In the last post of this series we examined the place of the law in evangelism.  The law is used to bring conviction and show a sinner their need for salvation.  Today we will look at the question, should the law be used in every situation?

Let’s return to John chapter 8 and the story of the woman caught in adultery.  Verses 9-11 read:
And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.  When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Where are those accusers of yours?  Has no one condemned you?  She said, “No one, Lord.”  And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”

The woman was clearly guilty.  She had been caught and there was unarguable evidence against her.  Why did Jesus not condemn her?  After all, the law was given by God and Jesus claimed to be God in the flesh?

However, Jesus did not condemn the woman because that was not His mission.  His mission was to “seek and save” the lost.  (For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. John 3:17)  The law had already been given.  Jesus kept the whole of the Old Testament law perfectly (He was the law of God).  He did not condemn the sinners, as His mission was to bring healing to the broken (like this woman.)

The way Jesus dealt with the woman was in stark contrast to the way He handled the Pharisees.  On the one hand is the woman, broken and guilty (deserving condemnation according to the law), on the other are the Pharisees, ungodly leaders trying to ensnare Jesus (deserving more condemnation as the leaders in Israel).  The Pharisees were not interested in “purging evil” from among the people, rather they were merely looking for a chance to trap Jesus.  On them Jesus brought condemnation and they left.  With the woman He showed compassion and love.  She did not need the law to reveal her error as she knew it.  She also knew she was guilty.  (Here is the key: a broken and guilty person who knows and understands their sin does not need to be hammered with the law.)  With her Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”

This ties into evangelism.  With the haughty, proud, I-am-a-good-person type of people the law must be used to bring conviction and show them how far short they fall of God’s standard.  With broken, humble, I-have-messed-up type of people we must show them that God loves them so much that He provided a way for their salvation.  Do you see the difference?  The humble and broken do not need to be pounded with the law they need to have someone show them the “Way the Truth and the Life.”

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In the last couple posts I have stressed the importance of using the law in our efforts to evangelize.  At the same time I do not want to neglect the importance of sharing God’s love with the unsaved.  (But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8) (Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. John 15:13)  People must realize how much God does love them.  They must see the greatness of the sacrifice and price that Jesus paid to save them from Hell and restore them to a right relationship with the Father.  By no means neglect to share the depth and width of God’s love toward the sinner.

In the next and final post in this series I will give you a break down, step by step guide to evangelism.  In essence a sequence of steps to follow when you share the gospel.

In Christ alone,

Erik Brown