Living in Freedom Through Christ's Atonement
Summary
This morning, we explored the deep connection between ourselves and the cross of Christ, focusing on the doctrine of atonement—how Jesus’ sacrifice covers and removes our sins. We began by recognizing our total dependence on God every moment of every day, and how easily we drift into self-dependence when we lose sight of that. The story from John 7 and 8, particularly the woman caught in adultery, reveals not just a lesson in mercy, but a living illustration of atonement. The Pharisees, intent on upholding the law, brought the woman before Jesus to trap Him, but Jesus’ response exposed both the hypocrisy of the accusers and the heart of God’s redemptive plan.
Jesus, by writing in the dirt and challenging anyone without sin to cast the first stone, upheld the law’s standard while simultaneously revealing that none are qualified to judge except Himself. He did not dismiss the seriousness of sin, but neither did He condemn the woman. Instead, He removed her penalty and called her to a new life: “Go and sin no more.” This is the costly love of Christ—He accepts the code, but He takes the penalty upon Himself. The story is not just about the woman; it’s about all of us. We are all like sheep who have gone astray, deserving of judgment, but Jesus steps in as both our judge and justifier.
The cross is not a distant event; it is a personal connection. Jesus’ atonement is not just a theological concept, but a lived reality for every believer. He sets us free from the law of sin and death, not so we can continue in our old ways, but so we can walk in the freedom and victory He has purchased for us. The call is not just to receive forgiveness, but to live differently—to “stop it,” to rebuke the old patterns, and to honor the price that was paid. We are not condemned; we are free, and that freedom is meant to be lived out daily, in gratitude and obedience.
Key Takeaways
- Total Dependence on God: Every moment of our lives is meant to be lived in complete dependence on God. When we drift into self-reliance, we lose sight of the source of our strength and freedom. True spiritual life begins with the humility to recognize our need for Him in all things. [00:38]
- Atonement Is Personal, Not Abstract: The doctrine of atonement is not just a theological idea; it is the living connection between Christ’s sacrifice and our own lives. Jesus’ death and resurrection are not distant events, but the very means by which we are set free from sin, shame, and death. The cross is where our story and His story meet. [01:47]
- Jesus Upholds the Law, Yet Removes the Penalty: In the story of the woman caught in adultery, Jesus does not dismiss the law or minimize sin. Instead, He upholds the law’s demands but reveals that none are qualified to judge except Himself. He alone has the authority to remove the penalty, and He does so at His own expense, embodying both justice and mercy. [34:56]
- Freedom Is Not a License, But a Call to Transformation: Jesus’ words, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more,” show that grace is not permission to continue in sin. True freedom in Christ is the power to say no, to rebuke old patterns, and to live in a way that honors the costly love we have received. Repentance is not just stopping, but turning and walking in a new direction. [42:08]
- Our Connection to the Cross Is Our Identity: The connection between us and the cross is not just about forgiveness, but about identity. We are no longer defined by our past, our failures, or what others say about us. We are free people—set free by the blood of Jesus, empowered to overcome, and called to live as those who have truly touched the finger of God. [45:46]
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Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:38] - Living in Dependence on God
[01:47] - The Doctrine of Atonement: What the Cross Means for Us
[06:50] - Jesus Declares Himself the Living Water
[08:33] - The Pharisees’ Reaction and the Crowd’s Division
[10:29] - The Eighth Day: Sabbath and the Setup
[12:50] - The Woman Caught in Adultery: The Trap is Set
[14:01] - The Law, Honor, and the Cultural Weight of the Accusation
[17:11] - The Pharisees’ Dilemma: Law vs. Roman Rule
[19:40] - Jesus’ Purpose: Setting the Captive Free
[22:50] - Jesus Writes in the Dirt: Knowing the Law
[24:36] - The Challenge: “He Who Is Without Sin”
[28:45] - The Power of Honor and Shame
[34:56] - Jesus Removes the Penalty, Not the Standard
[38:41] - The Costly Love of Christ and Our Response
[42:08] - Living Free: Rebuking the Old Life
[45:46] - Prayer of Freedom and Closing Celebration
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: The Cross, Atonement, and Living Free
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### Bible Reading
John 7:37–8:11 (ESV)
*On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” ... The next morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” ... Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. ... And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” ... But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”*
Isaiah 53:5–6 (ESV)
*But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.*
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### Observation Questions
1. In the story of the woman caught in adultery, what trap were the Pharisees trying to set for Jesus, and how did He respond? ([17:11])
2. What did Jesus write on the ground, and why was this significant in the context of the Sabbath and the law? ([23:17])
3. According to Isaiah 53, what does it say about all people and their relationship to sin? ([28:45])
4. What did Jesus say to the woman after her accusers left, and what does this reveal about His approach to both the law and mercy? ([34:56])
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus chose not to condemn the woman, even though He acknowledged the seriousness of her sin? What does this teach us about the nature of atonement? ([34:56])
2. The sermon says, “Jesus accepts the code, but He removes the penalty.” How does this balance of justice and mercy shape our understanding of God’s character? ([34:56])
3. The pastor emphasized that “all of us are like sheep that have gone astray.” How does recognizing our own need for mercy affect the way we view others who have failed? ([28:45])
