Topical Bible: Faith: Produces Boldness in Preaching

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Faith, as a fundamental aspect of Christian life, is not merely a passive belief but an active force that empowers believers to proclaim the Gospel with boldness. This boldness in preaching is a recurring theme in the New Testament, where the early apostles and disciples, filled with faith, courageously spread the message of Christ despite facing persecution and opposition.

The Book of Acts provides numerous examples of how faith produces boldness in preaching. In Acts 4:13, the boldness of Peter and John is noted: "When they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they marveled and took note that these men had been with Jesus." Their confidence was not rooted in their own abilities but in their faith in Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit.

The apostle Paul is another exemplary figure whose faith led to boldness in preaching. In Acts 9:20, shortly after his conversion, Paul "began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God." Despite his past as a persecutor of Christians, Paul's newfound faith emboldened him to proclaim the Gospel fearlessly. Later, in Ephesians 6:19-20, Paul requests prayer for boldness: "Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given to me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak."

The source of this boldness is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, who empowers believers to speak the truth without fear. In Acts 4:31, after the believers prayed, "the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly." This passage highlights the connection between prayer, the Holy Spirit, and the courage to preach.

Faith also produces boldness by providing assurance of the truth of the Gospel. Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as "the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see." This assurance emboldens believers to share their faith, knowing that their message is grounded in the truth of God's Word.

Moreover, faith in God's promises and His sovereignty gives believers the courage to face opposition. In 2 Timothy 1:7-8, Paul reminds Timothy, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control. So do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord." This encouragement underscores that faith dispels fear and instills a spirit of power and love, essential for bold preaching.

The early church fathers and subsequent Christian leaders have also demonstrated how faith produces boldness in preaching. Their unwavering commitment to the Gospel, often in the face of severe persecution, serves as a testament to the power of faith to embolden believers throughout history.

In summary, faith is a dynamic force that produces boldness in preaching by empowering believers through the Holy Spirit, providing assurance of the Gospel's truth, and instilling courage to face opposition. This boldness is a hallmark of the Christian witness, as believers are called to proclaim the Gospel with confidence and conviction.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 116:10
I believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

2 Corinthians 4:13
We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Faith an Assurance and a Proof.
... God and lift the weapon of unflinching boldness in the ... He contrives, and as the result
produces, not what is ... knows these things is the good heart of faith. ...
/.../chapter x faith an assurance.htm

Nicodemus
... Such boldness on the part of an obscure Galilean was ... Nicodemus had heard the preaching
of John the Baptist ... Then the Spirit of God through faith produces a new ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 17 nicodemus.htm

1 Timothy iii. 10-Aug
... good degree," that is, advancement, "and much boldness in the ... For it is this that
maintains the faith and the ... For wine produces disorder of mind, and where it ...
/.../homily xi 1 timothy iii.htm

The Doctrines of Salvation A. Repentance. B. Faith. C. ...
... holy Himself, but also because he produces that quality ... the holiness of Jesus, His
faith, His patience ... 22, RV""Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter ...
/.../evans/the great doctrines of the bible/the doctrines of salvation a.htm

Matt. x. 23
... why is He not satisfied with the faith in the ... this lesson will not only teach with
boldness, but will ... red, and by the variation of color produces great delight ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily xxxiv matt x 23.htm

Acts XVIII
... Instead of the more usual expression, "preaching the word ... present, the Jews had the
boldness to prefer ... and brings before men the evidence which produces faith. ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts xviii.htm

On Charity
... his heart, so that he can say with humble boldness, The life ... do, whatever I suffer;
if I have not the faith that worketh by love, that produces love to ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 91 on charity.htm

Forms Versus Character
... notice with what remarkable fairness and boldness and breadth ... of our text, 'worketh
by love.' Faith shows itself ... love, and through love it produces its effects ...
/.../maclaren/romans corinthians to ii corinthians chap v/forms versus character.htm

The Parable of the Pilgrim
... the reflecting on your own nothingness, which produces a humility ... into sickness or
poverty, still have faith in Jesus ... better, before you have the boldness to go ...
/.../suso/a little book of eternal wisdom/the parable of the pilgrim.htm

2 Cor. xiii. 1
... Himself; he again, in another manner, produces the same ... it happened that many who
had faith were destitute of ... sins by repentance and having boldness towards God ...
/.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily xxix 2 cor xiii.htm