’s what happened to be a good divorce. Because the Bible says they are no more twain but one flesh. And God said that sin is so hurtful and painful and shameful that God says, “I will allow it in that one case.” He didn’t want it. He wants reconciliation, but God said if the hardness of the heart will not change, God said, “I’ll allow that knife to come down and just cut two bodies in pieces because of that sin right there.” You’re starting to get a little glimpse of what God thinks about this sin?
I was shocked. And, man, I used to get my hair cut from Dave Tucker, a good man. He was a businessman; he did pretty well often. And I like Dave Tucker. I was shocked—he’s in heaven now—I was shocked to hear he was in a wreck, and they had to cut off one of his legs. I went and visited him at his house, and I was shocked to see him in a wheelchair. He said, “Well, I’m trying to walk on a wooden leg.” He said, “But I’ve been trying to do it here lately a lot, and I got a blessed room enough.” It’s just sad to see a man like that; they cut part of his body off. And God said, “I’ll allow for a body to be cut in two because of that sin right there.” I’m not saying it won’t, but I’m saying that’s how God views how serious this sin is and how hurtful and shameful this sin is. Look over in Proverbs chapter number six, if you would please. Proverbs chapter number six. It’s speaking of adultery. Proverbs chapter number six in God’s Word. Let’s just see what God says about it over here. Proverbs chapter number six. Look in verse number 32, if you would please. “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” Proverbs 6, look at verse number 32, if you would, please. Proverbs 6, verse number 32. Y’all there? If you’re there, would you say, amen? Good deal. Proverbs 6:32: “But whoso committeth adultery with a woman…” It can be the other way around; God is simply talking to a man here in Proverbs. “But whoso committeth adultery with a woman…” understanding: He that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.
When someone commits adultery, it eats away at their soul. You ever visit someone that has cancer and they’re about to die of cancer, they’re eaten up with it? Maybe sometimes a healthy individual you’ve known for years and years—and I think of a man such a—and yet you go and visit him, and I think of a man named Philip Sampson, big man, strong man. And Philip Sampson, he just looked like a skeleton with some skin on it. Not only that, but his eyes were sunk in. He’s a big, strong man, and you see him; the skin’s just hanging off of his body. Think of my dad. What a sad thing to see someone eaten up with cancer. Anybody ever seen someone just eaten up with cancer? That’s a sad thing. That’s the same thing. God says when someone commits adultery, they’re just eating their soul up. It’s like something is inside of them, and it’s just eating away at their very own soul. It’s a sad thing. God says this sin here, it just eats away at somebody’s inner—their soul.
Look at the next verse, verse number 33: “A wound and dishonor shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.” It misrepresents salvation. Marriage is to be a wonderful symbol of salvation, and a horrible testimony is that they misrepresent salvation. I think of a preacher that I love very much, not too far from here, a great preacher. I mean, he could preach, a gifted preacher. And he stood on the Bible, the King James Bible. And such a sad thing, I got a phone call, and got that phone call, and I don’t want to have to tell you this, Pastor, but I think you need to know, and so-and-so is not in the ministry anymore, and they had an affair. Well, I’ll be honest with her first saying, I couldn’t help but just start crying. I know that man, I know his wife, I know his ministry; I love that man. And yet that man is not in—rightfully so—not in the ministry. He needs to rebuild his marriage, and that doesn’t happen overnight. But that man has brought shame to Christ. He’s been a horrible testimony for the Lord Jesus Christ. He’s brought reproach to it. And that man has got a wound. He’s not in the ministry today. And I hope that it grows and he gets his help back. He can, by the grace of God. But he’s got a wound on him. It’s an open wound that Satan loves to flaunt all over the whole world. Don’t worry about it. Adultery scars your testimony. God hates adultery.
By the way, can I say this? It just came to my mind a moment or two ago. Don’t think I’m preaching just at you. I’ve been here 20 years, and I’ve dealt with these things many a time. So don’t think, “Man, he’s coming right at me.” You know all the situations in 20 years, you know. So don’t think that.
