From the encounter with holiness to sanctification
Series: Holy – Holy – Holy | Bible text: Matthew 5:17, John 8:1–12
Jesus Christ was challenged by the religious leaders. They wanted to set a trap for him, whereby he either had to turn to grace or to the law. But Jesus Christ takes a different path. He catches us humans in our dealings with offences that are against God’s law. In his grace, he meets the individual and straightens him out. In this way, the commandments of God are not abolished, but rather confirmed. Through this encounter with the holy God, we are called to live in and out of sanctification.
Busted!
For almost ten months now, we have been dealing with our annual theme of holiness. I have already been asked a few times whether the theme of sanctification will also be included – and yes, today is the day. We want to set out together to discover how sanctification comes out of the encounter with the holiness of God. I will then explain the meaning of sanctification in detail later.
We want to look at this movement from encounter to sanctification using a story from the New Testament. We find it in the eighth chapter of the Gospel of John. Jesus was teaching in the temple in Jerusalem at that time. It was the holiest place of the Jews and that is where Jesus went. Because he said things that did not suit the religious leaders of the city, they wanted to have him arrested. But the soldiers could not arrest him because they had never heard a man speak like that (John 7:46). Jesus then withdrew and spent the night outside the city. Early the next morning he returned to the temple and taught the people there.
What follows can be summed up with the catchword «caught».
Caught – an adulteress in the act. The religious leaders approached Jesus with a woman. « «Master,» they said to Jesus, «this woman has been caught in the act of adultery» » (John 8:4 NLB). Now Jesus was trapped. Done with idyll. Done with his teaching. But just a little side note – where was the man? Because to be caught in the act of adultery, that is, sexual intercourse, it always takes two.
Caught – Jesus you must take a stand! For the religious leaders did not bring the woman to him without ulterior motives. So they said: «According to the Law of Moses, she must be stoned to death. What do you say to that?» (John 8:5 NLB). This was a trap. They wanted to test Jesus Christ. For there was a very clear law for such an offence to be punished by death. «If a man sleeps with another man’s wife, both the man and the woman shall be put to death». (Exodus 20:10 NLB). Now he was in a quandary. If he agreed to the punishment, it would speak against his other actions. He, who had just associated with the dregs of society and treated them lovingly, would now stand against them. But if he stood up for this woman, then he was clearly standing against the law. Here now follows a very exciting reaction of Jesus Christ. «[…] But Jesus stooped down and wrote with his finger in the dust». (John 8:6 NLB). He stooped down and wrote in the sand. This is the only writing that we know Jesus himself wrote – and on sand. But what does this reaction tell us? Is Jesus afraid of confrontation? Or is he indifferent?
Caught – all people have transgressions. Jesus Christ takes a middle course here. «But they did not let up and demanded an answer. Finally he straightened up and said: «He who is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone at her!» With that, he stooped down again and continued writing in the dust.» (John 8:7–8 NLB). Sin means transgression and in this case means breaking a law. The answer is a tricky one. For according to Jewish law, the witnesses had to be the first to throw the stones. Jesus» call did not fail to have an effect. «When the accusers heard this, they made off one by one, the elders first. Finally Jesus was alone with the woman, who was still standing in the same place in the middle.» (John 8:9 NLB). The men leave. First the respected leaders, then all the others. This story deeply reveals to us the character of human beings. For when someone does something bad, one likes to point to that person. Because in contrast, one’s own offence is not only seen as smaller, but also as okay. However, at this moment one fails to recognise an important fact. Because when I point my finger at one person, at least three point at me. Through this question, the religious leaders also became sinners, i.e. people who violate the commandments of God.
However, Jesus Christ’s question was not entirely harmless. Imagine if someone had considered himself innocent and therefore thrown a stone at this woman. But Jesus has caught us humans. He also knows about your and my transgressions.
Grace upholds authority of the law
After the religious leaders left, however, the story went even further. «Then Jesus straightened up again and said to her, «Where are they? Have none of them condemned you?» «No one, Lord,» she replied. «Then neither do I condemn you,» Jesus declared. […]» (John 8:10–11 NLB). Here it is important to emphasise what Jesus Christ not said. He did not say that she acted well. He did not say that acting contrary to God’s law (sin) was ok.
Roughly speaking, there are two strands to how we humans deal with biblical commandments. The first says that we must keep the laws and commandments. This requires some effort. In addition, I naturally have to point out their transgressions to others. Fortunately, this has the positive side effect that one’s own misbehaviour does not look so bad in contrast. The second says that mercy always triumphs. It therefore does not matter what the behaviour looks like, because grace overcomes everything. The law is abolished, a «laissez-faire» mood prevails. Both are problematic. If we keep the law, we don’t need the grace of Jesus Christ, because we supposedly get everything together ourselves (this is the way of the religious leaders). If, on the other hand, there is a grace of «anything goes», it is a cheap grace. Without a standard of what life can look like, it becomes too arbitrary and there is no longer right and wrong.
