No Cheap Grace

Jesus stood up and asked her, “Where is everyone? Isn’t there anyone left to accuse you?” “No sir,” the woman answered. Then Jesus told her, “I am not going to accuse you either. You may go now, but don’t sin anymore.”

John 8:10–11 (CEV)

Do you know someone who never really repents? Oh, they’ll quickly say they are sorry if they get caught, but they never really mean it enough to quit their bad behavior. When Christians do that, some people say they’re acting on “cheap grace.” They’re acting like God’s mercy will get them out of the deserved punishment for sin without them having to change their heart.

On the other hand, some people are all about punishing sin—especially in others. If you even look like you are doing something wrong they may want you kicked out, shunned at youth group, and unfriended on social media.

Jesus didn’t fall into either of those camps. In this Bible story, an adulterous woman was brought before him. The crowd was ready to stone her—to cancel her out. But when Jesus quietly said, “You can throw a stone if you’re perfect,” they all dropped the rocks and walked away.

Jesus loved this woman enough to forgive her. He released her from punishment, even the shame she could punish herself with. And when he told her, “Don’t sin anymore,” he expected a change in her behavior and her heart. And he expects changes from us, too.

Justice demands punishment for our wrongdoing. Forgiveness and mercy means you don’t get what you deserve. God provides both through Jesus—through his death on the cross. Repentance means you have a made-up mind not to do it again. And Jesus helps with that, too.

SPIRITUAL FITNESS TRAINING

We are all sinners. Yet, sometimes we still judge others. Jesus is asking us to drop our stones. This means, look into your own heart first before judging the hearts of others. Take some time to think about sins in your own life. Write your prayers to God in a journal or on some paper. He is listening to you and is ready to forgive… always.

INSPIRATION

“Grace isn’t amazing unless you understand that you don’t deserve it.”

—Jackie Hill Perry, Christian author, speaker, poet, and rapper

KEEP IT GOING

Related passages: These additional verses will help you expand Scriptural knowledge and place on the armor of God’s Word to tackle each day. Swipe to read the passages today.

Nehemiah 9:17

Psalm 51:1–2

Acts 3:19

1 John 1:9