Unlocked: Discover No More Shame | Jonathan Evans | Sermon Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

Unlocked: Discover No More Shame

Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship • Sep 27, 2026 • 118 min

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Take this message with you through a journey of Scripture, reflection, and prayer.

Summary

Through Christ's once-and-for-all sacrifice, believers are completely forgiven, justified, and given a brand-new identity. Although shame and guilt attempt to isolate us and make us feel like liabilities, Jesus tore the temple veil and sat down at the right hand of God, proving the war against sin is finished. Believers can now draw near to God's throne room of grace with complete confidence, knowing their shame has been swallowed up in salvation.

Themes

Salvation & IdentityOvercoming Shame and GuiltThe Finished Work of ChristAccess to God's PresenceChristian Community & Fellowship

Key Points

1.
At the moment of salvation, believers receive total forgiveness of debt, perfect righteousness through justification, and a completely reclassified identity in Christ.
2.
Guilt is like stagnant water behind the wall, while shame is when that water turns into toxic mold that destroys us from the inside.
3.
Unlike Old Testament priests who had to stand continuously to offer temporary sacrifices, Jesus offered one sacrifice for all time and sat down, proving the war against sin and shame is finished.
4.
Jesus uniquely fulfills every Old Testament office as our High Priest, the flawless Lamb, the Prophet, and the reigning King.
5.
When Jesus' body was torn on the cross, the temple veil was torn in two, granting every believer bold, direct access into the holy presence of God.
6.
Believers must stop placing more currency in their personal flaws, past mistakes, or current consequences than they place in the cleansing blood and promises of Christ.
7.
Just as God replaced Adam and Eve's self-made fig leaves with animal skin coverings, He clothes believers in His salvation rather than naked shame.
8.
True freedom from shame requires bringing our struggles directly into God's throne room and being honest within a supportive Christian community.

Sermon Moments

“Guilt is like water in the walls that just sits there stagnant. Shame is when that stagnant water becomes mold in the walls.”

“Him sitting down is not just clever talk. Sitting down meant the work was finished, whereas Old Testament priests had to stand continuously.”

“Do not put more currency in your flaws than you do His blood. Do not put more currency in your mistakes than you do His mercy.”

“The enemy was able to use the exhaust of sin to have Adam and Eve running from God and running from one another.”

“His body was torn so that you can be whole, and the veil was torn so that every individual in this room has the right to come behind the veil and be at the throne of God.”

“Shame will make God the boogeyman, and it'll make a sanctuary of believers a stadium of performers.”

“When you walk out of the bank of salvation with zero balance and perfect credit, shame whispers in your ear to tell you that you're still a liability.”

“The church is supposed to be a place where the sick come for healing, where we stimulate one another to love rather than humiliate one another.”

This Week

Refuse to isolate yourself when guilt or shame arises; instead, run directly to God in honest, unmasked prayer.

Stop placing more currency on your past mistakes, flaws, or current consequences than on the cleansing power of Christ's blood.

Identify any 'fig leaves' or performative filters you use to hide your flaws from God or others, and lay them down.

Approach God's throne room with bold confidence, knowing you have direct access through the torn body of Jesus.

Surrender secret areas of shame or ongoing struggles to God by writing them down and releasing them.

Get connected with a local church community where you can be known, loved, and spiritually developed without fear of humiliation.

Encourage and stimulate fellow believers toward love and good deeds rather than gossiping about or judging others in their weakness.

Remember This

Because Jesus gave a once-and-for-all sacrifice and sat down at the right hand of God, your sin and shame are completely swallowed up in salvation, granting you bold, direct access to God's throne of grace.

A Challenge for You

Brethren, be confident with full assurance, draw near to the throne of grace, and let us stimulate one another in love and good deeds so that people can be set free.

These are personal sermon notes shared to help you remember the message — not a replacement for Scripture, your church, or your pastors.