Sunday, January 24, 2021 ~ The Book Of John ~ Series: LOVED BY JESUS ~ Message: The Forgiver ~ Scripture: John 7:53–8:11 ESV ~ Pastor Philip Miller

Image: “Jesus The Forgiver”

WELCOME

Sunday, January 24, 2021

The Book Of John

Series: LOVED BY JESUS

Message: The Forgiver

Scripture: John 7:53–8:11 ESV

Pastor Philip Miller

Scripture Reading John 8:2–11 ESV

John 8 ESV

Audio: John 8 ESV

8 2 Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst 4 they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. 5 Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” 6 This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. 7 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.” 8 And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. 9 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. 10 Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”]]

Pastor Philip

Thank you, Caris, for showing the love of Jesus in such tangible and life-affirming ways!

You can learn more about this amazing ministry at caris.org.

It is because of our deep commitment to the sanctity of life that we gladly partner with Caris here in Chicago. Some of you know that Caris was birthed out of The Moody Church back in 1985 as four women were burdened to offer a compassionate, trusted place for women facing unplanned pregnancies. To this day, through a holistic pregnancy-counseling approach, Caris works to address the needs of both the woman and the child with grace, community, and hope. The team at Caris addresses the cultural, societal, spiritual, and economic needs that arise during an unplanned pregnancy, ensuring that both women and children are able to thrive. And through their C25 Project they extend resources and support to women and children until the child’s fifth birthday!

This week we once more affirm the sanctity of all human life. Because human beings are created by God, bearing His image and likeness (Genesis 1:26–27), they possess inherent dignity, transendent value, and inestimable worth. Each human life is fearfully and wonderfully made by a loving Creator (Psalm 139:14). There is a precious sacredness to those who bear the imago Dei. From the miracle of conception until life’s final breath, and every moment in between, we affirm the sacredness of life.

53 [[They went each to his own house,

8 1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst 4 they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. 5 Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” 6 This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. 7 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.” 8 And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. 9 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. 10 Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”]]

SERMON NOTES

Sunday, January 24, 2021

The Book Of John

Series: LOVED BY JESUS

Message: The Forgiver

Scripture: John 7:53–8:11 ESV

Pastor Philip Miller

Few stories of Jesus are more iconic or gripping or tender than the story of the woman caught in adultery. It’s a story that’s brutally honesty, a story of undeniable humanity, a story brimming with redemptive hope, and it’s a story that reveals the forgiveness and love of Jesus in an unforgettable way.

In this sermon, we explore three key points.

A Clever Trap

1) A Clever Trap: The scribes and Pharisees think they have Jesus cornered in a trap. Will Jesus choose to cruelly uphold the law or compassionately break the law? But Jesus knows that something is amiss here.

A Brilliant Escape

2) A Brilliant Escape: Jesus doesn’t take the bait, but instead turns the spotlight of conviction upon their own sinfulness. Jesus doesn't pretend that the woman is innocent, and he doesn't deny the Law of Moses, yet he compassionately stands up for her against their corrupt and unjust motives.

A Transforming Love

3) A Transforming Love: In his response to the woman, Jesus demonstrates six liberating moves.

• Jesus separates the sin from the sinner.

• Jesus calls out her sin without condemnation.

• Jesus sees her at her worst and loves her anyway.

• Jesus loves her exactly as she is, and too much to leave her as she is.

• Jesus loves her with both truth and grace.

• Jesus loves her into loveliness.

Jesus loves her in her unloveliness. And in his love for her, is making her lovely. He’s loving her into loveliness.

But how is this possible?If the wages of sin is death, how can Jesus give life? If the law condemns, how can Jesus accept? If judgement is due, how can mercy triumph? How can Jesus be both just and justifier?

Don’t you see? Stones should be thrown, but it will be his body that is broken. Judgement should fall, but it will fall across his back. Condemnation should come, but he will carry out the sentence. The wages of sin is death, but it is he who will suffer and die.

Takeaways:

• Have you received Jesus’ love? Admit, believe, and commit.

• Are you abiding in Jesus’ love? Rest in it. Abide in it. Root down into it. We can’t change any other way.

• How can you extend Jesus’ love? Having received this transforming love (grace and truth), we now are called to extend this love.

PASTOR TO PEOPLE