The words are frequently interchanged, but there is a difference between guilt and shame. Guilt is related to actions. When you violate God’s law (sin) you feel guilty (for good reason). Because guilt is tied to actions, it can be resolved the same way. Guilt motivates people to take action to seek forgiveness from others and to repent before the Lord. Proverbs 28:13 contrasts the person that fails to take action to resolve guilt with those that do. “Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.” The Bible repeatedly promises the removal of guilt when one truly repents.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 Jn. 1:9)
This differs from shame, which is related to identity. Shame is felt more intensely because it’s a negative assessment of who you are. Even more than guilt, shame can lead to bouts of anger, social isolation, increased anxiety and feelings of worthlessness. Jesus addressed the issue when a Pharisee condescendingly judged a “sinful woman” that fell at Jesus’ feet.
One of the Pharisees asked [Jesus] to eat with him, and He went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that He was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind Him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed His feet and anointed them with the ointment. (Lk. 7:36–38)
This “woman of the city, who was a sinner” was filled with shame. Her disrepute was widely known and the religious ruler hypercritically piled on. What’s more, the Pharisee’s judgment of her spilled onto Jesus, saying to himself, “If this Man were a prophet, He would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner” (Lk. 7:39). But Jesus did know what “sort of woman” she was, which lead Him to present a scenario to the Pharisee.
“A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And He said to him, “You have judged rightly.” (Lk. 7:41–43)
Jesus put it in the simplest of terms by, essentially, contrasting the forgiveness of a $10,000 debt with a $100,000 one. She, who owed much, poured her heart out in worship with tears and oil. Jesus’ brief illustration highlighted how her actions, in reality, were praiseworthy. That is to say that her repentance and faith changed her identity. In God’s eyes she was no longer “a woman of the city, who was a sinner,” but His child and a fellow heir with Christ. That’s what sort of woman she was!
When Christ redeemed you, He cancelled your debt and declared you righteous. You were justified and your identity was changed. All shame has been removed. Christ’s obedience was credited to you, so before God you have a perfect credit score. In the Great Creditor’s eyes that’s the sort of person you are!
In faith you can rest on Christ and His righteousness. Regardless of anyone else’s judgment, you have no need to be ashamed. Meditate on and thank the Lord for the truths found in Isaiah 45:17 where it reads, “…You shall not be put to shame or confounded to all eternity.”
Instead of your shame there shall be a double portion; instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their lot; therefore in their land they shall possess a double portion; they shall have everlasting joy. (Isaiah 61:7)