Breaking Free

There are many who cannot experience intimacy with God because they are still struggling with guilt and shame. Guilt relates to how we feel about something we did or did not do, while shame is a negative feeling about ourselves.

Guilt is not always bad. If we do not have a sense of guilt, we might continue doing things we should not. Guilt can work for our good by steering us in the right direction, but we need to be cautious not to fall into false guilt.

Shame, however, causes us to hide or isolate ourselves. In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve experienced guilt and shame after disobeying God, and they hid from the Lord (Genesis 3:8).

Satan is the accuser, but every time Satan reminds us of our past, we should remind him of his future.

Revelation 12:10 (ESV): "And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, ‘Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.’"

How did Christ deal with people burdened by guilt and shame? Here are some examples:

A Failed Fisherman

Luke 5:4–6 (ERV): "When Jesus finished speaking, He said to Simon, ‘Take the boat into deep water, and if all of you put your nets into the water, you will catch some fish.’ Simon answered, ‘Master, we worked hard all night trying to catch fish and caught nothing. But because You say I should put the nets into the water, I will.’ The fishermen put their nets into the water. Their nets were filled with so many fish that they began to break."

Peter, an experienced fisherman, likely felt ashamed after catching no fish. Instead of ridiculing Peter, Jesus called him to follow Him, elevating him to be a fisher of men (Luke 5:10).

A Rejected Leper

Luke 5:12–13 (ERV): "One time Jesus was in a town where a very sick man lived. This man was covered with leprosy. When the man saw Jesus, he bowed before Him and begged, ‘Lord, You have the power to heal me if You want.’ Jesus said, ‘I want to heal you. Be healed!’ Then He touched the man, and immediately the leprosy disappeared."

Lepers were treated as outcasts, living in shame due to their condition. Jesus could have healed the leper without touching him, but He chose to touch him, demonstrating that the man was worthy of love and healing, not just physically, but from his shame.

A Social Outcast Due to Lifestyle

Luke 7:37–38 (ERV): "There was a sinful woman in that town. She knew that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house. So the woman brought some expensive perfume in an alabaster jar. She stood at Jesus’ feet, crying. Then she began to wash His feet with her tears. She dried His feet with her hair. She kissed His feet many times and rubbed them with the perfume."

This woman, weighed down by guilt and shame, boldly sought out Jesus. Instead of condemning her, Jesus offered her what she needed most: forgiveness, salvation, and peace (Luke 7:48, 50).

How Does God Deal with Our Guilt?

Jesus became our scapegoat. In Levitical times, a scapegoat symbolically carried the sins of the Israelites and was sent into the wilderness (Leviticus 16:20–22).

Leviticus 16:15–16 (RSV): "Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering, which is for the people, and bring its blood within the veil, and do with its blood as he did with the blood of the bull, sprinkling it upon the mercy seat and before the mercy seat."

Christ, who knew no sin, became sin for us at Calvary (2 Corinthians 5:21). He bore our shame on the cross, taking upon Himself what should have been ours to carry.

Hebrews 12:2 (ESV): "... looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."

Some of the Shame Christ Bore for Us:

• The shame of being rejected by His own people.
• The shame of hanging on the cross naked in public.
• The shame of being treated as a criminal when He was innocent.
• The shame of being spat upon and abused.
• The shame of being crucified as a common criminal.
• The shame of betrayal by a friend.

Conclusion

No church is perfect because it is made up of imperfect people. We are all works in progress, sinners saved by grace. But we will be changed from glory to glory.

Galatians 6:1 (AMP): "Brothers, if anyone is caught in any sin, you who are spiritual [that is, you who are responsive to the guidance of the Spirit] are to restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness [not with a sense of superiority or self-righteousness], keeping a watchful eye on yourself so that you are not tempted as well."

When we fall, the devil condemns us, but the Lord convicts us toward repentance. The enemy wants us to hide in shame, but we should run to the Father instead of away from Him. After Peter denied Jesus three times, he returned to fishing out of guilt and shame. However, the risen Christ restored Peter by the sea and called him to follow Him once again.

John 21:19 (ESV): "After saying this, He said to him, ‘Follow Me.’"

The key to freedom is found in these verses:

1 John 1:9 (NIV): "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

Psalm 51:10 (NIV): "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."

If Christ has set us free, we are free indeed.

John 8:36 (NIV): "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."