The Rut of Guilt and Shame

Intro:

Describe the Rut…Guilt and Shame destroys relationships.

Definition of Guilt- not primarily a feeling. Primarily it is judicial. It is the fact of doing something wrong or against the law. We admit our guilt. it is objective.

Definition of Shame- shame is the subjective feeling that we as guilty people experience. It is the painful feeling that arises because of the consciousness of our guilt.

Do you act differently when you haven’t bathed or had a shower.

“You should be ashamed our yourself”

“You should be ashamed our yourself”

Guilt and shame keep people shackled to their past, but it also prevents healthy relationships in the present

Guilt and Shame destroy relationships.

summary:

.

The Holman Christian Standard Bible Chapter 2

25 Both the man and his wife were naked, yet felt no shame.

Genesis 3:6–10 HCSB

Then the woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves. Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and they hid themselves from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. So the Lord God called out to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” And he said, “I heard You in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.”

.

Gen 3:6-

The Holman Christian Standard Bible Chapter 3

So she took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves.

8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and they hid themselves from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9 So the LORD God called out to the man and said to him, “Where are you?”

10 And he said, “I heard You in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.”

Hebrews 10:22 HCSB

let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water.

Guilt and shame are powerless in light of...

Jesus’ finished work.

Ways to deal with Shame:

Changing the law, lie to yourself, call evil good.

Compare yourselves to others.

make up for your guilt by your own righteousness.

A shoplifter wrote to a department store, saying, “I’ve just become a Christian, and I can’t sleep at night because I feel guilty. So here’s $100 that I owe you.”

He signed his name then added a little PS: “If I still can’t sleep, I’ll send you the rest.”

Larson, C. B., & Ten Elshof, P. (2008). 1001 illustrations that connect (pp. 125–126). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.

His blood (v. 19). His flesh (v. 20). He has opened a way into his holy presence by the death of his son.

Everyone is guilty, but God considered His innocent Son as a guilty criminal in our place, so that He now considers his guilty creatures as His innocent children.

Once for all…

Recognize that Jesus died for your sin… really that...

Ways to deal with Shame:

Changing the law, lie to yourself, call evil good.

Compare yourselves to others.

make up for your guilt by your own righteousness.

Pride bearing your own shame.

Jesus’ ongoing work.

We have a high priest. represents the people before God.

He is always there to lay claim to those who have trusted in Him.

advocate

1 John 2:1 HCSB

My little children, I am writing you these things so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ the Righteous One.

Hebrews 7:25 HCSB

Therefore, He is always able to save those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.

Hebrews 7:24–25 HCSB

But because He remains forever, He holds His priesthood permanently. Therefore, He is always able to save those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.

intercessor

mediator

My Advocate

In a poem entitled “My Advocate,” Martha Snell Nicholson dramatically portrays the adequacy of Christ’s atoning work on the cross. She wrote:

I sinned. And straightway, posthaste, Satan flew Before the presence of the most High God, And made a railing accusation there. He said, “This soul, this thing of clay and sod, Has sinned. ‘Tis true that he has named Thy Name, But I demand his death, for Thou has said, ‘The soul that sinneth, it shall die.’ Shall not Thy sentence be fulfilled? Is justice dead?

Send now this wretched sinner to his doom. What other thing can righteous ruler do?” And thus he did accuse me day and night, And every word he spoke, O God, was true! Then quickly One rose up from God’s right hand, Before whose glory angels veiled their eyes. He spoke, “Each jot and tittle of the law Must be fulfilled; the guilty sinner dies!

But wait—suppose his guilt were all transferred To Me, and that I paid his penalty! Behold My hands, My side, My feet! One day I was made sin for him, and died that he Might be presented faultless at Thy throne!” And Satan fled away. Full well he knew That he could not prevail against such love, For every word my dear Lord spoke was true!

Do you sometimes wonder how God could accept you? Look again to your Advocate. God is satisfied with His sacrifice, and no accusation of Satan or of your conscience can undo the completeness of Christ’s work. - D.J.D.

He who died as our substitute lives as our advocate.

Our Daily Bread, December 4

Galaxie Software. (2002). 10,000 Sermon Illustrations. Biblical Studies Press.

RESPONSE TIME- PREPARING OUR HEART FOR THE LORD’S SUPPER.