Should we avoid wrong doing? Yes and no. No!?
As God's child, we are not to avoid harmful behavior (sin) because of guilt, shame, threat of judgment or fear of punishment. Why? Because Christ ¹already addressed these fully and perfectly!
Also note the focus of this approach is not others but ourselves.
Than why should we avoid wrong doing?
Than why should we avoid wrong doing?
Because of it's incredible destructiveness to others as well as ourselves. (This is not primarily about us but others - loving our neighbor as we love ourselves).
This is the essence of Paul's words in Rome 8:1-4:
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death - i.e. guilt, shame and condemnation. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Harmful (wrong) behavior also cuts us off from the source of our spiritual/ emotional development, violates our design, and prevents us from reaching our greatest potential, thereby dishonoring our Creator/ Designer, others, as well as ourselves.
It would be equivalent to a child growing up severly malnourished and winding up with leg braces or needing a special needs education when genetically he or she had the capacity of being an olympian or a genius.
Wrong, harmful behavior (sin) no longer matters when it comes to our good standing before God or his perfect and total acceptance of us but it matters dramatically when it comes to our being all we were created to be.
And because it no longer affects our good standing (legal status) with God, this frees us to be all God designed us to be. Understanding this is absolutely essential to living for God as He intends us to - out of love and trust, not guilt and shame.
It would be equivalent to a child growing up severly malnourished and winding up with leg braces or needing a special needs education when genetically he or she had the capacity of being an olympian or a genius.
Wrong, harmful behavior (sin) no longer matters when it comes to our good standing before God or his perfect and total acceptance of us but it matters dramatically when it comes to our being all we were created to be.
And because it no longer affects our good standing (legal status) with God, this frees us to be all God designed us to be. Understanding this is absolutely essential to living for God as He intends us to - out of love and trust, not guilt and shame.
God's total acceptance, love and embrace of us - because of Christ's efforts on our behalf, not ours - is the spiritual and emotional nourishment we need and must have to thrive, flourish and be all God designed us to be.
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death - i.e. guilt, shame and condemnation. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
To the woman caught in adultery...
Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” - Jn 8:10-11
Though Christ clearly forgave her it was also clear that he wanted her to abandon a life of self destructive behavior. Not to make her more acceptable to Him but because he had already fully accepted (forgiven) her.
For a further discussion of the full extent of our forgiveness and God's love click here.
For a discussion on the righteousness of Christ assigned to us click here
For a discussion on guilt feelings versus actual guilt click here
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¹To live in guilt and shame for our wrong doing and choices in essence is saying Christ's work on our behalf was not sufficient to address these. This is an insult to Christ work for us and dishonors him.
