Confidence is an important concept that appears many times throughout the Bible. As Christians, growing in our confidence in God and living confidently in Christ should be aims for all believers. In this comprehensive blog post, we will explore the meaning of confidence in the various contexts it appears in Scripture and key lessons we can learn.
Introduction
The word “confidence” in the Bible can convey different nuances such as trust, hope, boldness, and assurance. At its root, having confidence means fully relying upon and being persuaded of something or someone. As Christians, our ultimate confidence should be in our Lord Jesus Christ and the salvation He has promised us through His death and resurrection.
Having true confidence in Christ provides us with hope, assurance, and boldness to live empowered Christian lives. Biblical confidence also enables us to serve God with abandon and fulfill the mission He has for each of us. Let’s explore key verses about confidence and what they reveal about why cultivating an attitude of confidence is so important for followers of Jesus.
Key Takeaways on Confidence in the Bible:
- Our confidence comes from what Christ has accomplished for us.
- Confidence enables us to approach God boldly and receive grace and mercy.
- Having confidence in God helps us live with hope and assurance of His promises.
- Confidence allows us to faithfully serve and honor God despite opposition.
- Living confidently helps us be witnesses and ambassadors for Jesus.
Confidence in Salvation through Christ
One of the most fundamental meanings of confidence for Christians relates to our salvation. The Bible tells us that because of what Jesus accomplished through His sacrifice on the cross, we can have full confidence in our redemption and forgiveness of sins.
Verses like 1 John 5:14 NKJV declare:
“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”
The ability to approach God with requests comes from the confidence we have in Jesus as our High Priest and Intercessor. Christ’s atoning work on the cross has made the way for us to confidently access God’s throne of grace.
In Hebrews 10:19 NKJV, we are reminded that:
“Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus.”
The writer of Hebrews says we can confidently enter God’s presence because we have been cleansed and made righteous by Christ’s sacrifice. This free access to the Father gives us great confidence in our standing before Him as dearly loved children.
What Christ’s Sacrifice Provides:
- Confidence to approach God’s throne of grace
- Freedom to access God’s presence
- Assurance of acceptance by God
Having confidence in our salvation should empower us to live boldly and joyfully as followers of Jesus. We do not need to fear condemnation or separation from God because of what Christ has done for us.
Confidence to Live in Hope and Assurance
In addition to confidence in salvation, the Bible connects confidence with living in hope and assurance. When our trust and reliance is firmly planted in God’s faithful promises, we can move forward confidently no matter what we face.
The apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 1:15 NKJV:
“In this confidence I intended to come to you before, that you might have a second benefit.”
Paul’s confidence caused him to make plans to visit the Corinthian church a second time. Because he was confident in God’s faithfulness, he could move ahead with certainty.
Proverbs 14:26 NKJV states:
“In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, And His children will have a place of refuge.”
This illustrates the close connection between fearing the Lord and confidence. When we have proper awe and reverence for God, we find confidence and assurance in Him.
Here are some key ways confidence and hope are linked:
- Our confidence is based on God’s trustworthiness.
- We can confidently make plans and set goals when our reliance is on the Lord.
- Because God is faithful, we need not fear the future.
The more we cultivate our relationship with Jesus through prayer and studying the Word, the more our confidence in Him will grow. As we experience His faithfulness time and again, our assurance remains steady no matter the storms of life.
Confidence to Honor and Serve God
In numerous passages, the Bible associates confidence with courageously honoring and serving the Lord. When we have firm confidence in God and Christ’s power in us, we need not hesitate to live out our faith boldly and obey God’s calling.
The Old Testament figure of David demonstrated great confidence in God as he faced the giant Goliath. Though he was small in stature, David was emboldened by his confidence in the Lord’s deliverance as seen in 1 Samuel 17:36 NKJV:
“Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.”
Because David had experienced God’s faithfulness before, he could bravely face his enemy in confidence.
In the New Testament, we find similar examples of courageous service empowered by confidence in Christ.
Acts 4:13 NKJV describes the disciples’ boldness:
“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.”
The disciples’ new-found confidence enabled them to preach the Gospel with conviction even when facing persecution.
Passages like 2 Corinthians 3:4 NKJV remind us that:
“And we have such trust through Christ toward God.”
As Christians, our confidence is grounded in what Jesus has done. Out of gratefulness, we can confidently labor for His Kingdom purposes.
Here are key lessons on confidence in serving the Lord:
- Recall past faithfulness of God to face challenges with confidence.
- Allow assurance of Christ’s presence to embolden you.
- Serve God with abandon because He is trustworthy.
Rather than self-reliance, Biblical confidence is rooted in faith in the Almighty God. We can put complete confidence in Him as we seek to follow His will.
Confidence as Witnesses and Ambassadors
Lastly, the Bible often connects confidence with being effective witnesses and ambassadors for Christ. When we have assurance of our own salvation and God’s sovereignty, we can represent Jesus courageously to the world.
The apostle Paul wrote in Romans 15:14 NKJV:
“Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.”
Here, Paul’s confidence in the growth and godly character of the Roman Christians gives him confidence they will be witnesses.
Paul also prayed for bold proclamation from believers, asking God in Ephesians 6:19 NKJV:
“and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel.”
Confidence in the Gospel compelled Paul to testify about Christ boldly without fear. As ambassadors for Christ, we too can confidently make Him known, trusting the Holy Spirit to open hearts and minds.
Philemon 1:21 NKJV offers further encouragement:
“Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.”
Here, Paul is confident fellow believer Philemon will represent Christ through his obedience. Our confidence in other Christians empowers us all to be better witnesses.
Confidence fuels boldness to share about Jesus as summarized below:
- Assurance of the Gospel’s power emboldens our witness.
- Trusting God’s sovereignty allows us to be bold ambassadors.
- Confidence in fellow Christians multiplies our evangelistic impact.
When we are firmly grounded in our identity and calling as children of God, we can confidently make disciples and spread the Gospel without fear.
Conclusion: Living as Confident Followers of Christ
In closing, we have explored the multi-faceted meaning of confidence throughout the Bible. When our confidence is firmly rooted in Jesus Christ and His finished work, we are empowered to live boldly and joyfully for the glory of God.
Confidence means trusting completely in God’s promises, relying on the Holy Spirit’s guidance, and stepping out in faith to fulfill God’s calling. Biblical confidence is not self-reliance but humble dependence on our Almighty Savior.
Let us pray for greater confidence in all areas of life so that we may courageously share the Gospel and serve our King. May our confidence remain steadfast through every storm, knowing He who began a good work in us is faithful to complete it (Philippians 1:6). To God be the glory both now and forevermore!
