Atoning the Shame || Guilt v. Shame #7 (FINALE)

Welcome to ‘Guilt v. Shame,’ a series that delves into the most prevalent themes in sermons, Bible studies, and other religious teachings. We will explore the meanings of these concepts, how they were interpreted by the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek audiences, and how our modern interpretations compare. This series is designed to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of guilt and shame in the Bible and their integral role in your Christian journey.

Throughout this series, we will delve into the biblical concept of guilt in the first three parts and shift our focus to shame in the remaining four parts. To ensure a comprehensive understanding, I will draw upon scriptures from both the Old and New Testaments. This approach allows us to explore these concepts through the lens of Bible narratives, making the study relevant to all Christians. I aim to help you develop a biblical understanding of guilt and shame and show you how they are integral to your Christian journey.

As we venture into the final four parts of this series, let’s unravel the essence of shame. As my concordance reveals, shame is a state or feeling of degrading disgrace or disrepute. It can also be described as something that invites censure and reproach. Shame is experiencing a loss of reputation or respect because of something someone committed that was considered dishonorable. Shame is being held in low self-esteem by the community around you. Shame is something that brings severe disapproval by something or someone. Shame is a disappointment or displeasure with someone who has done something blameworthy or needs to change.

The final part of our series takes us to 1 John 2:2 to talk about the ultimate, shameless sacrifice found in what Jesus did for us.

1 John 2:2

2            He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins – and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.

Before I get into the heart of today’s study, let’s talk about the word “atonement” because it will come up a lot, and we don’t really use it today. To atone means to supply satisfaction, to make amends, and to reconcile. It’s related to the word forgiveness. Jesus is the payment to God, that will forgive our sins. Jesus acts as our defense attorney and mediator before God. His death satisfied God’s anger against sin, and he paid the consequential death penalty for our sins. With this, Christ satisfies God’s requirement and removes our sins. This is where we find purity. Sin no longer controls us, but we must fight the temptation alongside the Holy Spirit to ensure we continue on the path God set before us.

God has forgiven us of our sins through the sacrifice Jesus made. Sometimes, forgiving those who have wronged us is hard. Yet, God laid out the plan of forgiving others. He forgave the entire human race through the sacrifice of Jesus. No matter your sins, you are never beyond his forgiveness. I’ve talked about this before with my sextortion incident. I was scared straight after it, but I knew it was going to be hard to find forgiveness for those that I had hurt. Finding forgiveness for the people who hurt me while coping with this situation. Yet, after conversations with my Pastor (my church outside of the one where I worked), God was the main person I needed to forgive. Yes, there were still earthly consequences for my actions, but I may never find forgiveness from those who hurt me. I recognized that I hurt people in the middle of all this. Still, I have learned that my reactions to the situation were appropriate, and their reactions were out-of-line and out-of-character. Therefore, finding forgiveness from them was going to be difficult. However, I forgave them for the hurt so that I could receive peace. My forgiveness allowed me to receive the peace that I was losing. I could understand their motives, but they wouldn’t forgive me for them. God’s forgiveness gave me true peace, allowing me to separate from the church with serenity.

How can you receive this type of forgiveness?

1. Tell God you are sorry about your sinful actions and are ready to turn away from them.
2. Receive his forgiveness through Christ, and believe in it.
3. Commit your life to following his ways.
4. Thank him for what he did for you.

The rest of this study will discuss these four steps differently.

John 1:29

29          The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

Every morning and evening, there was to be a lamb sacrificed in the Temple. This was to symbolize that the sins of the Israelites were forgiven. Isaiah 53:7 prophesied that the Messiah, God’s Servant, would be the ultimate sacrificial lamb for the rest of humanity. The penalty for sin had to be paid with bloodshed. Yet, the blood of Christ purifies us to be as white as snow. In the Old Testament, it had to be the blood of the lamb, but with Jesus, God knew he’d be the ultimate sacrifice. This is how our sins are forgiven. Every single person’s sin on this earth, past, present, and future, is forgiven this way. Jesus paid the price for your sin by his death. If you confess your sin and ask for his forgiveness, you’ll receive it.

Romans 3:25-26

25          For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past.

26          For he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and make sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.

What happened to the people who lived before Jesus came and died for their sins? If God condemned them, was he being fair? If he saved them, was Jesus’ sacrifice unnecessary? These questions might be something you’d consider in your studies. Sometimes, we question God’s motives, reasoning, and actions. The Old Testament paints him as angry and genocidal. The New Testament paints him as loving and compassionate. There’s no shame in the questioning because questioning leads to beliefs, and beliefs lead to faith. Paul shows us that God forgave everyone for all time at the cross of Jesus. Old Testament believers looked toward Jesus’ coming. They had salvation, even though they didn’t know Jesus’ name or the details of his earthly life.

Unlike the Old Testament believers, we know about the God who loved us so much that he sent his own Son to die a sinner’s death so that we can have an eternal relationship with him. Jesus died in our place due to our sinful actions. We’re rebellious, often going against God and cutting ourselves from the Holy Spirit. Yet, God saw Jesus as his perfect sacrifice to forgive our sins.

Hebrews 2:16-17

16          We also know that the Son did not come to help angels; he came to help the descendants of Abraham.

17          Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people.

In the Old Testament, the high priest was the intercessor between God and his people. His job was to regularly offer animal sacrifices according to the law and to intercede with God for the forgiveness of the people’s sins. This was done in a place called the “Holy of Holies” and happened at a routine time. Jesus’ death tore down the curtain. Jesus is our eternal High Priest. He bridges the gap between us and our Holy Father. Jesus was human. He understands our weaknesses. He has once and for all paid the penalty for our sins by his own sacrificial death, and he has restored our broken relationship with God. We are released from sin’s control and committed to living an entire life in Christ, trusting what he’s done.

1 John 4:10

10          This is real love – not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

Nothing sinful or evil exists in God’s presence. Because of his absolute goodness, he cannot overlook, condone, or excuse sin as though it never happened. He loves us, but it means we have work to do to become our best Christian. If we trust God, we will not have to bear the penalty for our sins. We will be acquitted by atonement. We are not sinful or evil. We are forgiven of all that and are made pure through the blood of Jesus. Because he loves us, he still wants the best for us. He knows that we’ll wrestle with sin and temptation. He’ll know that we’ll have to overcome tough times. He wants to ensure we do it in a way that honors and glorifies him.

That’s it! I hope you’ve gained some insight into the biblical understanding of guilt and shame and how we can overcome it through Christ. Our next major study series is called “Very Important Women” and looks at four key women in Jesus’s life. That comes soon! Until then, stay blessed!