1. John 7-12: Who is Jesus that we should follow him?

2. Who is Jesus that we should follow him? The one who satisfies

6. John 8 1 Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” 6 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. Trap...

7. Condemn Condone Supports Pharisees No hope for sinners Religion for good people only Ordinary people will reject Jesus

8. Trap... Condemn Condone Supports Pharisees No hope for sinners Religion for good people only Ordinary people will reject Jesus Contradicts God’s standards Devalues the sinned against Ordinary people will reject Jesus

9. Springing the trap John 8 6... But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there.

10. Springing the trap Jesus attacks the assumption that humans have the right to... Judge: Deciding which sins are to be punished Deciding who has sinned God Himself does not propose to judge a man until he is dead. So why should you? Anon God Himself does not propose to judge a man until he is dead. So why should you? Anon

11. Springing the trap Jesus attacks the assumption that humans have the right to... Judge: Deciding which sins are to be punished Deciding who has sinned Being morally superior I have begun to realise how hard it is for a lot of people to think of living without someone to look down upon Martin Luther

12. Springing the trap Jesus attacks the assumption that humans have the right to... Judge: Condemn: Deciding which sins are to be punished Deciding who has sinned Being morally superior Declaring that repentance is too late

13. Condemnation and conviction can both feel the same – they hurt! Condemnation does not give you a way out. It judges you and leaves you in a hopeless state Conviction may hurt like condemnation but it gives you a way out. It is called ‘Repentance’ John Bevere

14. Condemnation Conviction Human voiceSpirit’s voice Leads to despairLeads to repentance Reinforces behaviourEnables change

15. Freedom from Condemnation John 8 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” Jesus does not reject sinners It is not until you know God is seeking you in love, not in condemnation; it is not until that moment that the gospel becomes Good News for you. James Fitzgerald, Serpents, Penguins, and Crosses It is not until you know God is seeking you in love, not in condemnation; it is not until that moment that the gospel becomes Good News for you. James Fitzgerald, Serpents, Penguins, and Crosses

16. Freedom from Condemnation John 8 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” Jesus does not reject sinners Romans 8 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then can condemn? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? Romans 8 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then can condemn? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

17. Freedom from Condemnation John 8 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” Jesus does not reject sinners Romans 8 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then can condemn? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? Romans 8 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then can condemn? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

18. Freedom from Condemnation John 8 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” Jesus does not reject sinners Jesus does not end the opportunity for repentance Jesus does not punish sin

19. Freedom from Condemnation John 8 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” Jesus does not reject sinners Jesus does not punish sin Jesus takes the punishment for sin Jesus does not end the opportunity for repentance

20. A lot of what God had done throughout history hasn't seemed fair to people. Why was Jacob not denounced by God for his conniving ways? Why was David not disowned by God for his disgraceful actions? Leighton Farrell, Cries from the Cross, Abingdon Press 1994 pg. 25

21. A lot of what God had done throughout history hasn't seemed fair to people. Why was Jacob not denounced by God for his conniving ways? Why was David not disowned by God for his disgraceful actions? Why was the adulteress not condemned by Jesus for her open disregard of the moral laws? Leighton Farrell, Cries from the Cross, Abingdon Press 1994 pg. 25

22. A lot of what God had done throughout history hasn't seemed fair to people. Why was Jacob not denounced by God for his conniving ways? Why was David not disowned by God for his disgraceful actions? Why was the adulteress not condemned by Jesus for her open disregard of the moral laws? Why was Peter not disavowed by God after his blatant denial of Christ in the courtyard? Why was Paul not banished by God forever because of his persecution of the Christians early in his life? Leighton Farrell, Cries from the Cross, Abingdon Press 1994 pg. 25