Jesus Christ also takes a middle course here. He upholds the law because he nowhere condones the deed. Rather, he pronounces the judgement of mercy. The adulteress deserved to be killed according to the law. She did not deserve mercy, but he absolves her from the judgement – not from the deed.
To conclude this point, I would like to briefly contrast the religious leaders and Jesus Christ. In the end, they did not condemn the woman because they themselves were guilty and could not do otherwise. He, as the innocent and pure one, is allowed and able to forgive. They would have condemned themselves with the sentence. He condemned them not because he came not to judge but to save. The religious leaders needed grace themselves. But Jesus Christ has the grace that the woman needed, and he can give it.
Life from sanctification
Now we come to the point of living out of sanctification. After Jesus Christ did not condemn the woman, another sentence follows. «[…] Go and sin no more» (John 8:11 NLB). He acquits them, but admonishes them not to sin any more. I will now continue to speak of sin, this always means an action contrary to what God desired and intended for us humans. Sin is not excused in any way. For forgiveness does not mean that sin does not matter. Rather, forgiveness means that sin is an issue. However, God has chosen to remove judgement. When we see wrongdoing in others, our first thought should not be to point it out to the other person, but to encourage us to look more closely in our own lives. It is an indication that everyone needs grace.
In another passage, Jesus Christ says what his mission on earth is. «Do not misunderstand why I have come. I have not come to abolish the law or the writings of the prophets. On the contrary, I have come to fulfil them». (Matthew 5:17 NLB). This leaves followers of Jesus Christ in tremendous tension. For these have the Bible as their guide. It is an invitation to an abundant life. This often contradicts at first sight the ideas around us. For followers are supposed to be holy (set apart). Yet holy is not a quality, it is a relational concept. It shows where the person belongs. So if a person is holy, then he should also live in sanctification. There are two dimensions and meanings of sanctification. First, it means the new life of the Christian. If someone believes in Jesus Christ, then he is justified. That is, sins are forgiven. The judgement that someone would have deserved is transferred to Jesus. The life of a follower is therefore always holy. Secondly, sanctification is understood as the practical action and personal responsibility of a Christian. Depending on one’s character, emphasis is placed on one or the other. But I am convinced that both belong together.
Again, back to our story. «Jesus said to the people: «I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me need not wander in the dark, for he will have the light that leads to life.» » (John 8:12 NLB). People who follow Jesus Christ follow the light of the world. Yes, they even have it within them. And this light of sanctification should shine. «You are the light of the world – like a city on a mountain, shining brightly in the night for all to see. No one hides a light under an upturned vessel. Rather, he places it on a lampstand and lets it shine for all to see. In the same way, let your good deeds shine before men so that all may see them and praise your Father in heaven for them.» (Matthew 5:14–16 NLB). The goal of shining is that God will be praised in heaven. Therefore, it is important that followers of Jesus Christ shine, but not shine. It is not about shining, about being shining. It is about being aware of one’s transgressions and yet following Jesus Christ’s call to «Go and sin no more».
As a church we also try to live in this tension. We hold fast to certain moral and ethical principles which contrast with the views of society. We do this on the one hand in the spirit of grace «you are forgiven» and on the other hand with Jesus» advice «go and sin no more». As leaders we try to walk this fine line. On the one hand, we want to address things, on the other hand, we want to walk with the individuals on their path. Another component is the Holy Spirit. We trust him to speak to each individual in their own time and move them to change direction.
The story we have looked at together today is the beginning of a very intense chapter. At the beginning there is the demand of the religious leaders to stone this woman. In the course of the chapter, some of Jesus» harshest words ever found in the Bible follow. By the end, the negative sentiment towards Jesus has come to such a head that they want to kill him. N.T. Wright points out the core of the chapter. He says «[…] that the far more crucial sin is using the God-given law as a means of personal self-righteousness, when in fact the law is meant to let the light of God’s judgement shine into the dark places of the heart.» (N.T. Wright).
The reaction to God’s holiness can make us angry and make us defensive. But if we let the encounter with holiness lead us to sanctification, it is very fruitful. I end this sermon with the call of Jesus Christ. Along with encouraging you to consider where it is your turn to make a change. Jesus Christ speaks: «[…] Go and sin no more» (John 8:11 NLB).
Possible questions for the small group
Read Bible text: John 8:1–12, Matthew 5:17
- What did Jesus Christ «catch» you doing? What transgressions are there in your life? How do you deal with them?
- How do you deal with biblical commandments yourself? Are you more into «keeping and obeying exactly and making others aware of it» or «grace wins. Therefore laissez-faire»? How does Jesus deal with this in John 8? Would this path also be something for you? What could challenge you?
- «Go and sin no more». What does this sentence trigger in you?
- What about sanctification in your life? Have you decided to live with Jesus Christ? How does this discipleship show in your life?
