"GO, AND SIN NO MORE"

The law of Moses (The Book of The Law) contained
administrative laws that enforced obedience to The Ten
Commandments.  For example:  with the corroborating
testimony of two or three witnesses, the penalty for adultery
was death.


In the time of Christ, The Sanhedrin (the judicial court of
the Jews)  no longer had the final authority in sentencing
men to death.  Jesus was born under the law [The Law of
Moses] --but Caesar ruled the Roman Empire!

It was in those troublous times that certain scribes and
Pharisees brought a woman taken in adultery unto Jesus so
they might accuse him. 

    "... 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. What do you say about  
    her?' 

    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.  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 with his finger  
    on the ground.  But when they heard it, they went away,  
    one by one, beginning with the eldest, and Jesus was left  
    alone with the woman standing before him. 

    Jesus looked 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;
          GO, AND DO NOT SIN AGAIN.'"
                     John 8:3-11 (RSV)

That account of the woman taken in adultery shows that
The Ten Commandments were upheld by Moses and Christ.
Under Moses, the adulteress would have been stoned
without mercy; but, Jesus forgave the woman with the
command "DO NOT SIN AGAIN."
The Law of Moses could not forgive men --or make them
perfect.  That law could only show people their need for
Jesus.  We are forgiven [justified] through faith in Christ
with his serious warning:  "DO NOT SIN AGAIN."

Under the New Covenant, unrepentant adulterers will still
receive the death penalty. 

    "Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled:
     but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge."
                               Heb 13:4 (KJV)

Right now,  judgment has only been delayed.  This time of
grace has been given so sinners can repent and be saved
through faith in Christ.  However, if they don't stop
committing willful sin, completely and forever, they will
receive the death penalty at the judgment seat of Christ.

Donna Kupp

"He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two
or three witnesses:

Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be
thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of
God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant,
wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done
despite unto the Spirit of grace?

For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto
me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord
shall judge his people.

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."    
                Heb 10:28-31 (KJV)

dk