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JESUS FORGIVES OUR SINS - John 8:2-47

"Can Jesus Forgive Me No Matter What I've Done?"

Introduction: Distribute list of offenses worthy of death from the Old Testament law. There are 5 capital crimes, 6 religious crimes, 7 moral crimes, and 2 ceremonial crimes that warrant the death penalty. Ask learners to review this list and share their observations.

• Is the death penalty too harsh for some of the offenses? Why or why not?
• Should we have the death penalty for these offenses today? Why or why not?

Reminder: Do not allow this time to get into a discussion of capital punishment alone. The issue is not whether capital punishment is right or wrong, but an introductory exercise to prompt learners to reflect on the seriousness of sin and the need for forgiveness.

Caught in the Act (John 8:2-4)

The word adultery is based on the Hebrew word na'ap, which indicates the violation of sexual fidelity by a married person, whether male or female. Its first use is in the Seventh Commandment: "You shall not commit adultery." Exodus 20:14 (HCSB). Adultery is more fully explained in Leviticus 18:1-20 and 20:10. According to these passages, a primary way Israel was to distinguish herself from the neighboring pagan countries and show their devotion to Jehovah God was to be holy as He is holy, especially in the area of sexual purity.

The woman brought before Jesus by the scribes and Pharisees was caught in the very act of adultery. According to the Old Testament, this was a serious crime punishable by death (Leviticus 20:10; Deuteronomy 22:22-24; John 8:5). In fact, both parties were to be stoned; the man and the woman. Where was the man she was caught in adultery with? This may be an indicator of how lax the observance of this law was in Jesus' day.

Note: The Old Testament has no record of persons caught in adultery being put to death.

• □ If a person feels guilty, how can that affect his or her relationship with God? With other believers?
• □ Why did the scribes and Pharisees bring this woman to Jesus?
• □ Why do we often expose the sin of others?

Condemned by God's Law (John 8:5-6a)

God's teachings are intended to bring people to awareness of sin and repentance.

• After King David's adultery with Bathsheba, the prophet Nathan denounced the sin and David repented (2 Samuel 11-12). The prophet did not call for the death penalty.
• What did Joseph intend to do with Mary when he mistakenly thought she had been unfaithful to him? "Divorce her secretly" (Matthew 1:19).

The scribes and Pharisees were using this woman to put Jesus on the spot, trying to manipulate Him into a corner where they could accuse Him of some wrongdoing. If He upheld the Jewish law, they could report Him to the Roman authorities as advocating a death sentence in violation of Roman law. If He did not support the Jewish law, they could accuse Him of doing away with the Law of Moses and being a lawbreaker.

• □ What do the events in these verses tell us about how God feels about people who pass judgment on others?
• □ What do these events tell us about how God feels about sin?

A New Start Possible (John 8:6b-11)

Here is a truth all of us should remember: We are all guilty of sinning before God.

Not one of the woman's accusers could claim to be without sin. (Romans 3:23)

The older and wiser men, men of some higher level of status, left first.

Jesus said two significant things to her:

1. "Neither do I condemn you." Jesus was emphasizing that God is more interested in converting sinners than in condemning them.
2. "Go, and from now on do not sin any more." Jesus neither excused her sinful behavior nor gave her license to continue her sinful ways. He gave her an opportunity to make a fresh start.

• □ Think of a time when you were given a chance to make a new start. How did you feel about the opportunity?
• □ How should we feel about people who sin against us?

The True Liberator (John 8:30-36)

Jesus declared that His words were truth and that His truth would set us free. Not in a political sense, for political freedom is fleeting. Freedom in a spiritual sense, freedom from the bondage and ruin of sin, is eternal and has eternal rewards.

The Jews listening to Jesus mistook His words for political freedom. Again, here we see the misguided notions they held pertaining to the Messiah. The expected Him to usher in a political kingdom and set them free from Rome. They claimed to be free already and to have never been in slavery to anyone, when, in fact, Israel had been dominated by many nations and were at that time under the domination of Rome.

Jesus expressed two more important truths:

1. "Everyone who commits (practices) sin is a slave of sin."
2. If the Son sets you free, you really will be free."

"For we know that our old self   was crucified with Him in order that sin's dominion over the body may be abolished, so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin." Romans 6:6 (HCSB)

"Do you not know that if you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of that one you obey-either of sin leading to death or of obedience leading to righteousness?" Romans 6:16 (HCSB)

• □ What does Jesus do that sets us free?
• □ Some of Jesus' audience thought they didn't need to be set free. Do you see similar attitudes in people today? Why or why not?
• □ How is a person's life different once they are no longer controlled by sin?

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON - John 5:16-47

"Why can't I believe in God without accepting Jesus as His Son?"

Write the word Relationship on the board or a large sheet of paper, and call for the class to share synonyms. Record their responses on the board or paper. (Companionship, friendship, intimacy, kinship, etc.)

If possible, display pictures of former President George Bush and current President George W. Bush. Ask: "Why do you think George Bush once referred to George W. Bush as "Quincy"?

