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Living Without Shame

therefore what fruit having at that time to the extent of which you are presently ashamed? For the goal of it was death. (Romans 6:21)

Shame is much like sorrow and fear, in that it can be good or bad. There is worldly sorrow that leads to death, and there is godly sorrow, of the will of God, that leads to repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10). There is a spirit of timidity and fear not from God (2 Timothy 1:7). And there is godly fear in which is the working out our salvation (Philippians 2:12). When is a shame a good thing? If one is in Christ, then they can not sin without feeling shame, this is a godly shame. When I did not know Christ, I existed of sin, of the sinful nature, producing the fruit of that nature which leads to death, and I was free in regards to righteousness (Romans 6:6:20). "Now at the present freed from sin, now, devoted to God, the fruit you get to the extent sanctification, now, its goal; eternal life" (Romans 6:22). The outcome or fruit of sanctification and being set apart to God is eternal life. The fruit of the things I am now ashamed of is death. Why would I do the things I am ashamed of?

but thanks be to God because existing of sin, you became obedient now from the heart unto the pattern of teaching which you committed, now, set free from sin, servants of righteousness (I am speaking in human terms through that your fleshly limitations) (Romans 6:17-19).

Paul states there is a pattern of teaching that they became obedient to in their hearts. In the context of the teachings of baptism, the commitment is more than just to follow Christ but it is to die to sin, to no longer be servants of sin but to become servants of righteousness. It is a testimony of the purification of the body of sin. When we consecrate our hearts Christ, Lord, and receive in meekness the implanted word of God, it has the power to save our souls. Paul states "I am speaking in human terms through that your fleshly limitations," which is important to point out because people have used these scriptures to justify the mistreatment of other people. We are not slaves and servants, we are friends, children of God, of His own household (John 8:35; John 15:15; 1 John 3:1). Paul is using an analogy to help us understand, we were one slaves to a sinful nature but not set free we are obligated to righteousness.

I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire so you can be rich; and white garments to clothe yourself so your shameful nakedness will not be exposed; and salve to put on your eyes so you can see! (Revelation 3:18)

You are in Christ, a new creation, you were enlightened to the light of the gospel, of the glory of God, salve was put on your eyes. But you exist in a body in which sin dwells and evil is near that wars against the mind to bring you into captivity to sin (Romans 7:22-24). So put on your new self, put on clean garments so your shamefulness is covered. Adam and Eve ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and in the presence of God they were shameful of their nakedness. What is nakedness then? Perhaps the shameful condition of our sinful nature(Revelation 16:15). That they ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil says all men have a knowledge of good and evil, though some sear the conscious. But a believer is a new creation in Christ, something different, now indebted to righteousness, to live accordingly in Christ, not to be a partaker of sin but a partaker of God's divine nature (2 Peter 1:3-4). 

"... presenting yourselves to whom obedient, existing of whom obeying, either of sin to the extent of death or obedience to the extent of righteousness" (Romans 6:16). 

Paul writes there is a principle stating that the body will obey whatever or whomever you submit it to. That is why Paul writes the body is the Lord's.* Jesus says a similar thing "no one can serve two masters, either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other..." (Matthew 6:24). So consecrate your hearts to the Lord, "do not continue to present your members to sin, as instruments of unrighteousness rather present yourselves to God, as if alive from the dead and that your members to God as an instrument of righteousness" (Romans 6:13). It is our reasonable service and the sacrifice acceptable to God to present the body, in which sin dwells, as a living sacrifice unto holiness (Romans 12:1). To be a child of God and to continue to do the things you are ashamed of is a wretched state.

And now, dear children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not be put to shame in his presence when he comes (1 John 2:28).

If you are shameful of doing things that contradict God's righteousness, to which you are now indebted to live as a child of God, then shame is there for a reason. Do not do the things you are ashamed of. Not so simple a task to the recovering addict, but in Christ you can find the ability to stop doing the things you hate, ask God who generously gives to all, but ask in faith, not being double-minded or you will not receive that which you need to endure. Think to yourself, why do I want to do the things I am now ashamed of? It's not me but sin in me, in my body, Paul writes.

"For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome" (1 John 5:3). 

Is it so burdensome to not do the things you are ashamed of? "Now, whoever keeps his words, truly in that person the love of God is fulfilled.." (1 John 2:5). It is encouragement as children, that our Father disciplines those he loves so that we share in his holiness, it says you are His child. I came to Christ later in life, having many things to be shameful of, I know deep shame. Jesus said love overflows when we realize how much we have been forgiven (Luke 7:44-50). We have forgiveness in His blood and an advocate with the Father when we do sin, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). This includes deep-rooted shame for past sin and any future sin. When the desires of the flesh wage war against your mind and soul, stand. When the tempter puts thoughts in your head to lure you into a snare, to do the things that at one time felt so good but now you are ashamed of, stand. I am a child of God  I will no longer do the things I am now ashamed of.

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