Let He Who is Without Sin Cast the First Stone?

In John 8:1-11, we read the story of a woman caught in the act of adultery, and she was brought before Jesus teaching in the temple. The Pharisees said, "Teacher, Moses commanded us to stone such women. What do you say?"

They were trying to trap him. If He said, "Let her go," he'd be ignoring the law of Moses. But if He said, "Stone her," he'd be going against Rome and that would get him in trouble with the Romans. Jesus responded by writing on the ground with his finger.

When they continued to press Him, He stood up and said, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her." Upon hearing this, the Pharisees left, and Jesus said, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" She said, "No one, Lord." And He said, "Neither do I condemn you. Now go and sin no more."

This story is commonly used to say no one is without sin, therefore no one has any right to judge. But Jesus said just a few verses before to judge with right judgment (John 7:24). When Jesus said, "Let him who is without sin be the first to cast the stone," He was saying, "Which one among you is the dude she had adultery with?" Was he without sin? According to Leviticus 20:10, he's supposed to be stoned with her.

Having been exposed that they were ignorant of the law, the Pharisees high-tailed it out of there. Jesus, the author of the Law (represented by Him writing on the ground with His finger, just as He wrote the Law with His own hand at Mt. Sinai), forgave the woman and told her not to sin anymore.

However, there's a problem with this story. John didn't write it, and your Bible will tell you that -- John 7:53 through 8:11 didn't appear in any of the earliest manuscripts. This section is known as the pericope adulterae. In some textual variants, it's found after John 21:25, and in other places it comes after Luke 21:38 or 24:53.

It's a nice story, but it has no original authorship, and doesn't belong in the Bible. The greatest story of love and forgiveness is found at the cross of Christ, when we understand the text.

What Does the Bible Say About Being Lukewarm?

In Revelation 3, Jesus rebuked the church at Laodicea for becoming complacent in their faith. "I know your works," he said. "You are neither hot nor cold. So because you are lukewarm, I will spit you out of my mouth."

Now, it's often interpreted that being hot is having passion for God and cold is against God. If you have no passion, then you're lukewarm. Therefore Jesus is saying, "Either be all in or all out. It's the ones in the middle that really make me sick" But how does that make sense? Jesus was not telling a church, "I'd have more respect for you if you were against me."

Laodicea was abundant in riches, and the church benefited from the wealth of the city. It got to the point where they thought they didn't need anything from God. But Jesus said, "You are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked' (Revelation 3:17)." You have nothing apart from Christ.

For all of Laodicea's luxuries, there's one resource they didn't have. Water. Nearby Colossae had refreshing cold water, and Hieropolis had medicinal hot water. But what happens when you channel that water in? It becomes lukewarm. If you're expecting a cold drink and it's warm, or hot water and it cools with all those mineral deposits in it, you're going to spit it out.

What Jesus was saying to them was this: you are far from the source. You cannot refresh nor offer healing to anyone, because you are far from me and my word.

Many churches today have sought after wealth and prosperity, and they've forgotten the word of Christ. Jesus says, "Those whom I love I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent." But you cling to this world instead of Christ, He will spit your name out of his mouth on judgment day, when we understand the text.

What Would Jesus Say About Mass Shootings and Natural Disasters?

Another mass murder in the news. Another disaster claiming many lives. The number of people killed grows every day. What would Jesus have said about such tragedies?

Actually, He did address this in Luke 13:1-5. Some Galileans were murdered while they were sacrificing in the temple and their blood was mixed in with their sacrifices. Were they guilty of some terrible sin because this happened to them while they were worshiping?

Jesus said, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them. Do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others in Jerusalem? No, I tell you. But unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."

We live in a fallen world where people die: sometimes at the hands of lunatic psychopaths, sometimes in tragic accidents. Why do these casualties keep happening? Because of our sin. Not because one person's sins are worse than another's, but because everyone has sinned (Romans 3:23).

"The wages of sin is death," the Scripture says (Romans 6:23). And "all things have been subjected to futility" because of man's rebellion against God (Romans 8:20). As long as we live on this earth, people will keep dying in unexpected, unforseen ways. We will never solve that problem.

So what is there to do? Well, Jesus said, repent. Apologize to Him for your sin, and He will forgive you. And on the day that you die, expected or unexpected, you will not perish in judgment. You will live with God forever, in a place where every tear will be wiped away and evil and death shall be no more (Revelation 21:4), when we understand the text.

Is the Protestant Reformation Over?

In 1999, the Roman Catholic Church and the Lutheran World Federation, in an effort to resolve 500 years of conflict since the protestant reformation, signed the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification.

The statement claimed that the two bodies "are now able to articulate a common understanding of our justification by God's grace through faith in Christ." A Methodist council later adopted the declaration in '06, and a communion of reformed churches adopted it in 2017.

Many have pointed to this and other ecumenical partnerships and said, "See? The protestant reformation is over!" But is it really? Do those churches now submit to the primacy of the Pope? No, we're still supposed to be protesting!

The Catholic church has not changed its position on justification. They have said that if a person believes in justification by faith alone, they are cursed to hell. If a person rejects the Pope's teaching, they're cursed. If they've not been baptized or attend a Catholic church, they're cursed.

"If any one shall say, that by faith alone the impious is justified... let him be anathema." Council of Trent (Session 6, Chapter 16, Canon 9)

"Should anyone, which God forbid, have the temerity to reject this definition of [the Pope's infallibility], let him be anathema." First Vatican Council (Session 4, Chapter 4)

"Basing itself on Scripture and Tradition, the Council teaches that the Church, a pilgrim now on earth, is necessary for salvation." Catholic Catechism 846

"Baptism is necessary for salvation." Catholic Catechism 1257

The Catholic church says a person is saved by faith and works. But the Bible says that a person is saved by grace through faith and not of works (Ephesians 2:8-9). Roman Catholicism is a different gospel. The Bible says if anyone teaches a different gospel they are cursed (Galatians 1:8-9). We are not fellow workers on the mission field. They are the mission field!

Now, being protestant doesn't just mean we protest the Pope. We protest any teaching contrary to the wisdom of God in the Bible. "For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God" (2 Corinthians 10:4-5), when we understand the text.