Message of the Latter Rain - Kelvin M. Duncan

Can you imagine what she must have thought? Is it really possible? Can
she really be not only pardoned but cleansed? Is it possible she can actually
go and sin no more? Her heart seems to perceive the promise inherent in the
Lord's command. Surely, after having shown her such marvelous grace, He
would not mock her with an impossible imperative. This must be the
announcement of a mind-boggling but very real possibility. She perceives it,
and she wants it. She wants to be cleansed. She wants to go and sin no more.
The servant of the Lord describes what happened next:
The woman had stood before Jesus, cowering with fear. His words, "He
that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone," had come to her as a
death sentence. She dared not lift her eyes to the Saviour's face, but silently
awaited her doom. In astonishment she saw her accusers depart speechless
and confounded; then those words of hope fell upon her ear, "Neither do I
condemn thee: go, and sin no more." Her heart was melted, and, casting
herself at the feet of Jesus, she sobbed out her grateful love and with bitter
tears confessed her sins.[2]
Only after the woman had been assured that the condemnation had been
lifted, did she fall at Jesus' feet and, "with bitter tears confessed her sins."[3]
In this beautiful illustration of how the process of redemption works, we see
that the first phase of forgiveness led directly to a desire for the second
phase. Pardon led to a desire for cleansing, and this sinner was cleansed.
"This was to her the beginning of a new life, a life of purity and peace,
devoted to God".[4] Some find it hard to believe, but the facts are there
before us in plain language. The woman was pardoned before she confessed,
and the pardon led to repentance, confession, and cleansing. Thus, we should
understand that God's charizomai (unconditional pardon) leads to aphiemi
(cleansing).
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