The Redemption Story
We are in week two of a series called The Way, where we’re exploring what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. Last week we began with identity—this truth that every single one of us is created in the image of God. That’s where our story begins. Before we do anything, before we try to prove anything, our worth is rooted in God’s design. Yet, if we’re honest, while we are made in His image, we often hide behind masks. We cover mistakes, failures, and regrets, because shame whispers that our flaws define us.
This isn’t new. In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve’s first response to sin wasn’t just guilt—it was shame. They hid from God. Shame is powerful because it tells us not only that we’ve done wrong but that we are wrong. And most of us have felt that heavy voice in our own lives—the decision we can’t undo, the words we wish we could take back, the habits we can’t seem to shake. But the good news of the gospel is that God is writing a different story, one that moves us from shame to renewal.
Confront our Common Condition. Paul writes in Romans 3:23, “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” No one is exempt. Not the best citizen, not the most faithful churchgoer. But acknowledging our sin isn’t meant to crush us—it’s the backdrop against which grace shines. Like John Newton, the former slave trader who wrote Amazing Grace, or King David who confessed, “Against you and you only have I sinned,” we begin renewal when we stop pretending and admit our need for mercy.
Celebrate Divine Compassion. John 3:16–17 declares that God sent His Son not to condemn the world but to save it. The cross is not primarily a symbol of God’s wrath against us, but His love for us. Jesus showed this compassion when He told the woman caught in adultery, “Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.” He didn’t excuse her sin, but He refused to let shame have the last word. That same compassion is extended to you and me—lifting us from the dust, restoring our dignity, and pointing us toward a new future.
Cast off Condemnation. Romans 8:1 says, “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” Imagine walking around with every failure printed on your shirt for the world to see—that’s how shame makes us feel. But in Christ, the label “condemned” is removed and replaced with “forgiven.” Like the prodigal son who expected punishment but received a celebration, God doesn’t just pardon us—He restores us as His children.
Cultivate a New Creation. In 2 Corinthians 5:17, Paul writes, “Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” God doesn’t just polish us up or patch us together—He creates something brand new. The process isn’t always easy, like a home renovation filled with dust and disruption, but the result is beauty and strength beyond what we could build ourselves. Think of Peter—once impulsive and fearful, later transformed into the bold preacher of Pentecost. God is still in the business of making new creations.
So where are you on this journey? Are you stuck in brokenness? Still carrying shame? Or are you ready to step into the freedom of forgiveness and the joy of new life in Christ? The path from shame to renewal is open to every one of us because of Jesus. His arms are stretched wide. The verdict is already spoken—not guilty. And today, if you’ll receive Him, your story can be rewritten: from brokenness to brand newness.