The Bible teaches that all sin separates us from God, regardless of its nature or severity. As Romans 3:10 and 3:23 emphasize, every person has fallen short of God's standard, and no one is righteous on their own. The letters of James and John also highlight the equalizing effect of sin, with James 2:10-11 noting that breaking one part of the law makes us guilty of all, and 1 John 5:17 referring to all unrighteousness as sin. The account in John 8:1-11 illustrates Jesus' response to the woman caught in adultery, demonstrating that He does not condone sin, but offers forgiveness and restoration to all who repent.
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Whoever keeps the whole law but stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.
But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning He went back into the temple courts. All the people came to Him, and He sat down to teach them. The scribes and Pharisees, however, brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before them and said, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such a woman. So what do You say?” They said this to test Him, in order to have a basis for accusing Him. But Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with His finger. When they continued to question Him, He straightened up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her.” And again He bent down and wrote on the ground. When they heard this, they began to go away one by one, beginning with the older ones, until only Jesus was left, with the woman standing there. Then Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are your accusers? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, Lord,” she answered. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Now go and sin no more.”