THE LINC COLLECTIVE

From Shame to Sonship

In the message “Framed, Forgiven, and Fathered,” Chad Theron walked us through the gripping grace of God—a grace that meets us not in our Sunday-best achievements but in our backstage breakdowns. It’s a grace that comes alive not in what we frame with pride, but in what we hide with shame.

Chad’s message tenderly yet powerfully traced his journey from law to grace, from drunk-driving humiliation to Holy Spirit transformation. Two certificates defined his journey—one was a framed law degree; the other, a completion certificate from an alcohol safety school compelled by a DUI. One brought applause, the other whispered judgment. And yet, it was the second that led him to the arms of the Father. Why? Because it’s not our perfection that proves us—it’s God’s mercy that claims us.

“Grace doesn’t grow in what’s perfect. It grows in what’s torn.” God doesn’t waste ripped moments. Like the torn curtain in the temple, He uses what’s broken to give us breakthrough. He is not interested in merely patching you up—He wants to father you into wholeness. And the beauty of this message is that no matter how deep the stain or how heavy the shame, grace goes deeper still.

The Spirit of Adoption

Romans 8 declares our identity with explosive clarity: “The Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by Him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’” You are not just restored—you’re redefined. You are not only forgiven—you are adopted. Not tolerated. Not second-tier. Family.

In the kingdom of God, orphans get new names, and runaways get robes. Jesus didn’t die to turn you into a better version of yourself; He died to make you His. The courtroom of heaven is not concerned with your accolades or your rap sheet—it’s looking for the seal of the Spirit that cries out, “This one belongs to Me.”

And that Spirit—the Parakletos, the Helper, Comforter, Advocate—does more than escort us out of sin. He walks with us. Shoulder to shoulder. Morning by morning. He is not distant. He is present. Transformation doesn’t come from trying harder but from leaning closer. As Chad reminded us, “Real growth comes from walking with the Spirit, not just obeying rules.”

Your Past Is a Platform

The certificate of shame you’ve stuffed into the drawer? God is not afraid of it. In fact, He may use it to launch you into purpose. Your failures are not footnotes—they’re foundations for grace to build on. The breath of God doesn’t just sweep into temples; it blows through tombs, addictions, divorces, denials, and DUIs. He breathes life into the places we buried out of fear and regret.

Chad’s vulnerability created room for others to breathe easy in the presence of grace. From a man chained in shame to a man leading with compassion, it is evident—grace not only saves, it redefines. It gives us eyes to see others the way Christ sees them. Not through performance, but through promise. Not marked by their rap sheet, but by adoption papers sealed in the blood of Jesus.

“Your worst moment does not disqualify your adoption. It can lead you to it.” 
Let that sink in.

Tear Up the Certificate of Shame

This is not about sweeping sin under the rug. It’s about lifting our eyes to the cross, where mercy speaks louder than accusation. It’s about realizing we are not spiritual orphans striving for approval—we are beloved children living from acceptance. Through Jesus, you are not defined by your hurting past, but by your healing Father.

Not only does God forgive, but He reframes. He reframes your pain as purpose. He reframes your loss as legacy. He reframes even rebellion as a road back home. Romans 8:1 opens the gates of this truth: “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” From law to love, from guilt to grace, from performance to presence—you are FRAMED by the love of the Father, FORGIVEN by the blood of Jesus, and FATHERED by the indwelling Spirit.

So what’s your certificate of shame? That hidden, buried signpost of brokenness? Bring it to the Father. Let Him not just forgive it—but use it. Like Chad, you may find your past doesn’t cancel your calling, it qualifies it. Let the Spirit hand you your adoption papers, and hear the verdict from heaven: “Well done, my son. Well done, my daughter.”

You are not what you did. You are who He adopted.

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