When Jesus tells the woman caught in adultery to "sin no more" (John 8:11), it is not just a moral command but an invitation into a new reality—one where she is no longer enslaved to sin. This connects directly to His later teaching in John 8:12, where He says, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." To believe in Him means to walk in this light, following His teachings, which leads to freedom. That freedom is not just a legal declaration of forgiveness but a transformation that makes it possible to overcome sin.
Jesus makes it clear in John 8:24, "If you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins." Belief in Him is essential for salvation, but it is not a passive belief—it is meant to result in following Him. In John 8:31-32, He tells those who believe in Him that if they continue in His word, they will know the truth, and the truth will set them free. This implies that true freedom—the kind necessary for salvation—is not just a one-time belief but a life lived in obedience to His teachings.
If we extend this to Revelation, which is the revelation of Jesus given by the Father (Revelation 1:1), then holding to His teachings includes what is written there. Revelation calls for endurance, faithfulness, and overcoming sin through Jesus (Revelation 2-3). It reveals the final victory of those who remain faithful and do not fall back into sin. This aligns with John 8—salvation is not just about being forgiven but about being set free to truly "sin no more," which only happens through Jesus and holding to His teachings, including Revelation.
Stephen D Green with AI, March 2025.