But God hates adultery. I think some of the reason is because God sees the hurt that comes from adultery for years and years to come. It’s amazing. It’s amazing. I’ve dealt with marriages where there’s been past adultery. I’ve dealt with marriages where there’s been past adultery in another marriage, and because of that, they’ve been divorced, and now they’re remarried and trying to follow God’s will and do God’s will for their life. And yet this marriage is hampered so bad from the past. I’ve had people in my office, a man and a lady, and say, “Hey, I think a lot of your reaction is because of what happened in the past. You’ve been lied to, you’ve been cheated on, and I think you’re reacting like this now because of your wound in the past.” I’ve watched grown men; just tears well up. They start crying. You say, “You’re right, Pastor. I have such a fear because I got hurt so bad years ago.” That’s why God hates divorce or adultery. I’ve seen married couples; it’s been 35 years ago when it happened, and it still affects their marriage greatly today. They’ve not got full healing—they can, but they’re not there yet. Just talking about it, God knows the hurt and the shame and the rebuke and the injury that lasts years and years from the sin. Y’all want to be a little bit out there?
No, Hollywood flaunts this wicked sin. Tries to glorify hurt and wounds and blood and tears for years and years. In Hollywood, they try to glorify it. Yet sometimes we glorify them and think there’s somebody. What a shame on us for thinking that. God hates it. It does so much damage to your mate. The adulterer does so much damage to your kids. More than once I’ve dealt with marriages, and there are some where they’re just abnormality—they’re just not in a normal marriage. You’ve got issues in certain areas. And I’ve asked them, “How do you think this comes to your parents, each other?” And they’re saying, “Yes. Yes, we think we’ve got issues because of that.” And I’m talking about not even that couple, but the kids of that couple; when they get married, it bears affecting their marriage one day. That’s why God says, “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” It’s why God hates sin. It’s why God, in the law, keeping the strict law in the Old Testament, God says, “Hey, let’s just take them home somewhere out of here,” the hurt, the wound from it.
You’re thinking about adultery? You let your mind go there. You’re looking at things. You ought to think: Why don’t you just go ahead and take your kids? I remember a lady whose parents had taken cigarettes and put the cigarettes out on her legs when she was a little girl. You might as well go ahead and do the same thing because you’re going to create scars on your kids’ lives that are going to last for years. Before you go there in your mind, before you watch all that, before you read all that, before you allow yourself to go there in some fantasy world, you better think about those saints. That’s the reality of it: scars on many people’s lives for years and years to come. It does damage to your mate. It does damage to your kids. It does damage to the Lord’s name.
I don’t know all the details. I don’t try to find out all the details. I don’t have anything to do with it, but a ministry I love, a well-known ministry, a national ministry, and the leader of it, I guess years ago fell into this. I don’t know. I’ve gotten emails about it, and I’ve not even read them. I just delete them. I’m not into all the gossip and smut of the world; I’ve got better things to think on. But I did check the website last night of that ministry because I love it and just to use this illustration. And the leader of that—God used to start it—he’s not on the website anywhere anymore. And that’s a sad thing. What a shame. Satan’s over there in the corner laughing about it. It does damage to the Lord’s name. It does damage to yourself. It’s a cancer.
Maybe one of the best illustrations I’ve ever heard of adultery. A preacher was talking about how he had planted a little vine, one of these growing vines over on the side of his garage. Man, he had plans for this vine, you know. He planted this vine, and he watered, he took care of it, and it grew up the side of the garage, and he put a—what do you call this—lattice work over top of the garage or trussle or whatever, you know. It grew when it was growing, and he was planning on going over here to the house. He was doing good. He had watered it and planted it. You know how you protect your babies? You know, “Don’t mess with my baby there.” You know, “That’s my baby.” And one day he himself was weed-eating. Yeah, you know where I’m going. Weed eater, weed whacker, whatever you want to call it. Ma’am, okay, you got it. And he had that old ear going, and it got just a little too close to that—the root of it, the base of it. He didn’t mean to, but sure enough, he clipped that base of that line. I remember him saying this: He said, “The leaves for a while stayed green, but after a while, the effects of it were shown to everybody; they turned brown.” It died—what was above. He said, “I decided to go ahead and reinvest in my vine.” So it began to water and nurture it again. It took years. That’s very similar to adultery, friend.
