ARE YOU ADDICTED TO EVIL?

The whole nightclub scene, drunken parties, the use of drugs, having multiple partners or living with someone without marriage, same sex marriage, etc., is a big deception. People think that they are free to do what they want but in reality they become imprisoned.

Jesus said, “Everyone who sins is a slave to sin.” But He also said, “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:34-36). People are held in slavery by the devil to the basic principles of this world (Galatians 4:3-7).

GOD’S MERCY TO A WOMAN CAUGHT IN ADULTERY

There is a famous story in the Bible when the religious leaders brought a woman caught in the act of adultery, and they made her stand before Jesus as He was teaching in the temple courts. This woman was made to stand before the Lord in great shame, fear, and disgrace.

The religious leaders quoted the Law of Moses, which said that she deserved to be stoned to death. Jesus did not answer them. He simply bent down and started to write on the ground with His finger.

The religious leaders kept questioning Him until Jesus straightened up and said to them, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” Then Jesus went back to writing on the ground.

These words of Jesus had such conviction and power that every person who was there was convicted of their sin and one by one they began to walk away, until only this woman was left standing before the Lord.

Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir,” she replied. “Then neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin” (John 8:2-11).

BEING SET FREE

There are a number of important lessons we can learn about how to be set free from our sins by the love of God. Jesus saved this woman caught in adultery from certain death. Then He saved her in a deeper way by telling her to go and leave her life of sin.

Jesus was telling her that she was free to make the right decisions and she was free to sin no more. She was set free because Christ had saved her. She was not condemned because Jesus forgave her. Now she was free to start her life again and to have a new life.

CLEANING UP A MESSED UP LIFE

First of all, we do have to realize that sexual immorality is a sin. God created marriage to be holy. At the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.’ ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one.’ Therefore what God has joined, let no man separate” (Mark 10:6-9).

The prophet Malachi warned the people of Israel that God is acting as the witness between you and the wife of your youth, because you have broken faith with her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant. Has not the LORD made them one? In flesh and spirit they are His. And why one? Because He was seeking godly offspring. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith with the wife of your youth. “I hate divorce,” says the LORD... So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith (Malachi 2:14-16).

We are told that one purpose of marriage is to produce godly offspring, for God is seeking children who know His ways. God is seeking families who know His true love. Adultery and sexual sin is referred to as breaking faith. It breaks trust and breaks a relationship that should be one.

The Bible says to put to death whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming (Colossians 3:5-6). Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body (1 Corinthians 6:18).

It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honourable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God (1 Thessalonians 4:3-5).

There must not be even a hint of sexual immorality or any kind of impurity among us. For you can be sure that no immoral, impure or greedy person has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ. Also, we must not get drunk because this leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:3-7,18).

JESUS GAVE HER A NEW LIFE

Jesus came to save sinners, to make people clean, to purify the sinner’s heart and give new life. God has made it possible for all of us to have a new life because Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sins. Jesus shed His holy, righteous blood to save murderers, thieves, liars, and rapists. He calls even the wickedest person to repent and to be saved.

Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Matthew 9:12-13). Sin makes a person spiritually sick. But the good news is that Jesus wants to save people out of their perversion and moral depravity, and set them free.

Jesus came to save the person who thinks that he has blown it and that there is no hope. Jesus reaches out to us in the fullness of God’s love to touch our lives, to transform people’s lives and bring them into God’s kingdom. Jesus came with the mercy of God to give us eternal life.

WHO IS THIS MAN WHO EVEN FORGIVES SINS?

When Jesus was invited to have dinner at the house of a religious leader, a woman came into the room and stood at His feet. She was known for having lived a sinful life. She began to wet Jesus’ feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

When the religious leader saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.” Knowing this man’s thoughts, Jesus said to him, “I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she has loved Me much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”

Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.” The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” Jesus continued to speak to her, saying, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace” (Luke 7:36-50).

This woman left the house filled with the peace of God and the hope of eternal life. Jesus Christ has revealed that He is the Saviour of the world, the One who has the power and authority to forgive us of our sins and give us a place in the kingdom of God.

FORGIVENESS OF SINS LEADS TO TRUE LOVE

Christianity is based on true love; true love towards God and true love towards one another. This is the love that brings salvation. God’s love is available to us all and God looks for those who love Him. Forgiveness of sins does lead to true love.

This woman, who was weeping at the feet of Jesus, touched the Lord’s heart because of her great love. It was her love that proved that her many sins were forgiven. When you are forgiven of your sins you will have love. If you don’t have love it is a sign that you still need forgiveness for what you have done wrong. Forgiveness and love go hand in hand.

True love will save people out of sexual immorality and bring them out of darkness. True love will bring them into the light of God. The touch of Jesus brings forgiveness, inner healing and cleansing. It makes a person clean and pure on the inside. A touch from Jesus makes a person complete and fills them with the peace of God. Jesus loves you!

“Oh God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”