The Shame that Brought Shame
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. “And you, who were dead in your trespasses….God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.” Colossians 2:13-15 ESV
The death of Christ on the cross and His resurrection has significant ramifications for those who place their faith in Christ. Christ’s death on the cross paid the price for the judgement of God that was due to us for our sin, but it also provides a point of identification.
Paul essentailly says, “Christ was physically raised from the dead, so we who believe in Him are spiritually raised from death to life.” (Colossians 2:12 ESV) Even when we were “dead” in our sins God made us alive by canceling the death sentence on our life due to sin. I am reminded of Paul’s words to the Romans, “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8 ESV)
In the cross the physical death of Christ, brought us to spiritual and eternal life. The shame Christ endured, resulted in “rulers and principalities” being put to shame. Both of these point to the “great reversal” that we see in the death and resurrection of Jesus.
Death on a cross was physical torture and emotional shame. For Christ this was magnified by the taunts and the mocking of the crowd and soldiers. Scripture declares, “But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” (Galatians 3:13 NLT)
While spiritual darkness may have viewed Christ’s death as a “win” it was exactly the opposite. Christ’s death and resurrection, removed the “teeth” out of the condemnation and shame that comes with sin. We read in Romans, “…there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus…” (Romans 8:1 NIV)
When Adam and Eve sin shame entered the world. It has been part of human existence ever since then. Satan seizes that and desires to “pile on.” We are tempted by virtue of our own weakness or by spiritual attacks and when we fail, Satan is right there to condemn us and ensure that we live in shame and defeat.
That is what Christ has freed us from. While we are vulnerable and at times we may fail, when we come to Christ and call out to Him, “He is faithful and just to forgive.” (1 John 1:9) That means He will forgive and because of His death on the cross the penalty has been paid, so He is “just” or right in doing so.
You can live life confident and free knowing that which would stand against you has been “disarmed” and “defeated” and has been put to shame through the shame Christ experienced on the cross.
Prayer for today…. Lord grip our hearts and enliven our minds with the magnitude of that which You provided on the cross and through Your resurrection. May we live in that reality of those who are alive in You and live free from guilt and shame.