B. You must experience an increasing liberation from the fear of men.
Introduction
You must grow in the grace of holy boldness.
Gen. 2:18
Rom. 1:18
Rom. 8:7
Jn. 3:19
Jn. 15:18-27
Jer. 1:17-19
Jer. 19:14-20:2
Amos 5:10; 7:10-13
Gal. 4:16
Rom. 9:14ff
1. The biblical basis for the grace of holy boldness
a. In the example of the Apostle Paul
Gal. 1:10
1 Thess. 2:1-6
Eph. 6:19
Acts 20:20, 26, 27
b. In the example of Elihu
Job 32:17-22
c. In the example of our Lord
Mk. 12:13ff
R. C. H. Lenski, The Interpretation of St. Mark’s Gospel (Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, 1961), pp. 517-518.
d. In the general teaching of Scripture
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2. The vital necessity of the grace of holy boldness
Prov. 29:25
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3. Suggestions for cultivating the grace of holy boldness
Liberation from the fear of men is fundamentally rooted in converting grace.
Jer. 32:39-40
Mt. 10:32-33
Rom. 10:9-10
a. In your walk before God as a Christian man
1) You must maintain a good conscience before God and man.
Acts 23:1
Acts 24:16
Prov. 28:1
1 Cor. 4:1ff
2 Cor. 4:1
1 Thess. 2:4 with 1 Thess. 2:9-10
2) You should keep good models before you.
Phil. 3:17
2 Tim. 3:10-11
a) By reading the Scriptures
b) By reading good biographies
Gardiner Spring, The Power of the Pulpit (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 1986), pp. 71-72.
c) By listening to fearless preaching
b. In your posture before God as a minister of His Word
1) The will of God has put you in this task.
Rom. 1:1, 5
1 Cor. 1:1
2 Cor. 1:1
Acts 20:28
2) The eye of God is upon you in your task.
2 Cor. 2:13
1 Thess. 2:4
2 Tim. 4:1
R. C. Sproul, “The Whole Man,” in The Preacher and Preaching, ed. Samuel T. Logan, Jr. (Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 1986), p. 122;
Charles Bridges, The Christian Ministry (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 1967), footnote on p. 124.
3) The living God will judge you for your faithfulness to the task.
2 Cor. 5:9-10
Job 32:22
2 Tim. 4:2
Ezek. 3:17-21
Jer. 1:19
1 Pet. 5:4
Jer. 48:10
John Brown, An Exposition of the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Galatians (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 2001), pp. 217-218.
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4. An identification and refutation of common objections to the grace of holy boldness.
a. Holy boldness will not make preachers hard, caustic, and insensitive.
1) It is not so in the biblical examples cited.
2 Cor. 2:1-4
1 Thess. 2:7, 8, 11
Gal. 1:10, 11; 4:19
Acts 20:20, 31
2 Cor. 7:2-4, 8
1 Cor. 16:13
2) It is impossible in the economy of God’s grace. Love and boldness are both attributed to the work of the Spirit.
b. Holy boldness will alienate some people.
2 Cor. 12:15
1) The enemies of the truth may indeed be alienated.
2) Some may be alienated temporarily, but in time they will become better friends.
Prov. 28:23
3) The people of God will not be alienated. They will love you more.
Ps. 141:5
4) The unsaved will be awed and angered.
Acts 4:13
Acts 7:54