• Only two families in our nation's history have had both a father and a son serve terms as President of the United States. John Adams, our nation's 2^nd president, was the father of John Quincy Adams, the 6^th president. And George Bush, the 41^st president, was affectionately teasing his son George W. Bush, our 43^rd president.
• What kind of unique relationship developed between these fathers and their sons?
• How do the synonyms we listed apply to the Bush's?
• How do the synonyms we listed apply to Jesus and God the Father?
• Are there any differences? What are they?

The Jewish leaders reacted harshly because Jesus healed on the Sabbath and claimed to possess a unique relationship with the Father. In the Old Testament the concept of God as Father occurs first in Deuteronomy 32:6 and somewhat infrequently thereafter.

"Is this how you repay the Lord, you foolish and senseless people? Isn't He your Father and Creator? Didn't He make you and sustain you?" Deut 32:6 (HCSB) - (Song of Moses)

The term "My Father" is found only in Jeremiah 3:4,19 and Psalm 89:26, the last of which is messianic.

"Have you not lately called Me: My Father, my youthful companion?" Jer 3:4 (HCSB)

"I thought: How I long to make you [My]  sons and give you a desirable land, the most beautiful inheritance of all the nations. I thought: You will call Me, my Father, and never turn away from Me." Jer 3:19 (HCSB)

"He will call to Me, ‘You are my Father, my God, the rock of my salvation." Psalms 89:26 (HCSB)

Therefore when Jesus referred to God as "My Father", the Jewish leaders charged Him with blasphemy since this was a claim to a special relationship with God only someone equal to God could have.  

The Father and the Son cannot be Separated (John 5:17-23)

"For in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.'" (This citation is from Aratus, a third-century b.c. Gk poet.) "Being God's offspring, then, we shouldn't think that the divine nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image fashioned by human art and imagination." Acts 17:28-29 (HCSB)

• Does this passage of Scripture support the ‘Fatherhood of God, Brotherhood of Man' philosophy? Why or why not?
• When we call God ‘Father' what does it mean? Why?
• What basis do we have to call God ‘Father'?
• How does that relate to Jesus' words in John 5:20? (we are also in a love relationship with God the Father)
• How are God the Father and Jesus inseparable?
• How are we and God the Father inseparable?

The Son Does the Father's Work (John 5:36-38)

In chapter 1 John the Baptist testified about Jesus' identity as "the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (v. 29) and as "the Son of God!" (v. 34). When John baptized Jesus, the Father gave an audible testimony about Jesus' identity as His Son (Matt. 3:17). The Jewish leaders did not accept John's testimony. They likely claimed they did not hear the voice from heaven as John claimed to hear, so John's testimony was not binding on them. But an even greater testimony than John's was available for everyone to see the works that the Father gave Jesus to accomplish. These works are referred to as "signs" in John's Gospel. This term refers to the significance of Jesus' miracles, the Father's testimony about His Son.

The Father gave these signs to Jesus to perform so everyone would know He is God's Son. Jesus performed numerous miracles during His earthly ministry, but the Apostle John recorded just seven of them prior to His resurrection and called them signs (see 2:11; 3:2; 4:54; 6:14; the word does not occur for every miracle). This is one of the ways the Father who sent Jesus testified about who He was. Even though these Jewish leaders had not heard the Father's voice at any time or seen His form, they witnessed these signs the Father provided them about Jesus.

• What evidence convinces you that Jesus is Who He says He is?
• What does "You don't have His word living in you..." mean in verse 38?
• How is "His word living in you" the greatest testimony to us that Jesus is God's Son?

God's Word is About His Son (John 5:39-47)

Review the introduction from day four (Learner Guide pg. 105) involving warning signs.

The religious experts of Jesus' day had ignored:

• 1. The testimony of John the Baptist
• 2. The audible testimony of God the Father at Jesus' baptism
• 3. The works (signs) Jesus performed that were given to Him by the Father
• § What ‘signs' had the religious leaders read but overlooked in verses 39-42?

He told them if you believed Moses, you would believe Me. Although they claimed to follow the teachings of Moses in the Pentateuch (Genesis to Deuteronomy), they actually rejected Moses when they rejected Him. Their unbelief was evidence that they rejected Jesus and Moses because he wrote about Me, Jesus said. Several passages could have been in Jesus' mind, but at least Deuteronomy 18:18 is in view.

"I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. I will put My words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him." Deut 18:18 (HCSB)

In that verse the Lord spoke to Moses about His plans for the Israelites: "I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. I will put My words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him." This verse was understood in a Messianic sense by the Jews of Jesus' day, and it is in this sense that John's Gospel often refers to it (see 1:21; 4:19; 6:14; 7:40,52). Jesus is the prophet like Moses that God promised to raise up for His people, yet the Jewish religious leaders refused to believe that.

• What two reasons did Jesus give in verses 39-42 for the religious leaders' rejection of Him?
• Why do people reject Jesus today?
• How could the religious leaders of Jesus' day study the scriptures and still be ignorant of the truths they contain?
• Do people do this today? Why or why not?

SOMETHING YOU MUST DO - John 3:1-21

"Do I have to believe in Jesus to go to heaven?"

