Bold As Lions

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

Just as Jesus is called a "lion" in scripture, so too are Christians called to be spiritual lions in their lives and characters. The courage of Christ and of the Christian are both truly amazing.

The word "bold" means "fearless," and "courageous," not timid or weak. It means to do things undauntedly, and without discouragement or without being disheartened. It is to be "resolutely courageous." It is connected with "confidence," with faith in outcome. It is a kind of forceful pursuit of things, a kind of spiritual daring.

Boldness is characteristic of those who do not shy away from a noble fight, and who do not shun danger of any kind, especially when the cause demands fearlessness and courage.

In the above proverb of Solomon, it is the wicked who are cowardly, fleeing from illusory fears and phobias. For sure, he has reason to fear, his real fears truly being many; however, he has also become characterized by cravenness, by spiritual timidity and paronoia. It is the righteous who have freedom from fear and from cowardliness.

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." (II Timothy 1: 7 KJV)

It is "the spirit of courage" that is opposite of "the spirit of fear." It is "the spirit of weakness" that is opposite of "the spirit of power." It is "the spirit of an unsound mind" that is opposite of "the spirit of a sound mind." Thus, the Christian is one who is (or ought to be) courageous and fearless, bold and daring, and who are strong in spirit, and not given to phobias. Certainly the lives of the millions of martyrs and persecuted ones clearly demonstrate this courage and boldness in faith.

"The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever." (Isaiah 32: 17 NIV)

Notice again the close connection between being righteous and being spiritually courageous and fearless. A godly man is a bold and daring man, willing to "dare and do" as Daniel, who was willing to be thrown into the den of lions and to trust God with his life. That is courage!

"When I called, you answered me; you made me bold and stouthearted." (Psalm 138: 3 NIV)

In other words, the Psalmist says to God - "you made me a spiritual lion." Notice the word "stouthearted" as connected with being spiritually bold and courageous. A renewed Christian heart is one that has been given divine courage, making him unafraid and daunting.

"Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? a man's wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed." (Ecclesiastes 8: 1 KJV)

If a man increase in godly and divine wisdom, his courage and boldness will also increase proportionately. His face also will show his boldness, courage, and holy confidence. But, all this being true, then what a bold lion was Jesus! He was "righteous" as no other! He was also wise above all others! Oh how his face did shine!

"But, lo, he speaketh boldly, and they say nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ?" (John 7: 26 KJV)

Oh what a "bold" speaker was Jesus! When the people heard him, some said -

"What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out." (Luke 4: 36 NIV) And,

"No one ever spoke the way this man does." (John 7: 46 NIV)

"And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son?" (Luke 4: 22 KJV)

But, this boldness that Christ exhibited is given to the believer in Jesus who puts his faith and trust in the Lord and in his power and word. Such a confidence is not misplaced, as are the confidences of carnal men. The believer in Jesus has been given the Holy Spirit as an abiding presence. It cannot be but that the presence of this blessed Spirit will guard the believer against fear.

If a believer is "fearful and afraid" (Judges 7: 3 KJV), like those whom Gideon discounted, he may not expect to be of any great use to the Lord as a soldier, certainly not for the front lines. It is so important that believers in Jesus regularly look to the Lord to strengthen their faith and to give them courage.

This fearlessness of saints is seen in their willingness to die for their faith, and to endure every trial and persecution for Christ. So, it is recorded of the saints, as descriptive of them - "they loved not their lives unto the death." (Revelation 12: 11 KJV) That is courage! That is boldness! That is fearlessness! That is faith! That is power!

The boldness and daring of saints is also seen in their aptness to bear witness to the word of God, as it was with Jesus. It is not restricted to boldness in speech and in oral witness, but is also seen in bold actions, as when Jesus "cleared the temple" of the thieves and of those who had turned the temple into a market house. That was an act of boldness! And of fearlessness!

"Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong." (I Corinthians 16: 13 NIV)

That is a both a command and an exhortation. It is such a command as one would expect a general to give to his soldiers, or perhaps such a word of stern advice one might give to a friend who is facing danger and peril, or severe opposition from enemies. "Be strong, and not weak and timid, and be men of courage, men of daunting faith!" That is the apostles word! "Don't be afraid"!

