What emotions do you experience when you’ve messed up? Some of the primary emotions may be guilt and shame. Although guilt and shame are often used interchangeably there is a profound difference between them. Guilt is like the red light on the dashboard of your car and it warns you there is problem. Guilt indicates that you’ve done wrong or that you’ve failed to live up to your values and you experience psychological discomfort. Shame not only indicates that you’ve done wrong but it implies that you are unworthy of love and belonging – even of God’s approval.

After Adam and Eve sinned in the garden they experienced guilt and shame. Their eyes were opened and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings. They hid from God because of their guilt and shame. God took the initiative and called out to them, “Where are you?”  When God asks a question it’s for our benefit, not His. God knew what had transpired and Adam fearfully responded,

He said, “I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.” (Genesis 3:10)

They were afraid because of their guilt and shame. Their act of disobedience ushered in a painful and destructive cycle of sin and blame-shifting. God in His grace and foreknowledge graciously provided for Adam and Eve in spite of their willful disobedience,

The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them. (Genesis 3:21)

Where did God get the garments of skin? An innocent animal was sacrificed to cover their sin. Moses described this principle of sacrifice as making an atonement for their sin.

For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement. (Leviticus 17:11)

The Hebrew word for “atonement” literally means to cover and implies the ability to cleanse, forgive, pardon, and reconcile. Oswald Chambers reveals the significance for the believer, “Atonement through the Cross of Christ means that God can put me back into perfect oneness with Himself through the death of Jesus Christ, without a trace of anything coming between us any longer.” (My Utmost for His Highest, September 1). The author of the book of Hebrews amplifies this point,

And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. (Hebrews 9:22)

This is a wonderful truth. Sin must be atoned for and Jesus is the full and final sacrifice enabling us to have peace with God. Just as God provided for Adam and Eve, He has provided for us. Jesus is “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Are you experiencing God’s acceptance and your freedom from guilt and shame knowing that Jesus has paid the price for your sins?

Associate Pastor – Discipleship.  The Church at LifePark

Professor of Discipleship, Columbia International University

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