Before you think about the moment right there where you’re at and your situation, all that you want to do, I’d recommend you to say, “I better be careful. I don’t want to clip the base of my marriage, my vine.” I like to keep that thing healthy. By the way, the Bible talks about the wife of your youth so you can enjoy being with the wife of your youth, enjoy for years and years to come. By the way, if you’ve clipped that vine, I would recommend that you reinvest in that and ask forgiveness and nurture and love and try to grow that vine back—that would be my first recommendation. But you understand the severity of adultery by clipping that.
Before you go flirting with the coworkers or whoever it may be, before you go there with your sister-in-law and brother-in-law—by the way, that’s very common in early in time, wherever it may be—before you start flirting in an inappropriate way, you better think about your kids, yourself, your mate, and the generation that follows you. You better start thinking about that right there. I’d say avoid adultery at any cost. By the way, I’m so glad we have a Vice President that says, “I might go out with a lady, just me and her for lunch, but I just won’t do it.” The media might bash him, but he said, “Well, it works good for marriage so far. I think I’ll just keep doing it.” Praise the Lord for that. I’d avoid it.
And by—don’t think you’re above it. “Take heed lest ye fall,” the Bible says. Men, it starts with your eyes, goes into your heart, and unfortunately, sometimes comes out in your actions. In fact, Jesus said, “If you look at a woman to lust, you have committed adultery already with her in your heart.” That’s why, men, you better keep your eyes right. You better work at it in our day and time. Ladies, would you help and dress modestly? Some of us men—some of you men—you need to delete your YouTube, or you need to delete your Instagram or whatever all they have, to delete Facebook, delete it all. Your marriage and your kids are worth that. I won’t have a computer or a smartphone without covenant eyes on there. That’s the thing—use something, whatever that’s out there. I don’t want it. I don’t want it. I’m not above falling myself; I just want to avoid that thing at all cost. It’s right to do. It’s that serious.
Young people, you say, “Well, I’m not even married. I’ve never committed adultery.” If you’re going around committing fornication, you’re setting yourself up to be unfaithful in the future because you’re forming your pattern of unfaithfulness today. It’s that serious. That’s why we have in the world—praise the Lord—faithfully, it’s a lot less. But in the world, it’s about a 50/50 chance your marriage is going to make it. That’s why we’re there. It’s why we’re there that in some segments of society—let me read it right so don’t misjudge it—in some segments of our American culture, more than 70% of children are born to single parents. That’s why we’re there. Y’all with me this morning? That’s why one in four children today live in households with only one parent. They predict that by age 18 of somebody today, nearly 50% of all children will have lived with just a mom or a dad. That’s how serious it is. Y’all with me out there?
Some movie out there promoting affairs doesn’t look so good when you see how God feels about it. It’s a shame we got to the point where we treat sin so lightly, and yet the wounds and scars are for generations to come. I wish—I don’t mean this, and I’m not trying to be hurtful, I’m trying to warn—and maybe somebody years down the road, you’ll think about this thing. But you come in an office sometime and a couple’s fighting, and you say, “You recognize it’s because of such and such,” and you see the tears well up in the eyes and the hurt. That’s what Satan’s all about, the sins. Is there forgiveness for this sin? Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.
