All her accusers walked away. Jesus asked, "Did no one condemn you?" The answer of the adulteress was simple. "No one, Lord." Jesus then said two astounding things. "I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more" (John 8:10-11). Jesus Christ did not come to bring condemnation.

Adultery already violates God’s standards. "You shall not commit adultery" (Exodus 20:14). The penalty for adultery was death. "If there is a man who commits adultery with another man’s wife, one who commits adultery with his friend’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death" (Leviticus 20:10). The New Testament adds these solemn words, "The wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). The Old Testament penalty reflects the awesome spiritual reality.

At the same time, "God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved" (John 3:17). Jesus did not condemn. He did not condone the woman’s sin either. "Sin no more." Salvation means new life. God removes guilt and the propensity to sin. God also provides a new bent of heart. "There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death" (Romans 8:1).