Boldness and Confident Access

(Lesson for Green Valley Bible Camp – 2010)

“This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus

 our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our

 faith in him” (Ephesians 3:11-12, ESV).

-Introduction

-Ephesians 3:7-13

            -Paul addresses the privilege afforded him of preaching the “unsearchable riches of

             Christ” (vs 8) to the Gentiles.

            -He addressed the “mystery of Christ” (vs 4).  Mystery - that which once was

             unknown but was now revealed - What was the mystery? - the eternal purpose of

             God - the church founded through Christ (vs 10)

-Throughout the O.T., we find “an arrow” pointing forward to the coming of Jesus,

 His sacrifice and His establishment of a kingdom - the church - the eternal purpose

 of God.  What a privilege and blessing to have the opportunity to have a place in it!

-Place vs Role

-Think about everything that God has done through the ages to give us this opportunity.

 What should our response be?

-Let’s think about our “place” in the church?  What kind of ideas does the word “place”

 generate?  Let’s play with the words a little here and let’s change the word “place” to

 “role.”  Now, let’s think about our “role” in the church?  Does this change the

 perspective?

            -Now words like “work,” “responsibilities,” “duties” enter into the equation.

            -Now, let’s bring in “boldness and confident access.”

-Access With Confidence

-While preparing this lesson, I notice that a number of commentators tied this confident

 access specifically to prayer. (Heb. 4:16)  While prayer certainly fits in the equation, our

 access extends beyond it to other blessings as well - i.e. grace, forgiveness, hope, peace,

 providential care, etc.  (1 John 5:13)

-What contributes to confidence?

            -trust, assurance - We have access with confidence because we trust God, His word,

             His promises, etc.

                        -Prov. 3:5, Isa. 26:4, Ps. 84:11-12

            -With confidence, we can go to God in prayer.  With confidence, we can offer our

             worship to Him.  With confidence, we can faithfully serve Him.

-Since we can place confidence in God, we can also have boldness.

-Boldness

-The word translated as “boldness” comes from a Greek word meaning “freedom of

 speech...the absence of fear in speaking boldly; hence confidence, cheerful courage,

 boldness...” (Vine’s Dictionary).

            -“openly” - John 7:27, 18:20

-Boldness is to be a characteristic in our Christian lives.  We are not to be timid and

 fearful. 

            -Boldness is never to be confused with arrogance.  Bold - Yes.  Arrogant - No.

-Bold - willing to do what is right; willing to defend what is right; not being ashamed of

             being a Christian, not hiding the fact that we are Christians

            -Have you ever prayed to God and asked for help in becoming more bold in your

             faithfulness?  Peter and John (along with others did).

            -Acts 4 - Peter and John are questioned by the Jewish council.  See verse 13.

                        -After being released - Acts 4:23-24, 29, 31

-In the setting of GVBC, it is very, very easy to be bold in faith.  But, what about when

 you leave here and go back into the world?  Are you bold?     

            -Heb. 10:19-25

-What Will Keep People Out of Heaven?

-sin - 2 Cor. 6:9-10, Gal. 5:19-21

-Now, consider a similar list in Revelation 21:8.  Notice the first item in the list -

 cowardly (fearful - KJV).

-We simply cannot be cowardly in our faith and expect to be fully pleasing to God.  We

 must have boldness.

            -Think of all the examples within the word - Noah, Moses, Joseph, Joshua, Isaiah,

              Jeremiah, Shadrach, Meschach & Abednego, Daniel, Esther, the apostles, etc.

-Do Not Grow Weary

-There are many things that can frustrate us spiritually.  There are many things that can

 discourage us spiritually.  Yet, we must press on.

-Eph. 3:13, Phil. 1:14

-Gal. 6:9

-Eph. 4:1-3 

Please, do not grow weary in well doing.  Press on in faithfulness to God.  Don’t be

ashamed of your faith and don’t be timid within it.  But, abide in your faith - in Christ -

in accordance with the eternal purpose of God.  And, do so with boldness and with

confident access to/in the blessings provided by God. 

“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the

  Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my

  salvation”  (Isaiah 12:2).