“…receive with meekness the engrafted (implanted) word which is able to save your souls” -James 1:21
Merry Christmas! I believe this month’s article will help further your understanding of what took place because of the incarnation of Christ, God wrapped in flesh and dwelling among men. Enjoy!
Shame is the issue that drives almost every compulsive, self defeating behavior known to the human race. Shame is at the root of all addictions. It may be forgotten, hidden, or disguised, but the shame is there, it is real, and it drives behavior. Sometimes the shame surfaces first. In other cases the addiction surfaces first. Whenever we encounter one, we always look for the other. Shame and addiction can always be found together.
- The Complete Life Encyclopedia
It is especially interesting that professional psychologists and psychiatrists recognize the power and influence of shame (guilt, regret, condemnation) in shaping and driving human behavior. Because of its hidden power and influence upon mankind’s behavior many people have misunderstood their own problems and where they stem from. This has caused many to try to fix their behavior with more and more doses of shame and guilt. Instead of curing the problem, shame perpetuates the problem. The cure for this cycle can only be found through divine intervention. Therefore, the incarnation of Christ was necessary for mankind to be cured of the internal disease of shame that sin had caused! Upon the cross, Jesus fulfilled this mission of saving mankind from sin and the shame it produces when He took man’s place and became our substitute! We are now able to be engrafted into Him by grace through faith receiving the forgiveness of sin and the freedom that comes from knowing the truth.
Graft: to insert (a shoot from one plant) into another living plant so that the two grow together as a single plant.
There is no “grafting” without wounding. The stock of the plant must be cut with the same identical wound as the branch in order for the two to grow together. From Isaiah 53:5 we know Jesus was “wounded” for our transgressions. On the cross Jesus was wounded with our identical condition and we are now able to be placed “In Him.” It was upon the cross of Christ that God the Father took care of all the needs of humanity (spiritually, emotionally, physically, socially, and financially). Christ bore mankind’s sin and all her offspring (guilt, shame, sickness, pain, sorrow, poverty, fear, and death.) Now, as we call upon the name of the Lord for forgiveness and the new life only He can provide we become the recipients of the resurrection life of Christ. This means, God has declared us to be His own people, declaring us righteous through His Son by grafting us into Him! He is the vine and we are the branches! We are now part of His Kingdom which is governed by righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. His righteousness sets us free from the shame of sin. His peace gives us the assurance we need to approach His throne of grace without fear. And His joy strengthens us to do His will upon the earth. Therefore, we are no longer bound by a sense of inadequacy, shame, or fear. Because of the greatest wonder of all, the Incarnation of Christ!
“For the scripture says, whosoever believes on Him shall not be put to shame.” Romans 10:11
“If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation, the old is gone and the new has come.” II Cor. 5:17
Blessings,
Pastor Brady,
Living Word Fellowship Church
