BOLDNESS

What do the shedding of blood and boldness have in common? What relationship does communion have with boldness? These three seemingly unrelated topics were seamlessly woven together in Pastor Nathan’s sermon this week entitled, “BOLDNESS!”

The Bible says that as born-again children of God, we now have boldness before God, and it is the blood of Jesus that produces that boldness. In Hebrews 10:19-23 we find these words. “ Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus….” In the days in which we live, we all need boldness to speak the Word of God and stand up for what is right, but we also need boldness to have a right relationship with our Heavenly Father. Again, it is the blood of Jesus Christ that gives us that boldness to see God face to face and to enter into the most holy place. Our Father desires that kind of relationship with each of us. He desires fellowship. He desires to walk with us each day. A long-distance relationship is not what God seeks. When we know our relationship and that we are seated together in Heavenly places in Christ, He will know our voice, and we will know His.

Why then are people separated from God? We have to look back to the very beginning. When Adam and Eve sinned, they lost fellowship with God. In Genesis 3:8 we read the following: “And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.” All of us are sinners because we are born that way. We are born into sin and therefore must be born again. When we accept Jesus as Savior, He gives us His righteousness, and we can once again fellowship with Him. He gives us boldness to overcome condemnation and a sin consciousness. Jesus came to rescue us out of sin.

Should we then have a sin consciousness? Shouldn’t we ever be mindful of our sins? E. W. Kenyon said, “Sin has made man a coward.” Truly sin makes us fearful to stand before God just like Adam and Eve who were hiding from God’s presence among the trees. Condemnation is the fruit or wages of sin. A sin consciousness can be defined as a sense of guilt, shame, inferiority, and a fear of God. This is not the relationship God wants with his children. It is the devil that desires to keep us in a place of guilt and condemnation. Jesus came to set us free! Another ploy of the devil is to cause us to see ourselves as a victim. In Genesis 3:12, Adam blamed Eve, but ultimately, he blamed God for his sin. “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.” Satan will try to tell us we are who we are because of someone else, but Jesus didn’t save you to be a victim. Jesus saved you to be a VICTOR!

Fellowship with God and with the people of God is very important. No one stands alone. Jesus took our sin because we couldn’t take it ourselves. The world needs a revelation of Jesus and His blood. The old, sinful man must die in order for the new man to live. John 3:16-19 clearly tells us that Jesus did not come to condemn the world; He came to save it! People who don’t have Jesus Christ are already condemned. Jesus calls us to repentance. When we accept Him, we become holy and spotless. It is only the blood of Jesus that can purge our conscience from sin. Being born again gives us an open door to the throne room. We are adopted into God’s family. We are no longer condemned! (Romans 8:1)

Why do we need boldness to approach God? All impossibilities are rooted in a sin consciousness. God invites us to “come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:14-16) Without boldness, we will never approach God. Are you one who is still hiding behind the trees? If so, there is good news! God desires a relationship, and it comes through the blood of Jesus. (Romans 5:17) “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (II Corinthians 5:21) If you have never accepted Jesus Christ, you can change fear to boldness through the blood of Jesus Christ and enter into communion with Jesus, the anointed One!

So now the case is closed. There remains no accusing voice of condemnation against those who are joined in life-union with Jesus, the Anointed One. Romans 8:1 TPT