by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta
Even since Adam
and Eve took one bite of fruit humans have dealt with guilt and shame.
God warned
them.
Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die. (Genesis 2:16-17 NKJV)
Up until that time they had only known good. Then a serpent’s words carried more weight to their minds than what their Creator told them.
The temptation
to know everything sucked Adam and Eve into the trap.
Through mercy, God
brought the skins of a slain animal to cover the guilt. The couple was
forgiven.
But the shame
continued. Their minds probably ran away with the accusations that came from the
mouth of their tempter. “You are bad.” “Look at what you did.” “The human race
is doomed because of you.”
This is what
the devil does. He tempts and then when we give in, he accuses and condemns us.
What is the
difference between guilt and shame?
Guilt is tied
to what we do. Guilt says, “I did
bad.
Shame is tied
to who we perceive we are. Shame says, “I am
bad.”
God gave us a
conscience so we would know right from wrong. But once we repent, He doesn’t
want us to live in guilt and shame.
Guilt pricks us
due to a wrong behavior. Our conscience tells us something is wrong, and we
need to change.
But after we
receive forgiveness shame can remain if we don’t live in our righteous identity
in Christ.
Shame can lock
onto the mind and condemn us for the behavior that has been forgiven. Shame can
cause addictions because the person seeks to medicate the pain of past sins.
Here are 3 Biblical Remedies for Guilt and Shame
1. Focus on
forgiveness instead of the sin. We admit we are guilty sinners, but because of
the blood of Jesus, we don’t stay that way. If
we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to
cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
2. Dwell in the presence of Christ. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine neither can you, unless you abide in Me (John 15:4 NKJV).
3. Change the way
we think. Agree with who God says we are. And
do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your
mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of
God (Romans 12:1-2).
Our true identity, or we could say our true being, is not dependent on our behavior. A born-again person’s identity is based on
what Christ did, not what we do. Despite our sinful actions, we are a new
creation in Christ in our spirit (2 Corinthians 5:17). Our soul (mind and
emotions) must remain focused on the Word to cleanse us from wrong beliefs so
we will live according to the change in us.
Shame is not
our identity. We are righteous in our inner being.
Living in a
sense of shame is not the same thing as being referred to as shameless.
“Have you no
shame?” is directed toward those who continually commit evil acts.
What they
really are is conscience-less. They
aren’t embarrassed by sinful behavior. Sometimes they flaunt it. God gave us a
conscience to direct us from right and wrong. Even a person who is not born
again has a sense of good and evil until they continue to ignore the nudge and
their heart becomes hardened. The conscience no longer directs. Speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own
conscience seared with a hot iron (1 Timothy 4:2).
A victorious
life depends on knowing who we are in Christ. There is no room for shame or
guilt because it has been dealt with at the cross. Our place is to receive that
truth and become free. If you abide in My word, you are My
disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you
free (John 8:31-32).
Only the truth
that is known sets us free.
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