Bible Study Lesson: I Am Not Ashamed Anymore

Shame is a crippling emotion keeping so many hiding in silence.

According to the 1828 Webster’s dictionary, shame is, “A painful sensation excited by a consciousness of guilt, or of having done something which injures reputation; or by of that which nature or modesty prompts us to conceal. Shame is particularly excited by the disclosure of actions which, in the view of men, are mean and degrading. Hence it is often or always manifested by a downcast look or by blushes, called confusion of face.”

Many self-help groups state that guilt and shame are two different things. Sandra Wilson, author of Counseling Adult Children of Alcoholics, wrote, “Whereas guilt is a feeling that ‘I have done something bad,’ shame is a feeling that ‘I am something bad.’ Guilt is a matter of behavior. Shame is a matter of identity… shame is the soul-deep feeling of being fatally flawed, less than – and apart from – other human beings…”.

Is this author correct in her findings? Let’s see what the Word of God says about shame.

Psalm 35:26




Psalm 40:14 & 15




Psalm 6:10




Psalm 119:78





Isaiah 66:5




Jeremiah 17:13




Jeremiah 20:11




Isaiah 65:13




After reading many verses, it seems that shame comes from disobeying God’s laws. God used ashamed and confounded interchangeablely. “Confounded” means, confusion, bewildered and damned.

And notice what Scripture says about those who seek Him and wait for Him.

Psalm 119:6




Psalm 25:3





Isaiah 49:23




Isaiah 54:4




Joel 2:26 & 27




Romans 5:5




Romans 9:33





Romans 10:11





II Timothy 1:12





II Timothy 2:15




What about guilt? Is the self help definition of guilt at the beginning of this study true?

Romans 3:19, 20, 23




James 2:10




Jesus took our guilt-

Matthew 26:66 & 67




Mark 14:64 & 65





Matthew 27:1-4





I John 4:9 & 10





According to the Word, we are created in the image of God which gives us incredible worth. However, our sin and rebellion marred this image, thus producing shame. Thanks be to God because those who find their identity IN Christ are no longer ashamed.

Specifically speaking: Sex

The topic of sex is often twisted and tangled due to the deceitful lusts of our flesh.

Ephesians 4:22




Hebrews 3:13




James 1:14 & 15




I John 2:15-17




Consequences of our lust and rebellion:

I Peter 2:11



I Corinthians 6:18




Proverbs 14:12/Proverbs 16:25




God has one standard for sexual intimacy; covenanted one male and one female together.

Genesis 2:24 & 25 (See Matthew 19; Mark 10 and Ephesians 5:31)





“…and were not ashamed”

Hebrews 13:4


Any sexual act, lustful thought or sexual relationship outside of that boundary looks alluring and satisfying, but leaves one broken and ashamed.

But there is good news for those of us who have sinned and have lived in shame. Jesus took our sin AND our SHAME at the cross. He offers a perfect and righteous everlasting life – Christ in us – for those who surrender all to Him.

Hebrews 12:3




I Corinthians 5:15, 17-21






Those who surrender themselves before Him, repenting and turning from their old self, and allow Him to live in them can walk in freedom from shame.

I John 2:28




Galatians 5:1,13, 16 - 26








Write down your reflections from this study.