"THE BOLD CONFESSORS OF THEIR FAITH"

Firm Foundation Chapter 21

by

Doug Woolley

3/4/89

What is a "Bold Confessor"?

The Bible has more to say about the positive side of confession than the negative side.  According to Webster's dictionary, "confession" is simply a "statement of one's beliefs."  Furthermore, a "confessor" is defined as "a Christian who has suffered for his faith."  In other words, bold confessors are those who suffer for what they believe and proclaim.  God is pleased with peoples' bold confessions, and as a result of them, He is exalted and glorified in the presence of witnesses.  Five bold confessors mentioned in the Bible include: Shadrach, Meshach, Abed‑nego, Daniel, and Stephen.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed‑nego

In Dan. 3:16‑28 King Nebuchadnezzar has given the order for all his people to bow down before the golden image, and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed‑nego refused to do so.  They made the following bold confession:

Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king.  But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.  (Dan. 3:17‑18)

As a result of their "bold confession" of their faith, they were thrown into the fiery furnace, but were completely delivered by God.  God was pleased with the three faithful men since they stood firm in their belief that only God is to be worshipped.  Furthermore, God was exalted and glorified as the king acknowledged their God and what He had done.

Daniel

In Dan. 6:7‑27 the King has made a law that no one could make a petition to any god or man besides the King, or they would be thrown into the lions' den.  Daniel made a bold confession in Dan. 6:10, "When David knew the document was signed he entered his house and continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously."  As a result of his "bold confession", he was thrown into the lions' den, but the angel of the Lord shut the mouths' of the lions so that he was not harmed.  God was pleased that Daniel stood firm in his belief that he should pray to the one true God every day.  God was exalted and glorified as the king recognized the "living God who endures forever" and that His "kingdom and dominion will never be destroyed".

Stephen

In Acts 7:51‑60 Stephen makes a "bold confession" before the high priest and the elders of Israel.  Stephen stood in his belief that Jesus is the Messiah whom their ancient prophets had announced.  Stephen proclaimed that they are always resisting the Holy Spirit.  As a result of his "bold confessions", Stephen was stoned to death.  However, God was pleased with Stephen's faith and honored his request for God to forgive the people.  As a result, Saul was allowed to hear the gospel and be saved and become the great Apostle Paul.

Loving Not Their Life Even To Death

Because of the strong faith of these five men, they pleased God and glorified Him in the presence of others.  They were willing to stand and proclaim their beliefs even if it meant that they would have to die.  Bob and Rose Weiner state:

We see that by faith great victories were won for the Kingdom of God, and also by faith men were willing to give their lives for what they believed to be true.  This kind of faith is the very essence and heart of the gospel.  This is the kind of faith that agrees with God's Word and stands for it; never backs down, even in the face of death.  By this faith, the men of old gained approval from God.  This is faith in its maturity.

Similarly, we will obtain great victories and overcome the enemy by the Blood of the Lamb, by the word of our testimony, and by not loving our lives' even unto death (Rev. 12:11).