Review copies of birth announcements

• What are some of the things recorded?
• Why do you think those items are included in the announcement?

Write your own RE-BIRTH announcement on the sheet provided.

• What should you include?
• Why should you include those items?

New Birth is Necessary (John 3:1-3)

"New Birth" is from 2 Greek words that mean "born" and "above", 2^nd time sometimes meaning ‘again' as in ascending order, sometimes meaning over, or above as in from above or heaven.

It is also in the passive voice (grammatical structure) meaning that you cannot do it yourself; it must be done to you, similar to a natural birth.

New Birth is a Work of the Spirit (John 3:4-8)

1. Born Again (vs. 3)
2. Born of water and the Spirit (vs. 5)
3. Born of the Spirit (vs. 6)
4. Born again (vs. 7)
5. Born of the Spirit (vs. 8)

Regeneration - Work of the Holy Spirit in a person's heart and life. Includes:

• Imparting spiritual life
• Indwelling the believer
• Birthing us into the family of God

New Birth Involves Believing in Jesus (John 3:13-15)

Son of Man is a reference to Daniel 7:13-14 -

"I continued watching in the night visions, and I saw One like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was escorted before Him. ¹⁴ He was given authority to rule, and glory, and a kingdom; so that those of every people, nation, and language should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will not be destroyed." Daniel 7:13-14 (HCSB)

Jesus makes reference to the story in Numbers 21:4-9. The Israelites rebelled against God in the wilderness, so God sent poisonous snakes among them, causing the death of many people. When the people repented and cried out to Moses for help God directed Moses to erect an image of a bronze snake on a pole. Everyone who looked toward the snake would recover.

• They had to have faith in God's method of deliverance, and not try to work it out themselves
• We have to look to Jesus' atoning death on the cross and have faith in God's method of deliverance, and not try to work it out ourselves.

God Wants You to Experience New Birth (John 3:16-18)

"The Lord does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9 (HCSB)

• How important is it to tell others about Jesus and salvation?
• How important is it to you personally? How often, then, do you make witnessing a priority?

Group Assignments - Reprisals for Speaking Out - Lifeway Adult EXTRA!

1. Inhabitants of the Cayman Islands - Identify possible consequences these island residents could face for speaking freely.
2. Nicodemus - Identify possible consequences Nicodemus could face for approaching and listening to Jesus.
3. Us - Identify consequences you might face for seeking information about Jesus and speaking freely about Him today.

Knowing how essential the new birth is, since we have experienced it ourselves, we should not allow ourselves to be silenced by fear. People must experience the new birth to be saved. We must make sharing that important truth a priority in our lives.

At the forefront of news reporting concerning the Super Bowl has been the obvious Christian testimony of both Super Bowl team head coaches. Both men have used their position of influence to proudly advance their faith, and many have testified that their faith in Jesus Christ shows in how they conduct themselves publicly and privately, including in relationships with players on and off the field. For more insight into this follow the following links to news articles dealing with the above.

Bears credit Lovie Smith for coaching without cursing

Colts chaplain partners with Dungy in imparting the faith

Colts owner Jim Irsay infuses faith into team’s leadership

Asst. coaches also spiritual leaders on NFL’s top teams

Tony Dungy gives priority to annual Super Bowl breakfast & time to share his beliefs

Sadly, the NFL does not share the enthusiasm for Christianity. They have taken action to prevent churches from showing the game as a part of outreach events hosted at local churches. The reasons seem sound at first inspection, but are really rather thin, since they are not enforced upon every entity or organization that shows the Super Bowl on large screens. Bars, especially sports bars, are free to show the game on many screens, and very large ones at that. But churches are restricted to only one screen no larger than 55 inches wide. Read about their action against an Indianapolis church here.

Of course, behind their biased actions is the fact that the beer industry pours billions of dollars of support into the NFL through sponsorships. And some of the beer companies' main avenues of income are bars and sports bars. It's kind of a 'don't bite the hand that feeds you' mentality. Churches are no source of income for the beer companies whatsoever; in fact, our work is to ultimately put them out of business by winning people to Christ. He will, in turn, clean up their lives and rid them of destructive vices such as the use and abuse of alcohol. So the more people attending churches' Super Bowl parties that are alcohol free and preaching deliverance from bondage to alcohol, the less there will be to frequent sports bars, thereby putting a dent into the beer companies' income. I admit, it would be small; perhaps even negligible. And that is a shame on us as believers. Our influence for Christ shouold be much more influential on our society.

So what does this mean for believers and churches? We need to be careful to observe all laws of the land regarding multimedia usage and public viewing of copyrighted material in our churches. And for those using Lifeway's 2007 VBS 'Game Day Central: Where Heroes Are Made', we need to exercise caution and restraint when using NFL-copyrighted materials in our promotion or presentations. A popular video used in many churches this year contained testimonies from both Super Bowl head coaches about their faith. The NFL even had problems with that. Watch the issue closely, contact your state's legislators about making changes in the laws, and contact the NFL Commissioner to express your objection to biased enforcing of the law. Follow this link for a report of fans' reactions to the NFL's actions.