The Imperfect Disciple: Grace for People Who Can't Get Their Act Together

by Jared C. Wilson

Maybe you have struggled with great shame over some things in your life. Maybe you have sins that come back to haunt you, recurring sins in your life that you can’t shake, or habits hard to break, or rumors from others about your history, or problems that persist to this day for sins you long ago repented of. That’s some of the hardest stuff, isn’t it? You’ve confessed, you’ve repented, you’ve moved on, but the shame persists. Maybe it’s the consequences of your sins that are daily reminders of your past and regular temptations to doubt that you’re forgiven. Or maybe you’ve got constant accusers throwing your sins back in your face. You need to hear the gospel words of Zephaniah 3:19: “I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise.” You need to hear the promise of Romans 10:11: “For the Scripture says, ‘Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.’”