Reflecting on the stories of two women this morning, the Samaritan woman at the well, the woman who was caught in adultery. Their stories are different but they share something in common.
The Samaritan woman we read about in John chapter 4. She had five husbands and was living with a sixth man not her husband. The woman caught in adultery was dragged to Jesus as a test for Jesus to test his adherence to the Jewish law to which Jesus said, “he who is without sin may cast the first stone.”
So what do the two women have in common? Their names are never revealed. We have no idea of who they were. Yes the people around at the time knew their names. Jesus knows their names. But their names are never recorded.
Likewise people like the thief on the cross, who came to faith in Jesus while being crucified next to Jesus, his name is never revealed.
Instances like these in the bible underscore the truth of Romans 8:1
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus
It also underscores for me the truth of Romans 5:5
And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Jesus came to free us from the shame and condemnation from sin. He did not come to put us to shame. He came to free us from sin, shame, condemnation.
So if we are feeling shame or condemnation, it is not from Jesus. Conviction yes, shame and condemnation no. Conviction, feeling convicted, about our sin is not the same as shame and condemnation. Feeling convicted leads us to Jesus and positive change. Shame would have us trying to hide. Feeling shame or condemnation would have us feeling like giving up or like there is no hope. But with Jesus, there is always hope.
Just a few thoughts I have been reflecting on today.
Thank you for reading. God Bless.
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I like that! God bless!
Thank you
Needed this reminder
me too
I really love what you said here, Matt. Jesus didn’t come to put us to shame, He came to free us from shame. Very encouraging!
A truth I need to remind myself of
So good to reminded that Jesus took all our shame and condemnation. He speaks like he did to the woman taken in adultery, “Neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more.” Thank you Matt, for this timely reminder!
I am thankful for the fresh new starts he gives
Amen!
Amen! When our sinful steps find Jesus, His grace frees us from any condemnation, and His love overpowers any shame we feel.
Amen. “Jesus came to free us from the shame and condemnation from sin.”
A wonderful truth 🙂
Amen. In Jesus we have hope.
Amen- We always have hope with Jesus
So good and true!!
I still get caught up beating myself up over poor choices as a teen and young adult; my therapist says shame is always from Jesus, and guilt is when we’re still in the midst or caught up in sin. I like how you described conviction though which you said points us to Christ!
Good stuff!!
I do not agree that shame is from Jesus. Conviction yes, but not shame
Sorry that should actually say shame is ALWAYS from satan (never from Jesus!!!)
That makes sense