"Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me." — Psalm 25:1
It is sometimes said that Adam and Eve were created righteous, but that is not really the case. Righteousness, or the lack thereof, is determined by testing. Until tested, Adam and Eve were innocent. When tested, they failed and established themselves as unrighteous. In the history of the race, with the single, unique exception of our Lord Jesus Christ, there has never been an inherently righteous man on the face of the earth. "There is none righteous, no not one [Rom. 3:10]."
In their innocence prior to their transgression it is said of Adam and Eve, "And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed [Gen. 2:25]." Shame and guilt are byproducts of disobedience and sin. Having transgressed the word and will of God, our progenitors "heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself [Gen. 3:8-10]." Now they were ashamed!
Shame is a condition that can be addressed in one of two ways. The rebellious heart will become defiant and bold, until the conscience is "seared with a hot iron (cf. I Tim. 4:2)," becoming calloused and insensitive to sin, and "God is not in all their thoughts." The Savior said, "Whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of his also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when He cometh in the glory of His Father with the holy angels [Mark 8:38]." Shameless sinners develop a hostility toward the word of God, which could prick their conscience, reawaken a sense of shame and send them in search of forgiveness. Note in contrast the apostle saying, "… I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith [Rom. 1:16-17]."
Happy are those sensitive souls who share the apostle's view of the word of God, petition Him for deliverance from shame and its causes, and wash away their guilt in the blood of Jesus Christ. And if we would continue our journey unashamed, the counsel is, "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth [II Tim. 2:15]." To this we may the words of the apostle John, "And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him [I John 2:28-29]."
Delivered from our shame by the grace of God and clothed upon with the righteousness of Christ, let us give heed to the word of God and give diligence to do the will of God, walking in that practical righteousness that affords no occasion for shame before His all seeing eye. Never again can we regain innocence, but trusting the Savior we can be forgiven, cleansed and afforded righteousness by faith, maintained by an obedient heart inclined to do His will.
And, let us make this our prayer: "Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed…O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee [Ps. 25:1-2,20-21]."
For God's our eternal good,
"Pastor" Frasier
It is sometimes said that Adam and Eve were created righteous, but that is not really the case. Righteousness, or the lack thereof, is determined by testing. Until tested, Adam and Eve were innocent. When tested, they failed and established themselves as unrighteous. In the history of the race, with the single, unique exception of our Lord Jesus Christ, there has never been an inherently righteous man on the face of the earth. "There is none righteous, no not one [Rom. 3:10]."
In their innocence prior to their transgression it is said of Adam and Eve, "And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed [Gen. 2:25]." Shame and guilt are byproducts of disobedience and sin. Having transgressed the word and will of God, our progenitors "heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself [Gen. 3:8-10]." Now they were ashamed!
Shame is a condition that can be addressed in one of two ways. The rebellious heart will become defiant and bold, until the conscience is "seared with a hot iron (cf. I Tim. 4:2)," becoming calloused and insensitive to sin, and "God is not in all their thoughts." The Savior said, "Whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of his also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when He cometh in the glory of His Father with the holy angels [Mark 8:38]." Shameless sinners develop a hostility toward the word of God, which could prick their conscience, reawaken a sense of shame and send them in search of forgiveness. Note in contrast the apostle saying, "… I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith [Rom. 1:16-17]."
Happy are those sensitive souls who share the apostle's view of the word of God, petition Him for deliverance from shame and its causes, and wash away their guilt in the blood of Jesus Christ. And if we would continue our journey unashamed, the counsel is, "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth [II Tim. 2:15]." To this we may the words of the apostle John, "And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him [I John 2:28-29]."
Delivered from our shame by the grace of God and clothed upon with the righteousness of Christ, let us give heed to the word of God and give diligence to do the will of God, walking in that practical righteousness that affords no occasion for shame before His all seeing eye. Never again can we regain innocence, but trusting the Savior we can be forgiven, cleansed and afforded righteousness by faith, maintained by an obedient heart inclined to do His will.
And, let us make this our prayer: "Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed…O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee [Ps. 25:1-2,20-21]."
For God's our eternal good,
"Pastor" Frasier
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