Go and sin no more (Who me, a cheater?)

An elderly doctor and a minister were seated next to each other on a plane. The plane was delayed at the start due to technical problems. Just after taking off, the pilot offered his apologies to the passengers and announced that a round of free drinks would be served. When the charming air hostess came around with the trolley, the doctor ordered a gin and tonic for himself. The hostess then asked the minister whether he wanted anything. A teetotaler and horrified over the ills of drinking, he replied, "Oh no, I'd rather commit adultery than drink alcohol." The elderly doctor then promptly handed his gin and tonic back to the air hostess and said, "Madam, I didn't know there was a choice."

It appears there is a choice according to statistics. One out of 3 married men cheats and 1 out of 4 married women cheats. Since Moses ran down with the stone tablets shouting, “I have some good news and some bad news. The good news is I’ve got Him down to ten. The bad news is no adultery is still on the list.”, people have been exercising a choice.

Some sociologists say man is born to cheat, but God says we are born to be faithful. That’s why he texted the Commandgram—no adultery. Thus, we have a dilemma. We need to talk.

What is adultery in the eyes of God?

In 2 Samuel 12, we see the physical side of adultery. In Hosea 1, Matthew 5, and John 8, we see the spiritual side of adultery. Both sides come with disgrace. The good news, both come with grace as well. Adultery is sexual. Adultery is spiritual. Both are a choice and regrettable consequences. Text NA someone you know who is poise to make a choice that has in it good news and bad. The bad is really bad. The good is better than good because it comes from God. NA is God’s way of saying “BFF”—be faithful or fall. God is also saying “BFF”—I am your “better friend forever” because My grace covers all disgrace.

Cheating on a spouse is sexual adultery with severe consequences. But God’s grace covers all disgrace. Ask David. He chose to break the 7th commandment found in Exodus 20:14:

You shall not commit adultery. Exodus 20:14

The Hebrew word adultery, na'ab, means to break a marital vow. In doing so, David broke, not one, but half of the Ten Commandments: he killed; lied, he coveted; and he stole, while he was committing adultery. We all know the story of King David’s affair with Bathsheba who was married to Uriah. David had Uriah killed to cover up the affair. A baby is born. The baby dies. What a mess. The penalty for adultery is death. But David confessed and received grace.

2Sa 12:13 Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” Nathan replied, “The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die.

He did receive the severe consequences of adultery—a legacy of disgrace:

· There will be a legacy of family violence. The “sword will never your house” according to 2 Samuel 12:10. One of David’s sons will rape one of David’s daughters. Another of David’s sons will kill that rapist son.

· There will be a legacy of family rebellion. David’s son, Absalom, will try to take King David’s crown.

· There will be a legacy of family adultery. Son Absalom will have sex with David’s wives.

· There will be a legacy of family public shame. Son Absalom will have sex with David’s wives on a public rooftop, and he set up a throne at the main gate to judge public disputes as King even though his father was still king.

David would live, but how would he live with himself? David prayed for God’s grace to cleanse him according to Psalms 51:10:

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

11 Do not cast me away from Thy presence And do not take Thy Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation, And sustain me with a willing spirit. 13 Then I will teach transgressors Thy ways, And sinners will be converted to Thee. Psalms 51:10:

God’s grace would clean him up. David joins a long and illustrious list of adulterers: Bill cheated on Hillary. Tiger cheated on Elin, and Donald cheated on Ivanna. You may be part of those ranks. A man’s fall is God’s teachable moment about God’s grace. Grace is available to them as well. No matter who the “other” BFF was, God’s a better friend forever because his grace can cover any disgrace. Text NA to someone you know who is poised to make a mistake they will regret forever. NA is God’s way of saying “BFF”—be faithful or fall. God is also saying “BFF”—I am your “better friend forever” because My grace covers all disgrace.

Cheating on God is spiritual adultery that comes with severe physical consequences, but it also comes with God’s amazing grace. Ask the prophet, Hosea. God made Hosea’s marriage one big sermon on spiritual adultery:

When the LORD began to speak through Hosea, the LORD said to him, "Go, take to yourself an adulterous wife and children of unfaithfulness, because the land is guilty of the vilest adultery in departing from the LORD." Hosea 1:2

Hosea is commanded to marry adulteress Gomer to show Israel their infidelity with God. They cheated on God, having an affair with other gods to include Baal. Gomer’s children would learn unfaithfulness from their unfaithful mother so God named them to represent Israel’s severe consequences but also God’s grace:

• Gomer had a son named Jezreel. His name means God scatters. God would scatter Israel who will suffer a loss of power.

• Gomer’s first daughter was named Lo-Ruhamah. It means no love. Israel will suffer, for a time, the loss of God’s love. They would lose favor.

• Gomer had a second daughter named Lo-Ammi. Lo-Ammi means “not my people. For a time, God disowned Israel. They were no longer his children.

But as Hosea loved his adulterous wife, God extended His grace to cover Israel’s disgrace—a show of His love for His cheating children.

Hos. 1:10…In the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’ Hos 1:11 The people of Judah and the people of Israel will be reunited, and they will appoint one leader and will come up out of the land…

Hosea 3:1 Then the LORD said to me, "Go again, love a woman who is loved by her husband, yet an adulteress, even as the LORD loves the sons of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes."

God’s grace also covered the woman caught in adultery in John 8. Jesus told her:

10Then Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are your accusers? Has no one condemned you?” 11“No one, Lord,” she answered. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Now go and sin no more.” John 8:10,11

God’s grace also covered the men who caught her because they were customers of hers.

Church, God’s grace cover’s your adultery as well. What? Now, hold on preacher. Are accusing us of adultery? No, Christ is. He sees adultery through spiritual eyes.

27 "You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Matthew 5:27-28:

That makes us all adulterers at some time in our lives. When we have lusted after a promotion on the job that called for a compromise of God’s character, that’s adultery. When we lusted after power that called for us to squash another’s dignity in the eyes of God, that’s adultery. When we have lusted after prestige of wanting the biggest, baddest, most beautiful church, above what God has purposed for us as His Church, that’s adultery because it’s idolatry. Reckless eyeballing is not just about eyeing how fine a man and woman is but eyeing power, prestige, and promotion above God. Then you and I are adulterers. We all have the capacity to be adulterers. That’s why we need a “BFF”.

Text someone with an eye problem—NA. It’s God’s way of saying BFF—I am a “better friend forever because My grace covers all disgrace.

CONCLUSION:

The 7th commandment says no adultery. Adultery is physical cheating. Cheating on a spouse is sexual adultery which comes with severe physical consequences, but also with some amazing grace. David received grace and lived. Second, cheating on God is spiritual adultery which comes with severe spiritual consequences, but it also comes with God’s grace that allows God to take us back when we have cheated on him. Like Hosea who took back Gomer, God took back Israel. And God will take back us and say, “Go and sin no more”.

Text a friend you know who has an eye problem and is about to make the worse mistake of their life. Text them: NA—no adultery. It’s God’s way of saying BFF—be faithful or fall. But when you do or already have, BFF also stands for God is our BFF—a better friend forever.