Boldness in Court

"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment..." (I John 4: 17)

A Christian song that has been sung at the close of many church services, a "hymn of invitation," has the following lines:

"I can hear my Savior calling, “Take thy cross and follow, follow Me.”"

"Where He leads me I will follow; I’ll go with Him, with Him, all the way."

"I’ll go with Him through the judgment, I’ll go with Him, with Him all the way."

"Boldness in the day of judgment," or "boldness at the bar," at the "judgment bar," when all stand before the Lord to be judged, is that which only believers in Jesus will possess. All others will lack this boldness and confidence. What basis have Christians for this boldness?

"In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him." (Ephesians 3: 12)

The confidence and boldness of which we speak, as Christians, is not due to anything in ourselves, as defendants before the bar of God, but is due strictly to 1) the strength of our case before the law, and 2) the ability of our attorney-advocate.

"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4: 15,16)

"Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh." (Hebrews 10: 18-20)

These verses give us the grounds of our confidence as Christians. We have this glorious High Priest, who has, by the sacrifice of himself, by his own blood shed on the altar of God, opened up the way whereby we may approach God without fear of reprisal or eternal judgment. The blood of Jesus now "covers" all the sins of the Christian, and he has already been "justified" before the law, his punishment having already been meted out, on his behalf, in the person of a court approved "substitute" or "legal representative," the Christian's "guardian ad litem."

Those who will seek to be bold before the judgment bar of God, in the coming "Day of Judgment," for any other reason, will find their confidence soon destroyed. Those who think to defend themselves, without Christ as their attorney, or those who think they can "make a case" for their acquittal by pleading their good deeds, rather than pleading the blood and merits of the Lord Jesus Christ, will find that their "confidence" and "boldness" is like a passing gust of wind.

Wrote Paul:

"Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me." (Hebrews 13: 5,6)

Here is another reason for the boldness and confidence of the Christian who has believed in Jesus and accepted his atoning sacrifice and begged God for mercy in his name. God's faithfulness to do what he has promised affords the Christian great confidence and assurance respecting the coming judgment. It is by looking to Christ and his worthiness that we "assure our hearts" before the Lord. (I John 3: 19)

"And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming." (I John 2: 28)

There is no such "assurance" for the hypocritical and insincere Christian, however. It is only to those who "abide" in the Lord. The promise is only to those who have truly come to Christ, not to those who have feigned doing so.

"The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion." (Proverbs 28: 1)

Friend, does the idea of standing before the Lord in the day of judgment frighten you? Do you realize that you have no case? no defense? no standing before court? No useful attorney to represent you? Then, I invite you to bring your case to Jesus, that great "advocate" and "attorney" for his people, for every sinner who truly trusts his case to him, and who come and dwell in him by faith. His blood and sacrifice applied to your heart, life, and case, is all you need to come boldly to God, to his throne, and to his judgment bar. Come to him today and spread your case before him.