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Message Notes
Condemn - express complete disapproval of, typically in public;
Guilt – Guilt is the acknowledgement that you have done something wrong. It is the burden of responsibility that we feel when we know we have sinned against God or we have violated someone else’s standards.
Shame – The remorse and/or embarrassment experienced when we feel that we have let others down and we expect to receive their scorn or ridicule.
“Guilt feelings focus on what we DO, whereas shame feelings focus on who we are, how we look, and how we relate to others.” —Brene Brown
The antidote to the trap of guilt and shame is grace!
Who Was This Woman?
- In the eyes of the Jews, she was an appalling, vile sinner.
- In eyes of the Pharisees, she was a pawn.
- In the eyes of the Law, she was condemned to die.
- In her eyes she was worthless and hopeless.
What is grace?
“Grace is unconditional acceptance given to an underserving person by an unobligated giver.” —Tullian Tchvijidian
“Grace is nothing more nor less than the face that love wears when it meets imperfection, weakness, failure, sin.” —Joseph R. Cooke
The antidote to the trap of guilt and shame is grace!
“Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them” —John 8:2
“The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, ‘Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?’ This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him.” —John 8:3-6
“Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground.” —John 8:6b
“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.’ And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground.” —John 8:7-8
“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.” —John 8:9
“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;’” —John 8:10-11
“Go, and from now on sin no more.” —John 8:11b
How did Jesus free this woman from the trap of guilt and shame?
- He took her guilt and replaced it with grace.
“Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.” —Romans 6:14
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” —Romans 8:1
- He removed her shame and restored her self-worth.
“Shame is an intense, painful feeling that we are unworthy of love or belonging.” —Dr. Brene Brown
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” —2 Corinthians 5:17
In Christ you are a new creation!
- In Christ you have been forgiven. Ephesians 4:32
- In Christ you have been redeemed. Romans 3:24
- In Christ you have been reconciled to God. Romans 5:11
- In Christ you have faith, hope and love. I Thessalonians 1:3
- In Christ you have the peace of God. Philippians 4:7
- In Christ we have the love of God. Romans 8:39
“Tells us that because of God’s great love for us, He gave His Son that “he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness towards us in Christ Jesus.” —Ephesians 2:7
“He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.” —Psalm 103:12
- He took her brokenness and made her whole
Repentance – change of mind so powerful, that it changes the course of the direction of your life.
“The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.” —Psalm 51:17
The antidote to the trap of guilt and shame is grace!
Question - Who Has Condemned You?