In fact, in John chapter number eight, Jesus is there. And the old Pharisees—those were the ones, “Lo, law, law, lo,” condemning everybody. And the Bible says they had caught this woman in the act. Very interesting. It shows how warped they were. They just brought the woman. The Bible says you broke the man and the lady. Well, they were so warped; that wasn’t about trying to keep the Bible. The law was about them getting what they wanted. And they said, “We caught this woman in the very act of adultery.” I don’t know if it was the night before a lot. Well, the Bible says they brought her and they put her in the midst. I can imagine them kind of dragging this lady and just kind of pulling her hatefully, or you adding it up, hamming it up for them. Remember getting a little big? He’s good at that. They brought this lady and put her right down in the middle of all. By the way, can I say this? I don’t know—either she or the man she was with was married. Now listen to me: Maybe they knew that lady’s husband. They said, “She’s cheating on so-and-so.” Maybe, maybe the man that was cheating with her, maybe it was one of his brothers, and says, “I can’t believe she’s wrecking.” By the way, the man should have been there too. I mean, they’re bringing this woman. I want you to kind of get the gist of this thing, what’s going on. And they’re bringing this lady here, and the Bible says they brought her. I imagine maybe a couple times she thought about running, but she did all these men in the way to keep her from getting away. Well, they’re just dragging it, and they put her right in the midst.
And then they started talking to Jesus: “Hey! What did Moses say to do here?” I like what Jesus did. Jesus—He didn’t have a stick; the Bible says He wrote with His finger. Jesus just stooped down, showing His humility. Jesus just stooped down and started writing in the sand. Since John 8, we won’t take time right now, but it says as if He did not hear them. By the way, some of you are just ready to fight back everybody; sometimes you ought to try what Jesus did at first. He acted like He didn’t even hear them. There’s a lot of wisdom there. And He just wrote this in the sand. I don’t know what He’s writing. I heard one preacher try to explain what He’s writing. If I was a betting man, though, I bet He’s putting on there their sins: self-righteousness, pride. Or He was just writing in the sand. Then it says, so when they continued asking Him, He lifted up Himself and said to them, “He that is without sin among you, let him cast a stone at her first.” I imagine that. They thought, “Man, we got this Jesus. Let’s see what He’s going to do.” And He’s just so humble about it. Finally, after they kept going—in the Bible, Proverbs says, “Answer not a fool according to his folly.” The next verse says, “Answer a fool according to his folly.” Sometimes, after a while, I just have to deal with it. Finally, Jesus stood up and said, “Hey, how many of you boys out there?” Maybe they had heard Jesus: “Hey, if you look at a woman to lust, you have committed adultery already with her in your heart.” The Bible says from the oldest—I don’t know why that is, maybe because they’d lived long enough to realize they’ve got problems too—but the Bible says from the oldest to the youngest, they just started walking away. They all left. And Jesus and this woman were right there. Jesus said—He is the Word; I mean, He is Exodus 20:14 personified.
But notice what He says here: “Woman, where are those thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee?” She said, “No man, Lord.” I like it. She knew who Jesus was. And Jesus said unto her, “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” The order is important, but both are important. “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” A friend, it doesn’t matter where you’ve been, how close you’ve been, or what; there is no condemnation. God doesn’t condemn. In Christ, those in Christ, there is no condemnation.
Yeah. You said, “Well, I’ve never been there.” Maybe you’ve been there with your eyes. Maybe then you’re in your mind. Maybe you’re not there yet, but you say, “I’ve just not been the Christian I ought to be. I’ve got some sin in my life,” in honest truth. Listen, friend, can I tell you: With Christ, there’s no condemnation. Christ looked at this woman that was caught in the very act. He knew of the Old Testament. He is the Word; He is the law. And yet He said, “Hey, I came to bring grace.” And He said, “Hey, neither do I condemn thee.” I’m so glad, because the truth be known, all of us are guilty before God. It’s why none of us have the right to look down our noses at anybody else. The honest, simple truth is the Bible says if you’ve broken the least of these commandments, you’ve broken them all. No condemnation. So glad. So glad. Can I say this? You’ve been hurt. You’ve been wounded by that sin; there’s no condemnation in Christ.
