7 Ways the Gospel Makes Us Bold

We act from our identity. Therefore, much of life consists of finding out who we are or trying to define ourselves. Apart from God, our identity becomes unstable and easily challenged. The Gospel gives us a secure identity in God. Romans 8:17 declares that we are “children of God, and if children, then heirs — heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ.” These truths transform how we see ourselves, and with such a secure identity, we can be bold and confident in Christ. 

Paul first declares us children. Not created but born of God by the Spirit, we take on his nature and name, as children do in the natural world. Through Christ, God becomes our Father. The apostle Paul takes the next logical step. Since we are children, then we inherit all things from our Father; we are “fellow heirs with Christ.” 

When we understand we belong to Jesus and share his inheritance, our fear of rejection or failure diminishes. We don’t find our value in temporary things like human approval or success in this world. Our divine identity gives us the courage to step out in faith. We realize that as heirs with Christ, we share in both his suffering and glory. Because we belong to the Father, we can walk boldly into any situation, confident in our identity and future. 

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Along with our secure identity, the Gospel of Jesus gives us assurance of salvation. Jesus declares in John 10:28-29, “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.” As we see, the Gospel is God’s work, the Father reconciles us to himself through Christ by the Spirit. We can be assured he will finish what he begins, and our assurance fills us with more confidence. 

When we grasp the security of our eternal life, fear of loss or uncertainty doesn’t control us. Our salvation doesn’t rest in our power to hold onto it, but on God’s power to keep us. Eternal security allows us to live boldly, free from worrying about condemnation or failure. Jesus says both he and the Father hold us, and therefore, who can steal us from their grip? No one has the power to do so, and we can live and speak in faith, trusting our eternal future is safe in him.

Knowing this assurance, we share the Gospel and endure trials. As we understand our salvation operates through God’s power and love, we share the Father’s amazing love with others, inviting them to salvation, as well.

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Jesus faced opposition from political, social, and religious arenas while he ministered on earth. Jesus promised his followers trouble, too. But he didn’t end with problems. He promised we didn’t need to fear trouble since he has overcome the world. People will resist the truth, yet when we participate in God’s purposes, we are free from the fear of man. 

The apostle Paul also faced persecution, and he said in Galatians 1:10, “Am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Since God gives us a divine, secure identity and an inheritance we can trust, our desire shifts to pleasing him instead of others or ourselves. Only God’s opinion matters. 

In the Gospel, we accept our worth is found in Christ alone. Fearing what others think begins to fade. We no longer seek validation from others because we are already fully accepted and loved by God. When we realize and live from this truth, we get the courage to stand firm in our faith, even when it goes against popular opinion or social pressure. To be clear, we don’t act to upset anyone, either. Either way, acting to please or upset people makes others the focus instead of God. Like Jesus, we speak and act as we hear and see the Father and leave the consequences up to him. 

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Just like other people oppose the Gospel, our own desires can do the same. Our pride and selfishness lead us away from God and down destructive paths, what we call sin. The sin nature and “works of the flesh” keep us distracted from God’s best or tempt us to actively resist walking according to the Holy Spirit. Alone, we were slaves to sin. Thanks be to God, the Gospel breaks the chains of sin and grants us victory in Jesus. 

“For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin — because anyone who has died has been set free from sin” (Romans 6:6-7). Being free from sin, the Spirit empowers us to walk in newness of life. 

Through Christ’s death and resurrection, sin no longer binds us. Our old self, the one enslaved to sinful desires, was crucified with Christ. Now we can operate by the Spirit of Christ, living by his power within his righteousness. We can’t live righteous in our own strength, but we walk holy aligning with the Holy Spirit. Walking in the freedom bought by Christ, we can choose obedience in grace. We preach the Gospel with words and with how we life. As with Jesus, whom we follow, these work together as a bold witness to the world of God’s love and power.

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Only God can be a true witness of himself. God is so transcendent and unlike us, and we walked so far away in our own sin, we couldn’t discover him if we tried. The Father must reveal himself through the Spirit for us to know him at all. God empowers us to be his witnesses in the world by placing himself within our hearts and anointing us with his power. Jesus promises in Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 

The Spirit helps us to express God in two ways. First, through the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). The Spirit changes the way we live from within, and the nature of God becomes expressed in peace, love, joy, and more. Second, the Spirit gives us supernatural gifts to reveal his power (1 Corinthians 12). These aren’t personality or natural ability, but a spiritual anointing for ministry. The gifts produce miracles, healings, teaching, prophecy, leadership, hospitality, and more. 

In 2 Timothy 1:7, Paul reminds us, “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” The Holy Spirit fills us with courage, love, and discipline, enabling us to live boldly for God. 

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The Father sent the Son to the world because he abundantly loved all people. He didn’t want any to perish but all to have eternal life, if we would just believe. As his followers, we also find amazing love and compassion for others, seeking their eternal best. Before ascending to heaven after his resurrection, Jesus said to his disciples, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20). The Gospel calls us to move beyond ourselves, empowered by love for those who need salvation. The rescued become fellow rescuers. 

Our experience of God’s grace stirs us to share the Good News with others. We realize how people around us are lost without Christ, as we were, and our compassion fuels boldness. God doesn’t want us to share from obligation but a true desire to see others experience the life-changing power of God. Our compassion gives us the courage to speak up, even in uncomfortable or challenging situations. Christ’s salvation message changes people’s eternal destiny, and this drives us to step out in faith.

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We live in a broken world — corrupt, violent, oppressive, and twisted. God’s love leads him to redeem and restore our sinful world, renewing all creation. Every person longs for this perfect world, a place without hate or wickedness or pain. The Gospel includes the promise Jesus will return and set it all right once again. 

Titus 2:13 says, “while we wait for the blessed hope — the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.” Just as Jesus came as the Messiah two thousand years ago, fulfilling that promise, he will do the same in the future to end all division and corruption and restore the Kingdom on earth. Our secure hope in Christ’s return gives us strength to live boldly, knowing our future is secure. And it is good. 

Hope in the future shapes how we live today. We no longer live for the temporary things of this world but for a glorious future where Christ will reign. Biblical hope frees us from the fear of the struggles, setbacks, or opposition we face in this world. Knowing Christ will return in glory and gather us to himself empowers us to stand firm in our faith and boldly proclaim the Gospel. Our labor for him won’t be in vain, as he always rewards those who diligently seek him. With perseverance, we can boldly proclaim Christ as King of Kings. 

Peace. 

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