no condemnation

the topic of last Sunday sermon is this, that there will be no condemnation for those in Christ, it took Ko Denny 1 hour plus to explain this and i believe it could take longer if time permitted for this is such a beautiful message and much can be shared from this statement alone.

Couple of things that strike me most are these:

1. when the parable of Mary Magdalene is told, Jesus ask the crowd to throw the stone first if s/he is without sin. After that, one by one drop their stone and went away. After that, Jesus said: "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" and she replied "No one, Sir".

At first i thought, "well, no one is holy enough to throw the stone anyway, so that's quite a good tactic that Jesus used". But then i realize, JESUS is the only one able to throw the stone. He is able, and in fact He should.

But He didn't. That's grace and it overwhelmed me so much. He said that because even Jesus, who is able to condemn you, chose not to do it. Why should anybody else condemn you then? Not your parents, friends, not even you yourself! Praise God for that!

2. The other interesting part actually comes from listening to Casting Crowns song titled "East to West", if you guys remember there's a verse in Psalm 103:12 saying " as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us."

and the lyric for the song goes like this

Jesus can you show me
Just how far the East is from the West
Cause I can't bear to see the man I've been
Come rising up in me again
In the arms of your mercy I find rest
Cause you know just how far the East is from the West
From one scarred hand to the other

Whenever guilt creeps in, when condemnation knocks in your heart, know this: Jesus' finished work at the cross removed our transgressions as far as the east is from the west.

And how far is the east from the west? From one scarred hand to the other. Remember this, praise GOD and sin no more!