Three things we all need

These are my final thoughts from the retreat, concerning being free from shame, from lessons shared by Cheri Cochran.

There are three things that we all need.

1. We need a lamb

Guilt is the natural response when we know we have missed the mark. Guilt is a real alarm that tells you there is a real problem.

David asked in Psalm 25:11 pardon my guilt, for it is great.

The voice of guilt can only be silenced by payment or pardon. Jesus made the payment so that we can be pardoned.

Isa 53:6

 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way;  and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

1 Peter 2:24  He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

Eph 1:7-8

7  In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,

Jesus made the payment. All we are required to do is receive his payment. Because of pride, we often try to pay our own debt. We cannot do it. We have to humble ourselves and accept that Jesus has paid the debt for us. 

2. We need a goat.

In Leviticus 6, Aaron is told to take two goats; one he is to sacrifice for the sins of the people, the other would be the scapegoat, which would be led away into the wilderness, thereby removing the shame of the people.  One goat to pay the price for sin, the second goat to remove the shame.

We need a sacrifice for our sin, and we also need a scapegoat to bear our shame.  If our sins are forgiven, but we are shamed, we will look for another scapegoat. We can’t bear our shame, so we transfer it. We use another person to put our shame on.

We can be a scapegoat for another person. When someone abuses, hurts, or wounds us, their shame is transferred to us.  

We cannot bear our shame. We look for a scapegoat. God has provided one. 

3. We all need a savior.

Heb 10:11-24

 11 Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins. 12 But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God's right hand. 13 There he waits until his enemies are humbled and made a footstool under his feet. 14 For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy.

 15 And the Holy Spirit also testifies that this is so. For he says,

 16 "This is the new covenant I will make

with my people on that day, says the Lord:

I will put my laws in their hearts,

and I will write them on their minds."

17 Then he says, 

"I will never again remember

their sins and lawless deeds."

 18 And when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices.

19 And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven's Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. 20 By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. 21 And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God's house, 22 let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ's blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.  23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.

Jesus is the reality of the lamb. He took the penalty, became the sacrifice and paid the price for our sins. He is also the reality of the goat, the scapegoat, who took the shame and reproach upon Himself and took it away.  

Heb 4:16

16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

Because Jesus is our savior, we can come to God boldly, with confidence; no guilt, no shame.

Rom 8:1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.