I tend to give more credibility to the words of Jesus than those of Paul. The two are not always on the same side of an issue.
Let those without sin cast the first stone and live by and be judged by the law. I prefer to live by Love. That doesn’t mean that I don’t follow and obey the same law for myself. However, I follow it out of Love, not out of fear of retribution, consequences or abandonment if I violate it. Yes, I trip and stumble, especially when I see someone else’s actions harming so many such as our current president. But I’m working on it.
What Jesus said just after the words you referred to strikes me as central; John 8:
And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
"Go and sin no more". 1. With these simple words, Jesus confirms that sexual conduct outside marriage can be a sin. 2. Tied to that recognition, Jesus is offering forgiveness for past sins. 3. Jesus is following the forgiveness he offers with a command to sin no more. I am with you completely in deferring to Jesus for guidance on these issues. What lesson do you take away from the whole story, if it's different from what I see?
Really? So why did the Lord personally come to him on the Damascus Road if Paul was going to go rogue on Him? Frankly, that statement sounds like a convenient way to spin the words of Jesus in the way you want without having to deal with Paul's accurate interpretation of the Lord's words. As long as we are talking about credibility, Paul's far surpasses yours.