No, this isn't an homage to the Garth Brooks song that was so popular in the early 1990's (although I admit that I saw him in concert during that tour...that was during a time in my life when I thought country music was good). The concept of being shameless has been on my mind lately and I am starting to understand what it means to be without shame in Christ.
The sins of the past can haunt a believer for years and years, causing him to feel needless guilt and spiritual insecurity. The enemy would love nothing better than for a follower of Christ to be ineffective in his faith and, speaking from experience, he uses painful memories of our past to accomplish this very thing. But in Christ we are no longer guilty even though we still sin. Instead of guilt the Holy Spirit brings conviction and it is that conviction that leads us to repentance and forgiveness.
Romans 8:1 says that for those who are in Christ Jesus there is no longer any more condemnation. The beauty of forgiveness through the cross of Christ is overwhelming! But what of the feelings that we still have regarding our past sins and failures? How do we move beyond them into a life free of debilitating shame? What do we do when we are striving our best to live for Christ and the enemy keeps throwing landmines in our path?
Let us remember this: Not only in there no condemnation for those in Christ but there is also no more shame. Jesus bore all the shame on the cross for us. Nowhere in Scripture are believers told to feel shameful. Rather, we are to claim the promise that the cross ended all shame.
Charlie Hall reminds us in his song Marvelous Light that there is no more shame for the believer.
Jesus Himself conquered any shame that could possibly overshadow you.
God Himself has freed us from shame to walk in victory.
The Holy Spirit Himself leads us to conviction so that we can walk free of the shackles that shame places on us.
Any sin that plagues us - past or present - is forgiven by the blood of Christ and is no longer a source of shame for any of us. Isn't it wonderful to know that in Christ we have nothing to be ashamed of?
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