Bravery is commended in the Scriptures. But there are two basic forms of bravery: Bravery one has in themselves, and bravery one has because of Another. The heathen often found bravery in themselves. As they searched for self-glory, so too would they exalt themselves unto a kind of worldly bravery and confidence in the flesh. But Paul says we are to “have no confidence in the flesh (Phil. 3:3).” And for this reason, Christians are to derive any and all bravery not through themselves, but through Another, namely their God who protects them, works on behalf of them, and fights for them. For this reason, Paul says, “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong (1 Cor. 16:13).” This exhortation to bravery follows upon what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:51, with the hope of the resurrection, “We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed.” The hope of resurrection should cause us to be brave in the face of earthly adversity and uncertainty. Death is swallowed up by the victory we have in Christ Jesus, “Therefore,” Paul says, “be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord (v. 58).”
However, if our bravery is derived from God the Father and His Son, there is something further implied, namely, that a lack of bravery represents a lack of confidence not in ourselves but in God the Father and His Son. God is our bravery. Therefore, to the extent we are cowardice, we are also faithless! Let it not be so! God has great contempt for the cowardly, “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death (Rev. 21:8).” If Moses’ parents would have given Moses up to Pharaoh, they would have been cowards! They were not at liberty to give up Moses. They were compelled by divine bravery, seated in the power and trustworthiness of God, to ensure Moses’ delivery from the unjust sword of Pharaoh. For this reason, we should shrink from being cowardly and improve our boldness and bravery in Christ through considering—
Our union with Christ. We ought to be brave like Moses’ parents if we are united to Christ. If we are in union with Christ, we are bound for the same victory as Christ. Not even death can hold us in the grave. “Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:4).” If we are united to Christ, our resurrection is as sure as Christ’s resurrection; our eternal life as sure as His eternal life; our conquest over death as sure as His conquest over death; our eternal life as sure as His eternal life; our glory as sure as His glory. And because we are united to Christ—
The power of Christ is on our side. Jesus told Peter, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels (Matt. 26:52-53)?” When Elisha prayed for the young man’s eyes to be opened, what did he see? “Behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha (2 Kgs. 6:17).” Bravery, therefore, is the only sensible option given the fact that in Christ, we have the power of Christ on our side. If Christ should not fear, neither should we.
The jealousy of the Father. The Father loves us just as much as He loves His only begotten Son. Therefore, His heavenly courts stoop to help us at His command. Just as the Father would sustain His Son throughout His ministry, by His Spirit, so too does the Father sustain His adopted sons and daughters, whom He has united to His Son, as they trudge the dark valleys of the earth. “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him (Matt. 7:11)!” And, “Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish (Matt. 18:14).” Just as the Father would rush to preserve His only begotten, so too will He work speedily and powerfully to preserve His adopted.
Victory Baptist Church | A Sovereign Grace Church in Kansas City 