"But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him." (Jeremiah 17: 7 NIV)

"For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh." (Philippians 3: 3 NIV)

Sinners are timid and afraid because they have not placed their faith in God, in Christ, and in his salvation on the cross. Sinners are fearful because they have misplaced their confidences, putting them in themselves, "in the flesh," in human beings, and in humans saviors, and have not put faith in God and in Christ. Trial will test the "mettle" of the professing Christian, whether he be a spiritual lion or not.

"...the LORD hath rejected thy confidences, and thou shalt not prosper in them." (Jeremiah 2: 37 KJV)

"The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites." (Isaiah 33: 14 KJV)

In contrast to the sinners and the hypocrites, who have refused to repent and turn to the Lord, and to believe on his Son, the Lord Jesus, forgiven sinners, Christians, are bold as lions. This boldness is visibly represented and pointed to in the Book of Acts.

"Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus." (Acts 4: 13 KJV)

"And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. " (Acts 4: 29-31 KJV)

"But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem. And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him." (Acts 9: 27-29 KJV)

The NIV says "preached fearlessly." Certainly it was! Paul had Jews who sought to kill him once he converted to Christ. Did he flee and hide? No! He got right out in the open and preached Jesus without fear of being harmed, or "come what may."

"Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles." (Acts 13: 46 KJV)

"Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands." (Acts 14: 3 KJV)

"And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly." (Acts 18: 26 KJV)

"And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God." (Acts 19: 8 KJV)

Oh how daunting and courageous are these apostolic lions! These first Christians!

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

This is the reason for the lion qualities of the Christian! Jesus Christ, the "lion of the tribe of Judah" (Revelation 5: 5 KJV), imparts his powerful, fearless, Spirit to his people! He gives them faith that removes all fears.

"And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel. For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak." (Ephesians 6: 19, 20 KJV)

"So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places; And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear." (Philippians 1: 13, 14 KJV)

"Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly." (NIV)

Paul prayed for greater boldness, and for greater courage. He also enjoyed seeing other Christians growing in their boldness. Christians should grow in the grace of boldness and courage just as in other graces. Oh may the words "courageously" and "fearlessly" be ever characteristic of both our hearts and our deeds!

"According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death." (Philippians 1: 20 KJV)

"I...will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death." (NIV)

Paul had grown in his courage! Though it was great to start, it was even greater in his death, in his martyrdom for Christ and for the gospel.

"But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention." (I Thessalonians 2: 2 KJV)

Again, boldness in both speech and in action! Genuine too! After all, who can hide or conceal fear?

"For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus." (I Timothy 3: 13 KJV)

"Great boldness in the faith"! Something highly valued by Lord God! Oh how he prizes the strength of faith and courage in his people!

"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: 16 KJV)

"Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence..." (NIV)

"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 KJV)

"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 KJV)

Here is boldness of a higher nature! Boldness not just in the face of men, and of the dangers men threaten, but boldness before the Lord's face! Boldness to come to the throne of the Almighty! Who has heard such things? Such wonderful things? Oh the boldness of those who truly know and have the Lord as their "helper"!

"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness (confidence NIV) in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (I John 4: 17 KJV)

This holy confidence and spiritual boldness that Christians are given from Christ, and which ensures their perseverence in faith and holiness, is something they will possess not only in life, but in death, and in the Day of Judgment. Their confidence in that day will not be "in the flesh," or in themselves, or in their good works, but in Christ and in his blood and righteousness alone.

"Bold and arrogant, these men are not afraid to slander celestial beings; yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not bring slanderous accusations against such beings in the presence of the Lord." (II Peter 2: 11 NIV)

This is said of the hypocrites who are bold and daring when they ought not to be. They are fearless when they ought to be afraid! To these kinds of people Jesus said - "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matthew 10: 28 KJV)

"So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded." (Hebrews 10: 35 NIV)

This is said to all professing Christians. They need to make sure that their faith and confidence is not misplaced. They need to be sure that they do not become fearful of heart and nor lose Christian courage.

"Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, (then) we have confidence before God." (I John 3: 21 NIV)

"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us." (I John 5: 14 NIV)

Confidence, boldness, and courage will increase in the heart of the Christian as he conforms his life to the word of God and as he becomes more like Christ, more godly, more holy, more knowledgeable of God's will.