23. A lot of what God had done throughout history hasn't seemed fair to people. Why was Jacob not denounced by God for his conniving ways? Why was David not disowned by God for his disgraceful actions? Why was the adulteress not condemned by Jesus for her open disregard of the moral laws? Why was Peter not disavowed by God after his blatant denial of Christ in the courtyard? Why was Paul not banished by God forever because of his persecution of the Christians early in his life? Why? That is the question: Why? Leighton Farrell, Cries from the Cross, Abingdon Press 1994 pg. 25

24. A lot of what God had done throughout history hasn't seemed fair to people. Why was Jacob not denounced by God for his conniving ways? Why was David not disowned by God for his disgraceful actions? Why was the adulteress not condemned by Jesus for her open disregard of the moral laws? Why was Peter not disavowed by God after his blatant denial of Christ in the courtyard? Why was Paul not banished by God forever because of his persecution of the Christians early in his life? Why? That is the question: Why? And the answer is because there is nothing in the world so tenacious and resolute as the grace of God. Leighton Farrell, Cries from the Cross, Abingdon Press 1994 pg. 25

25. A lot of what God had done throughout history hasn't seemed fair to people. Why was Jacob not denounced by God for his conniving ways? Why was David not disowned by God for his disgraceful actions? Why was the adulteress not condemned by Jesus for her open disregard of the moral laws? Why was Peter not disavowed by God after his blatant denial of Christ in the courtyard? Why was Paul not banished by God forever because of his persecution of the Christians early in his life? Why? That is the question: Why? And the answer is because there is nothing in the world so tenacious and resolute as the grace of God. The Gospel of John tells us: "God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him." (John 3:17) Leighton Farrell, Cries from the Cross, Abingdon Press 1994 pg. 25

26. John 8 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” Call to leave sin Jesus does not encourage sin to continue Jesus requires sin to be left behind Jesus requires change

27. Lessons Followers of Jesus will not...

28. Lessons Followers of Jesus will not... Relish exposing sin

29. Lessons Followers of Jesus will not... Relish exposing sin Judge whose or which sins need punishing

30. Lessons End the opportunity to receive grace by condemning Followers of Jesus will not... Relish exposing sin Judge whose or which sins need punishing John 3 17 God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

31. Lessons End the opportunity to receive grace by condemning Followers of Jesus will not... Relish exposing sin Judge whose or which sins need punishing 1 John 3 20 If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 21 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God

32. Lessons End the opportunity to receive grace by condemning Reject or exclude sinners Followers of Jesus will not... Relish exposing sin Judge whose or which sins need punishing

33. Lessons End the opportunity to receive grace by condemning Fear accusations of condoning sin Reject or exclude sinners Followers of Jesus will not... Relish exposing sin Judge whose or which sins need punishing

34. Lessons End the opportunity to receive grace by condemning Fear accusations of condoning sin Reject or exclude sinners Followers of Jesus will not... Relish exposing sin Judge whose or which sins need punishing Condone/encourage sin

35. Lessons End the opportunity to receive grace by condemning Fear accusations of condoning sin Reject or exclude sinners Followers of Jesus will not... Relish exposing sin Judge whose or which sins need punishing Condone/encourage sin Be content to stay in sin

36. Who are we? The Pharisees? Angry at sin Fearful of sin abounding Overlooking our own sin

37. Who are we? Angry Fearful Overlooking The Pharisees? The crowd Watching to see what Jesus does

38. Who are we? Angry Fearful Overlooking The woman? The Pharisees? The crowd Watching Caught in the wrong Fearful of rejection Receiving acceptance Called to leave sin behind

39. Who are we? Angry Fearful Overlooking Caught Fearful Accepted Leaving sin behind Compassionate Loving sinners Accused of condoning Inspiring change The woman? Jesus? The Pharisees? The crowd Watching

40. Lessons End the opportunity to receive grace by condemning Fear accusations of condoning sin Reject or exclude sinners Followers of Jesus will not... Relish exposing sin Judge whose or which sins need punishing Condone/encourage sin Be content to stay in sin