And I understand—and I’m not trying to be, oh, super spiritual here—but I understand there’s a difference between forgiveness and trust. Forgiveness, Christ earned it on the cross of Calvary. Trust is earned. You all with me out there? But if I’m living like Christ, there’s no condemnation. That condemnation has to do with a judge saying, “Guilty.” And I understand there’s a difference between forgiveness and trust. Now, I’m not trying to say what to do about so many specific issues. A friend, wherever you’re at, whatever’s going on in your life, there’s no condemnation in Christ.
This old world will beat you down. Satan will try to lead you astray, lead you into sin. Then once you’re in sin, he’ll condemn you. He’s the accuser of the brethren. That’s what he always thinks. He’ll try to lead you into some listening to the wrong thing or watching the wrong thing. He’ll try to lead you astray. And once you go there, you feel guilty and convicted for the next month over that thing. Listen, but in Christ Jesus, you come and you get that thing right, and He says, “Let’s get above that right there.” He forgives you; He cleanses you. There’s no condemnation in Christ. Do Godly Christians act like Christ? I haven’t been the Christian I ought to be this week. I haven’t prayed; I haven’t read my Bible; I haven’t told anybody about Jesus. Not been a good testimony at work. I’ve been letting the words fly at work. I’m having a bad attitude, whatever it may be. Can I tell you this? In Christ, there’s no condemnation. Can you imagine how that lady felt?
There’s no way out. She was caught. The Bible says she’s caught. Can you imagine the embarrassment? Can you imagine? Has she thought about her husband? The man she loved? And those men were dragging her there. “I’m going to get killed over this thing.” Jesus—you wonder what Jesus is going to do? Can you imagine how she felt when Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn thee”? Wherever you’re at this morning, you come to Christ. He says, “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” Let’s bow our heads and close our eyes, if you would, please. Heads bowed, eyes closed. I don’t know what it might be. Maybe you’ve not loved your wife, your husband as you ought. Maybe your mind has gone to places it ought not to have gone to this week. But you say, “I need to get to Christ. I need a God that loves me that much,” and He says, “Neither do I condemn thee.” He says, “I just need to get to Christ.” I’m talking about whatever it may be. I’m far from what I ought to be this week, but wherever it is in your life, Preacher, I need to get to Christ, and I need to be with one that loves me so much that He says, even for that, whatever it may be, “Neither do I condemn thee.” Preacher, I need to get to Jesus this morning and get that love from Him. Wherever you may be in your life, whatever’s going on, I need to get to Jesus. Is that you this morning? You slip your hand up. Preacher, that’s me. You slip it up. Need to get to Jesus. I see many hands, many hands. Whatever it may be—you’ve not been reading your Bible this week, not been praying, not been witnessing, attitudes not been right. You got bitterness in your life, got unforgiveness, got your mind going. You’ve been critical about other people. Hey, would you come to Jesus this morning? “I need to get to Jesus, no condemnation.” Anybody? Just slip your hand up. Slip it up. God bless you. God bless you. My hands up, my hands up. I sure would like to be a better Christian. Father, I admit it. I’m not what I ought to be. I need to get to Jesus, no condemnation. That’s me. That’s me. That’s me. God bless you. Many, many hands across the room. My hands are with you. I’m so glad. So glad I serve One that says, “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.”
