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Q. How did Jesus respond to people who got caught in sexual sin?

A. Jesus didn't turn and walk away from sexual sinners. From the examples in the Gospels—John 4:1–42, John 8:2–11, and Luke 7:36–50—he seemed to have a special love for them. Notice four things:

1. Jesus didn't deny the presence of sexual sin. He never said, "Oh, that's not important. There are bigger issues in life." Sexual sin is a big deal. Everybody may be doing it, but everyone engaging in sexual sin is also wrong. Jesus never winked at sexual sin.
   
   
2. Jesus was willing to confront people about their sin. He didn't let the woman at the well draw her water and return to her serial-marriage lifestyle without confronting her with God's love. You must be equally bold in calling sin what it is: sin.
   
   
3. Jesus had great compassion for sinners. He didn't condemn any of these three women. He showed compassion for them. He received them. No matter how great or how public their sin, He forgave them.
   
   
4. Jesus told those who had sinned to "sin no more." His forgiveness was not a license to continue to sin. It gave them the courage not to sin again in this area.
   
   

How should I respond to Jesus?

It's your responsibility to receive God's forgiveness—accept it, be grateful for it, and forgive yourself. It's your responsibility not to dwell on your past sins or continue to beat yourself up over them. But it's also your responsibility to change your behavior. You must choose not to sin again.

Ed Young is senior pastor of Fellowship Church in Grapevine, Texas.

Adapted from: Fatal Distractions (Nelson, 2000) by permission.

Copyright © 2002 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.
Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity.

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Prayer for the Week

Holy God, help me to detect the dangling lures, and discern the consequences of responding to them.

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