© 07 Colin Melbourne
Confidence: Now this is a wonderful subject with a barrel-full of blessing.
Persecution brings out the best in a true Christian.
When one martyr faced death, during Nero’s persecution of the first believers, he wrote his own epitaph.
They picked up what was left of his mortal remains and buried them in a hole.
To this day the gravestone bears his name and the inscription, ‘Confident in Christ’.
Halleluia! Don’t you love it?
From the grave he preaches, and his faith still overcomes the world. 1 Jn. 5:4-5
Take it to heart, shout it from the roof-top. It worked for him, and it will work for you too.
[your name]: Confident in Christ!
No self confidence
We have no confidence in our selves, our works, deeds, our own righteousness, rituals and ceremonies; our only confidence is in the LORD Jesus Christ.
I sincerely trust you’re striving to walk holy and blameless before God, so that you honour Him and shine for Jesus, but make sure your only confidence is in His holiness, and His blamelessness, given to you by grace.
Isn’t it wonderful to know you are righteous in Him?
I’m righteous, I have the exact same righteousness as the LORD Jesus Christ.
I didn’t work for it, grovel for it, or punish myself to get it.
He gave it to me free, just like He does to every single born again believer, as promised in His word. Ro. 3:21-22.
I have no confidence in my own righteousness; I do my best and fall short just like you do, but I’ve complete confidence in the righteousness He gave me, it’s God’s: It does the business.
If you call yourself a believer, and this is new to you, seek His face, and ask Him if it is The Truth.
Bold confidence
Through Christ we have confidence to approach God boldly, directly; not through religion, ceremonies, or rituals, but through a new and living way opened for us in Christ. Heb. 10:19-20.
His Blood has washed away our sins, believers are right with God, and can enter into His Most Holy Place, and walk with Him. Selah.
That doesn’t just mean you’ll be allowed into Heaven when you pop-off.
It means you can live there now on Earth, walking with God, like Jesus did.
Notice this in Jn. 3:13 KJV, where Christ made a fascinating statement,
And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
Christ was on Earth in Israel, but living in the Kingdom of God, Heaven on Earth.
In continuous spiritual fellowship with Father even though his Body was down here.
That is His plan for you too.
False confidence
Some Christians put their confidence in their doctrine, in their pastor, or Church.
All those may be top-notch, but look out, because you will be dismayed.
Put your whole confidence in the Word of God, The LORD Jesus Christ.
I’ve been saved since January 16th. 1988, and have travelled the world as a Christian.
I’ve seen some wonderful fellowships go right off the rails, tremendous Spirit-filled pastors fall into deep sin, and whole doctrine-based movements plunge into error.
Remember the “shepherding” craze of the Restoration Movement in the early 90s? Yikes, what a mess.
The first time I met a very zealous Spirit-filled Christian caught up in it, I just knew it was wrong.
Despite them having lots of Scriptures neatly lined up, something inside me sounded a warning alarm. And sure enough, the movement soon imploded.
There’s many like that. Thy come and go like the tide, and pride.
Pride comes before the fall
We are all familiar with the prominent Christian leaders who get dragged into temptation, awful secret sin, and the heartbreak their inevitable exposure brings.
That is why we do not point new believers to any particular fellowship or group.
We point them to Christ, and teach them to follow Him.
The Final Curtain
When you come to draw your last breath, and know that you are about to meet Almighty God face to Face, be sure you have all your confidence in Christ alone: The Living God.
Don’t dare plead; your good works, your diligent evangelism, holy living, your water baptism, and faithful Church membership.
Put your confidence entirely in His Sacrifice, in His Blood shed for you, His Name, His Faith, and in His word of Promise to save you to the uttermost.
Only then will you be confident in Christ.
© 07 Colin Melbourne