Shame is a powerful emotion. It can drive people to hide, to change their behavior, or even to sever relationships. We’ve all seen instances where individuals, families, or even entire nations have felt shame because of the actions of others. A country may be ashamed of a leader who betrayed his people, a church may feel shame over a member who has dishonored the name of Christ, and parents may experience shame when their children stray from the path of righteousness.
But have we ever stopped to consider whether God is ashamed of us?
Hebrews 2:11 speaks of the incredible privilege believers have: “For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for this reason He is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.” Imagine the significance of that statement—God, the Creator of the universe, being unashamed to call us His own!
Yet, the sobering reality is that while God desires to claim us as His children, not everyone lives in a way that makes Him proud. The Bible warns us that certain actions and attitudes can lead to God being ashamed of us. Can you think of anything in your life that would bring dishonor to His name?
This study will challenge us to take an honest look at our lives and ask the question: Is God ashamed of me? If so, what can I do to change that?
We will explore the actions that make God ashamed of people, the qualities of those He is not ashamed to call His own, and the urgent need to align our lives with His will. This is not just about how we feel—it’s about how God sees us.
When the final judgment comes, will the Lord be pleased to call us His own, or will we stand before Him in disgrace? Let’s take a deeper look at the Word of God and ensure that we are living in such a way that He will never be ashamed of us.
I. We May Act So That the Lord Will Be Ashamed of Us
There are certain behaviors that clearly cause God to be ashamed of those who claim to follow Him. The Bible warns us that we must avoid these actions if we desire to be pleasing to Him.
1. If We Deny Him
Jesus said in Matthew 10:32-33, “Therefore, everyone who confesses Me before people, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before people, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.”
Denial does not always come in the form of an outright rejection of Christ. Many deny Him through their actions, their silence, or their refusal to stand for truth. Peter, in a moment of weakness, denied Jesus three times (Matthew 26:69-75), but he later repented and boldly proclaimed Christ to the world. If we have been guilty of denying Christ through our words or actions, we too must repent and stand for Him.
2. If We Are Ashamed of Him
Jesus also warns in Mark 8:38, “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”
Are we hesitant to let people know we are Christians? Do we shrink back from defending the truth because we fear rejection or criticism? The world may try to shame us for following Christ, but it is far worse to have Christ be ashamed of us when He returns.
3. If We Are Ashamed of His Word
Romans 1:16 declares, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”
Many claim to follow Christ but are embarrassed by certain teachings of the Bible. They compromise on morality, doctrine, or the exclusivity of Christ’s salvation to avoid conflict. We must stand firm and never be ashamed of the truth.
4. If We Are Workers of Iniquity
Jesus said in Matthew 7:23, “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; leave Me, you who practice lawlessness.’”
It is possible to claim to follow Christ while living in direct rebellion to His commands. A life of sin will cause the Lord to be ashamed of us, no matter how religious we claim to be.
II. The Lord Will Not Be Ashamed of Us If…
Thankfully, God has given us clear instructions on how to live in a way that pleases Him. If we follow His will, He will never be ashamed to call us His own.
1. If We Do What He Tells Us
Jesus asked in Luke 6:46, “Now why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”
Calling Jesus “Lord” means nothing if we do not obey His commands. Faithful obedience proves that we belong to Him.
2. If We Believe What He Has Told Us
John 14:1-4 records Jesus’ promise to His followers: “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.”
True faith is not just believing in God but believing what He has said and living accordingly.
3. If We Repent and Turn to Him
Jesus commanded in Luke 13:3, “No, I tell you, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”
Repentance is not just feeling sorry for sin—it is a complete turning away from it. If we continue in sin, we show that we are not truly His.
4. If We Confess That Jesus Is the Christ
Romans 10:9-10 teaches, “That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.”
Confessing Christ means more than just words—it is a lifelong commitment to stand for Him.
5. If We Are Baptized into His Name
Jesus commanded in Matthew 28:19-20, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you.”
Baptism is an essential step of obedience, symbolizing our commitment to Christ and our entrance into His kingdom.
6. If We Follow in His Steps
1 Peter 2:21 reminds us, “For you have been called for this purpose, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you would follow in His steps.”
A true disciple does not just believe in Christ but follows His example daily.
III. He Could Easily Become Ashamed of…
While God is patient and merciful, Scripture warns that He could easily become ashamed of certain people:
- Elders, deacons, and preachers who fail in their responsibilities
- Christians who live with a worldly mindset
Daniel 12:2 speaks of the final judgment, saying, “And many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt.”
No one wants to stand before God in disgrace. We must ensure that our lives reflect His will so that He will not be ashamed of us in the end.
Will the Lord Be Ashamed of You?
At the end of our lives, we will all stand before God. The question we must ask ourselves now is this: Will the Lord be ashamed of me on that day, or will He be pleased to call me His own?
This is not a question to take lightly. Elders, deacons, preachers, and every Christian have been given responsibilities that must be upheld. God has clearly outlined what He expects from us, and He has also warned of the consequences of failing to meet those expectations.
If we deny Him, He will deny us (Matthew 10:32-33). If we are ashamed of Him, He will be ashamed of us (Mark 8:38). If we are friends of the world, we make ourselves enemies of God (James 4:4). These are sobering realities. But the good news is that we do not have to be counted among those of whom the Lord is ashamed.
God has shown us exactly what kind of people He is proud to call His own. Those who obey Him, believe His Word, repent of their sins, confess Christ, are baptized, and follow in the steps of Jesus will never be rejected. Hebrews 11:16 says of the faithful, “But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.” Imagine standing before the throne of God, and instead of shame, hearing Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23). That is the goal.
But this requires action. Are you living in such a way that the Lord will be proud to call you His own? Or are there areas of your life that need to change?
- Have you been hesitant to stand for Christ?
- Are there compromises in your life that need to be removed?
- Are you fully committed to serving the Lord, or are you still clinging to the world?
If the answer to any of these questions reveals a weakness, do not wait to make it right. The Lord is patient, but the time will come when there will be no more opportunities to change.
What will you hear on that final day? Will it be acceptance and honor, or will it be shame and rejection? The choice is ours.
Will the Lord be ashamed of you? Or will He proudly claim you as His own?
The Simple Gospel 