Reset: Shame
March 27, 2022

Shame

Reset
Todd Blansit
March 27, 2022


Reset (Shame)

Many of us Christians still struggle with feelings of shame even after we have trusted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.
The enemy wants to hold us down with our past mistakes, and shame is one of his favorite weapons.
We need to fully receive God’s grace and ask for his help to overcome shame.

Felt Guilt

The purpose of felt guilt is to grieve us over our sin, move us to seek the forgiving and restoring grace of God, and move us towards of holiness. This guilt is a gift, not a punishment. It is an aid to the believer who responds to it well.

2 Corinthians 7.8-10
8 Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while—  9 yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. 10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 

Actual Guilt

Felt guilt is an experience of internal conviction. Actual guilt is a spiritual state of condemnation for the things we have done wrong.

David Platt points out that, from the beginning of the Old Testament, God is constantly delivering His people out of shame and restoring their honor. As a matter of fact, the first promise in the Bible is a promise of deliverance after Adam and Eve had sinned (Gen. 3:15).

That promise was fulfilled on the cross, where God took our guilt and shame and placed it on Jesus.

Our actual guilt before God is what Jesus took upon Himself on the cross. This means that, on the deepest level, we are no longer guilty before God. We may feel those pangs of guilt when we do something wrong throughout our day and life, but ultimately that shame and guilt cannot condemn you. Your ransom has been paid, your sins forgiven, your guilt removed and your life restored.

Romans 8.1-3
1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh

We must learn the difference between conviction and condemnation.

John 16.7-8, ESV
7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment

“When Holy God draws near in true revival, people come under terrible conviction of sin. The outstanding feature of spiritual awakening has been the profound consciousness of the Presence and holiness of God” —Henry Blackaby

1 John 1.8-10
8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

Condemnation tells you, you aren’t enough.

He says you are more than enough because of him!

Romans 8.31-39
31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

John 10.10
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

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