Should we stone sinners?

#Sin #Death #Torah #Redemption

Created: Sat 26-July-2025 - 09:39

Because of the Cross...

Many Christians today get upset when faced with Scriptual passages that emphasise God's will for us to keep His commandments[1] and live a holy live according to His instructions (Torah). They get angry because of a flawed doctrine of "Faith vs Works". A false gospel is widespread which says that the law was nailed to the cross, we are free from the law, anybody who keeps the law is anti-Messiah.

One popular argument from this faction of Christianity against those—Messianic Jews and Messianic Gentiles—who chose to obey YHWH and follow His commandments is this:

"Why don't you stone those who break the law anymore? Are you not breaking the law by not stoning sinners?"

While such an argument, on the surface, might hold some validity, the answer to such a question is the following:

Note

"Because of the Cross" we do not stone anyone[2].
"Because of the Cross" we do not condemn anyone[3].
"Because of the Cross" we don't judge but let YHWH and Messiah judge everyone[4].

The New Testament offers more passages to support this response:

Note

1 Pet 2.24
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness. You were healed by his wounds.

Note

1 John 2.2
And he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the whole world.

Note

Rom 5.8
But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Note

Rom 6.23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Note

Rom 8.1
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don't walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

What were the wages of sin, the penalties? In most cases, transgressing God's commandments, it was death. Knowing that mankind is unable to live sin-free, we now have an everlasting High Priest who was given as the atonement for the sins of mankind.

Does this mean the Torah (God's instructions for living a Holy life) is too hard for any of us to do? On the contrary. Scripture itself says that the Torah is not too hard to do[5]. It is merely a matter of wanting to—of obedience or disobedience. And with the indwelling Holy Spirit, we are given the ability and the urge to obey God.

Without any fear of condemnation or retaliation, all Messianic Believers (Jew and Gentile) should gladly be following and keeping God's Law. Yet, many Christians decide to live in disobedience because of false gospels of which Scripture warns us many times.

Yeshua's ministry was one of love. This does not mean that it is lawless. In fact, His Torah teachings bring a much deeper spiritual application of God's Law than many Christians today would think.[6]

Messiah's Sayings on Sin and Condemnation

God himself, speaking through Messiah Yeshua, showed us His redemption plan. It is hidden in plain sight but unveiled to those who have eyes to see. Why don't we stone sinners anymore? Here is the longer answer:

Note

Mark 2.10
But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"--he said to the paralytic--

Note

Matt 18.11
For the Son of Man came to save that which was lost.

Note

John 3.14-15
As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Note

John 1.29
The next day, he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

Conclusion

We can make a strong case from Scripture on these passages alone that the wages of sin have been taken away from us. There is no condemnation in Messiah as long as Messianic Believers walk in God's statutes in the B'rit Chadashah (בְּרִית חֲדָשָׁה - New Testament/New Covenant). This God had prophesied through the prophets[7].

Is this a carte blanche for us to transgress His commandments by ignoring them? Heaven forbid. God does not wash over sins. Ignoring His Law is a serious matter as shown by YHWH himself spoken through Messiah Yeshua[8].

We are called to live a holy life in His righteousness. The only way for us to know that we do that is by keeping His commandments and follow His law—and not drive on the wrong side of the road.

Not for salvation—salvation is by grace only. But out of pure love for our Father.

Amen.

Footnotes

  1. John 14.15 If you love me, keep my commandments. | The New Testament, especially John, James, Revelations, and Paul is filled with overwhelming evidence that suggest that God wants us to live in His righteousness and His holiness according to His instructions which is the Torah. Religion and Christianity today seems to condemn such clear evidence and those Messianic Believers who live according to what the Father, and the Son command us, and to which we are enabled through the Holy Spirit. ↩︎

  2. Col 2.14 Col 2:14 having canceled the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. ↩︎

  3. Rom 8.1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don't walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. ↩︎

  4. Rom 2.6 who "will pay back to everyone according to their works:" | Matt 16.27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he will render to everyone according to his deeds. ↩︎

  5. Complete Jewish Bible Deut 30:11 "For this mitzvah which I am giving you today is not too hard for you, it is not beyond your reach." | New American Standard Bible 11 “For this commandment which I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it far away. ↩︎

  6. The Sermon on the Mount can be seen as the most significant Torah teaching as it paves the way to put the Torah in the hearts of believers. God 'moves' His instructions from stone tablets and flesh, into the spiritual tablets of our hearts. Just as prophesied (see above footnote) ↩︎

  7. See Heb 8.10-12 | Ezek 36.27 | Jer 31.33 for prophesies about the Law written in our hearts ↩︎

  8. See Matt 5.19 Therefore, whoever shall break one of these least commandments and teach others to do so, shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whoever shall do and teach them shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. ↩︎