John 8:1-11 | What's the lesson for me today?

Let's zero in on a specific phrase that Jesus uses.

"Go and sin no more." 
-John 8:11b

The instruction to sin no more is not only found in this place. It is also found in John 5:14. These are instructions that Jesus gives. When He finds someone in their sin, He does not pretend that the sin did not happen. He also doesn't free them to continue in sin. He also does not tell them to sin less. He tells them to sin no more.

As many of you have heard me teach, you'll know that I truly believe that we are far too light on sin in our lives. We treat sin with expectation and righteousness with rarity as though we were not divinely saved by an all powerful God and given His Spirit. I think we diminish the grace of God in so many ways. We think grace gives us permission to sin. If not that, we think it gives us an easy out. Wrong.

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?
-Romans 6:1-2

To give the idea that we simply continue in sin but at a lower rate shows how little we actually know about the grace of God, and even more about how little we experience it.

11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
-Titus 2:11-14

The grace of God not only frees us from the guilt, condemnation, and shame of sin, it also trains us out of sin. It teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts. It teaches us to live soberly, righteously and godly in the present age. It teaches us to look at the hope we have and the return of Jesus. Why did He give us grace? Why did He give of Himself? So He can have a people that sin less but feel really bad when they do? Or that He would redeem His people from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works? Surely we have developed a high view of sin and a low view of the grace of God.

So what lesson am I taking away? Go and sin no more.

What lesson are you taking?