4. The phrase “Go and sin no more” was highlighted as a call to transformation, not just forgiveness. What does true repentance look like according to the sermon? ([42:08])
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### Application Questions
1. The sermon began with the idea that we are totally dependent on God every moment. In what areas of your life do you tend to drift into self-reliance? What would it look like to practice dependence on God this week? ([00:38])
2. The pastor said, “There’s a connection between us and the cross.” How personal is the atonement to you? Can you describe a time when you felt the reality of Jesus taking your penalty? ([38:41])
3. Jesus told the woman, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” Is there an area in your life where you have received forgiveness but struggle to “stop it” and walk in newness? What practical steps could you take to rebuke old patterns? ([42:08])
4. The sermon challenged us to “rebuke” the old life and not just accept forgiveness. What does it look like for you to actively say “stop it” to a recurring sin or habit? ([42:08])
5. The pastor said, “We are not condemned; we are free, and that freedom is meant to be lived out daily, in gratitude and obedience.” What is one way you can live out your freedom in Christ this week—in your family, work, or community? ([45:46])
6. The story shows that no one but Jesus was qualified to judge. How does this affect the way you view others’ failures or your own? Are there people you need to show more mercy to, knowing you too have been shown mercy? ([25:40])
7. The sermon ended with a prayer of freedom and gratitude. What is one thing you can thank God for today regarding your identity in Christ and the freedom He has given you? ([45:46])
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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to pray, thanking Jesus for His costly love, for setting us free, and asking for strength to walk in newness of life, rebuking old patterns and living in daily dependence on Him.
Devotional
Day 1: Jesus, the Living Water, Offers True Connection and Life
Jesus stood up on the last and greatest day of the Feast of Tabernacles and declared, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.” In this moment, He was not only fulfilling prophecy but also inviting all who are spiritually thirsty to find their satisfaction in Him alone. The people’s reactions were immediate and divided—some recognized Him as the Messiah, while others doubted. Yet, Jesus’ bold claim was a direct assertion of His divinity and His role as the source of life, echoing the ancient promises of God as the living water. When you come to Jesus with your deepest needs, He alone can quench your thirst and connect you to the life God intends for you. [06:50]
John 7:37-38 (ESV)
On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”
Reflection: Where in your life do you feel spiritually dry or thirsty? What would it look like for you to come to Jesus today and let Him fill that emptiness with His living water?
Day 2: The Atonement—Jesus Takes Our Place and Sets Us Free
The doctrine of atonement is the heart of our connection to the cross: Jesus, the sacrificial Lamb, took our place, covering and removing our sins so that we could be set free. Unlike any other, He not only died but rose again, defeating death and offering us victory. We are no longer prisoners to sin, but people who have been justified and liberated by His blood. The cross is not just a symbol; it is the place where Jesus paid the price we owed, so that we could walk in freedom and victory. [01:47]
1 Corinthians 15:57 (ESV)
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you still feel bound or defeated? How can you claim the victory Jesus won for you on the cross in that area today?
Day 3: Grace and Justice—Jesus Removes Our Condemnation
When the woman caught in adultery was brought before Jesus, the law demanded her death, but Jesus responded with both truth and grace. He acknowledged the law’s requirements but challenged anyone without sin to cast the first stone, exposing that all have fallen short. In the end, He did not condemn her but set her free, telling her to go and sin no more. Jesus accepts the code but removes the penalty, showing us that while justice matters, His mercy triumphs and offers us a new start. [34:56]
John 8:10-11 (ESV)
Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”
Reflection: Is there a place in your life where you feel condemned or unworthy? How can you receive Jesus’ forgiveness and walk forward in the freedom He offers?
Day 4: All Have Sinned—Our Universal Need for Grace
The story of the woman caught in adultery reveals that none of us are without sin; all have gone astray and fallen short of God’s glory. The Pharisees, though eager to judge, were convicted by their own consciences and left one by one, unable to claim righteousness for themselves. This truth humbles us and reminds us that we all stand in need of God’s mercy, and that no one is qualified to cast the first stone. Jesus alone is worthy, and He chooses to offer us grace. [28:45]
Isaiah 53:6 (ESV)
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Reflection: Who in your life have you been tempted to judge or condemn? How can remembering your own need for grace change the way you respond to them today?
Day 5: Freedom in Christ—Living Out Our New Identity
Jesus not only sets us free from condemnation but calls us to live in that freedom by turning away from sin and embracing a new way of life. The power to say “no” to the enemy and to rebuke old patterns is ours because of what Christ has done. We are not defined by our past, our failures, or what others say about us—we are free, forgiven, and empowered to walk in victory. The connection to the cross and the empty tomb means we can live as overcomers, honoring God with our lives. [45:46]
Romans 6:11-14 (ESV)
So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
Reflection: What is one specific habit, thought, or relationship where you need to say “stop it” and walk in the freedom Jesus has given you? What step can you take today to live out your new identity in Christ?
Quotes
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