Uncommonಮಾದರಿ

“...and as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her...but, when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up and said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ She said, ‘No one, Lord.’ And Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.’” John 3:8-11

The buoyancy of grace is pictured perfectly in the story of the woman caught in adultery. The men of the community are operating on a faulty interpretation of the status quo and demand her death.

“Neither do I condemn you,” he says. FLOAT. Jesus is telling this woman to float in the buoyancy of grace. Lift your head because grace is first, and correction is second. Jesus calls her to change her status quo after He changes her hope status. We expect people to change before they float in grace. However, this is not how Jesus or God operates. This is not to say that we are people without ethics or morals. There unquestionably is morality and immorality.

However, it is not out of the motivation of condemnation to do what is moral; it is out of the inspiration of grace. We help people float and then challenge their status quo. There is no separation of sins, such as mortal and venial. There is no condemnation for this group and no sentences for that group. We are all sinners. The liars and the adulterers are equal. However, we are called to imitate God through the example of Christ and the principles of His word. We are called to float because His grace is sufficient.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. How often do you reflect on the grace of God?
2. Do you believe His grace covers everything? Why or why not?
3. How can you dive deeper into knowing the grace of God?