Thank you so much. You said, “Preacher, I’m asking God this morning to give me the strength, the wisdom, the discernment to never go there.” Whether you’ve been there in the past or not, I’m not talking about the past, but you said, “Preacher, I’m asking God to give me the strength, the wisdom to never go there.” My eyes and my heart, or even physically, I’m asking God with my mind, my thoughts—I’m just asking God, “Never let me go there.” And God, would You help me never go there? Never, never, never, never again. Never, never, never, never, never again. That’s you this morning. You slip in and say, “Preacher, I don’t want to go there. I don’t want to go there.” God bless you. God bless you. My hands up, “I don’t want to go there in any form, fashion.” I don’t want to go there. I want to go there. God, by Your grace, by Your strength, I don’t want to go there. I don’t want to be there mentally, in my eyes, my mind, my… physically, I just don’t want to be there. Anybody else? Young people, this would be a great thing for you. Go ahead and say it: “I don’t want to be there ever.” God bless you. Many, many hands. Thank you, thank you, thank you. If you hear this morning, you put your hands down. Thank you so much. If you hear this morning, you say, “Preacher, I’ve never been to Jesus for salvation.” That’s the greatest day of your life when you go to Jesus and He says, “No condemnation, you’re My child. You’re accepted in the Beloved. I love you forever. You’ve got a home in heaven.” Greatest day of your life when you come to Jesus and accept salvation. If you hear this morning, heads bowed and eyes closed: “Preacher, I don’t know that I’ve been saved. I’m not a child of God. I’m not saved.” That’s you this morning. “Preacher, I don’t know that I’m saved.” That’s you; just lift your head up. “Preacher, I don’t know. I don’t know.” Anybody? There’s no condemnation in Christ. Greatest day of your life when you come to Jesus and get His salvation. Greatest day in your life.
Let’s all stand, if you would, please. We’re going to sing the invitation song. Page 300, “Have Thine Own Way, Lord.” Great song. Would you tell them that in your heart? Would you just be obedient to Christ? Maybe you say, “Preacher, I’ve not been witnessing, and God’s been convicting me, and I feel so bad about that.” Would you come to Christ? Yes, you can do that in your seat, but it would be a great place at an old-fashioned altar. Whatever the need—“Preacher, I want to be a better light at my work”—would you come to Christ? No condemnation. “Go and sin no more.” We’re going to pray. As soon as I get done praying, we’ll say amen. As soon as we say amen, we’ll start singing. God spoke to your heart in any way? Would you step down to an old-fashioned altar here? You just spend some time with Christ. There’s no condemnation here. “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” Father, thank you. Thank you. Thank you for Your Word. Father, Lord, I do pray that our world would see things from Your eyes better. And thank you, Jesus. I’m so deserving of Your judgment, but there’s no condemnation in You. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus, that You say, “Hey, go and sin no more.” Help us to get to You today. Whatever, whatever the case may be, help us to get to You, Jesus, during this invitation. Well, thank you, Lord, for what You do. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. Would you come just spend some time with the Lord? Page 300, “Have Thine Own Way, Lord.” Let’s get to Jesus, whatever it may be. Not been praying like God. No condemnation in Christ. The greatest day of your life has been to come to Jesus for salvation. And after that, it’s great; just over and over again you get to Jesus, repeatedly get to Jesus. No condemnation in Christ. Aren’t you glad you serve a Savior that has no condemnation? Well, I’m so thankful for that. And if we stood on our own, we all would be condemned—all of us. And oh, praise the Lord, God sees me through the shed blood. And all because of the blood of Christ, forgiveness and healing and redemption. No condemnation. I’m so glad that even in dealing with a subject like this, Christ showed us where He stands: there’s no condemnation. Isn’t He a wonderful Christ? Let’s go serve Him. Maybe make sure you’re back to your place tonight, 6 o’clock, and teens will be giving testimony. Then after that, we’ll have a fellowship with John McKinnon, and I’m excited about that. And I appreciate you being with me on time. I’ve tried to get it quicker, but there’s so much in these commandments, and we want to cover it thoroughly if we’re going to cover it. It’s very important we do so. So thank you for being with me on that. And I appreciate it so very, very much. Brother Jim Shank, would you dismiss us with the word of prayer, please, brother?
Original File: Pastor Paul Chisgar Sunday AM 71419