No SHAME! Conclusion

We are assured of GOD’s promise to always and forever forgive our sin and we have discovered, or rediscovered, the Father’s infinite, unconstrained grace. We can now look fully into our Savior’s wonderful face and no longer do we hang our heads in shame. We have a growing faith and joy and daily more confidence in our walk with the Father. But we are uncertain about one thing, in light of our past, are we fit to serve in the Kingdom of GOD? The short answer is, YES!

As we accept and receive JESUS CHRIST as SAVIOR, the Father bestows “sonship” upon us. We are now sons and daughters with access and rights to all that is the Father’s. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. Romans 8:17

We are no less children of GOD when we do wrong than when we do right. Our rights in CHRIST remain and by our own free will, through confession and repentance, we are at liberty to access those rights. “…nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:39.

GOD wants us to give back to Him whatever He gives to us and use it for His Kingdom and for His glory.

All GOD’s children are to be a shining light of hope in a dark world; not one is exempt. “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” Matthew 5:14-16

 “You are the light of the world” refers to ALL GOD’s children in CHRIST. All are commissioned for service in the Father’s Kingdom and for His glory – “so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”

The Bible is full of accounts of people whose failures were considerable and GOD still used them in significant ways. Even today, these “failed saints” continue to influence our lives for good. Some are among examples of people whose faith in the WORD and promises of GOD “earned a good reputation.” Hebrews 11 – and among them is Israel’s most revered King, David.

David committed adultery and tried to cover it up with murder. In Psalms 32 and 51 he admits that he sinned terribly against GOD and the guilt that plagues him until he finds freedom from both sin and guilt feelings through the reality of GOD’s forgiveness. Psalm 51 especially emphasizes David’s confession and pleas to God from a heart full of guilt and sorrow and the result – his restoration to GOD and the return of his joy.

GOD chose David to lead Israel as King in place of King Saul as he met the one key requirement that mattered to GOD, “for the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart. The Lord has already appointed him to be the leader of his people,…” 1 Samuel 13:14. GOD did not change His mind about David after his transgression because he was still GOD’s chosen and “a man after the Father’s own heart.” A man who gladly accepted the consequences of his sin to restore his relationship with his Father.

While King David sinned terribly against GOD, he confessed, repented, was forgiven, and he moved on. GOD never stopped loving David and never broke any promise He made to him.

As New Testament children of GOD, we are especially blessed because CHRIST died for every one of our sins – past, present and future, so in Him we are new creations. “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”2 Corinthians 5:17. The “old” life which is gone includes remembrance of past sin and the guilt of them; the new life includes acceptance of the freedoms that CHRIST purchased for us.

To continue to wallow in the shameful memories of our former sinful lives is pointless and counter-productive to the victorious Christian life that GOD our Father wants for us.

So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free. JOHN 8:36

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Holy Father, our LORD and our GOD whose mercy never runs out and whose love is unfathomable, we thank you for YOUR SON who died for our sin and shame and set us free to  a newness of life with joy, peace and spiritual prosperity. May we not cease to worship our GOD who gave us hope and teaches us how to fight for the good life and do the hard work of restoration. May we always celebrate that we are chosen, set free, set apart, and appointed to do good works in the Kingdom of the Father who loves us. For YOUR glory and YOUR NAME sake be all honor, dominion and power forever and ever.  We pray and ask all things in the matchless Name of JESUS CHRIST our LORD. Amen!

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile