John 8:10-11When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. KJV
The story of the woman caught in the very act of adultery has a great lesson for whoever is feeling condemned and guilty. They brought this woman to Jesus with the expectation that he would pronounce judgement on her based on the Mosaic code. That woman knew she was a step away from death because the law demanded that those caught in adultery should be stoned to death. Her grief and pains were complex because we didn't see the man who committed adultery with her. Jesus asked a simple but profound question from his accusers,"He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her". They left her on that scene with Jesus. The final words of Jesus to her were, "Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more".
When the devil bring your past to the court of judgement, his expectation is that you will be judged and condemned. You can tell when the devil is condemning you because in your heart, you will feel the burden of guilt. It is not Jesus that condemn because he said: 'For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved"(John3:17). That voice bringing judgement and condemnation into your heart is not of God. I know many believers have this problem. That's why some are depressed, prayerless and powerless. Some responded to multiple altar calls to give their lives to Christ severally because they felt guilty almost every time. To make matters complex, maybe someone told them if they don't clear up all the mess from their past through restitution, they cannot be saved. Hearing that alone may put a heavy burden of guilt on them.
I have been there before. Someone once told me i must clear up my past then i wondered what Jesus saved me from. Jesus told the thief on the cross that he would meet him in paradise that day. If he were to be like some preachers, they may just tell him paradise is not for you until you complete all restitution. How possible is that even for a man that is not nailed to the cross? That tells me that Christ's sacrifice has made forgiveness easy, he is not adding burdens. If you can right all the wrongs in your past, you may not need Jesus but because it is practically impossible to do that, his blood is available to wipe your slate clean. Christ has come to pay the debt you could not pay in a lifetime. If you still doubt this, you may not be free from guilt and condemnation all your life. Hear what Jesus is saying this very hour, "Neither do I condemn thee: GO, AND SIN NO MORE".
Father, I thank you because I am not condemned. I heed the voice of Christ telling me to go and sin no more in the name of Jesus.