Chapter. 9. How Audaciousness and boldness of spirit differ from Faith.
one is standing on ice and another comes to persecute him, he cannot maintain his position for long.
9. They are like garments eaten by moths.
10. They are compared to the fat of lambs before the fire and to snow melting before the sun.
First, consider what man is in himself, and how wicked men in their baseness and power are close to destruction. This serves as a potent means to help overcome fear. Oh, let us be ashamed, as those who profess to have faith, that when we see how the Scriptures judge men, we still harbor so much fear of wicked men. We fear that they will crush us, that we will never find peace in their presence, and that they are ready to obstruct our path.
Thus, we can see the power of faith in assisting against fear.
There are two remaining aspects to clarify regarding this point:
1. Differentiating between the boldness and audacity of those who lack faith and the fearlessness that comes through faith.
2. Explaining how far it is permissible to avoid danger without fearing men.
CHAPTER 9
How Audaciousness and Boldness of Spirit Differ from Faith.
1. Audaciousness makes us bold to sin.
2. It is more apparent in matters concerning ourselves than in those concerning God.
3. Boldness involves suppressing one passion with another, while faith involves the healing of passion through grace.
4. Natural boldness makes people reckless and hinders thoughtful consideration.
5. It is the cause of immodesty.
6. It is sudden and impulsive.
7. It relies on and thrives on external encouragements.
8. It stems from ignorance.
9. Or despair.
10. It is more focused on outward expressions than inward sincerity.
FAITH helps against fear, but it must be acknowledged that people can be greatly aided against fear by mere audaciousness of spirit.
Question: How can we discern the difference?
Answer: Audaciousness of spirit, even though it may appear as faith when it pertains to God's cause, has many distinctions.
First, where it is audaciousness of spirit, individuals will be bold in committing sins against God when the occasion arises, not just in doing good for God. But with faith, although it makes the soul bold and fearless for God in His ways, those who possess it are fearful of sin. They tremble at the sight or prospect of sin. Many who are audacious in sin become greatly afraid when they are in danger, while others who are fearless in God's ways lack boldness in the path of sin. Wicked individuals, who have the basest spirits of all, are bold in sin. Take Manasseh, for example, how audacious he was in sin.
But when he faced danger, how fearful he became! It is said that he was found among the thorns (2 Chronicles 33:11).
Likewise, consider Ahaz, who had a bold spirit in sin. When he encountered danger, his spirit turned cowardly. He was afraid and shook like an aspen leaf. There are accounts of Caligula as well, a bold wretch in sin, yet he would seek refuge in a hiding place when he heard thunder (Isaiah 7:2).
Some individuals may go so far as to exhibit boldness not only in sin but also in facing danger, which may happen to be in God's cause.
However, be aware that if there is any boldness in sin, and if you do not fear every sin, then your boldness and fearlessness in anything else do not stem from faith.
Secondly, in the case of natural audaciousness, individuals are particularly bold in matters that concern themselves more than in matters that concern God. When they are involved in a business that opposes them, they do not care about anyone who has more power than themselves. However, this is not the case when it comes to God's cause. Truly gracious individuals, who are fearless due to their faith, are very yielding and modest in their own affairs. They exhibit a different spirit when it comes to matters concerning God. They have a new spirit.
Thirdly, in cases of mere natural boldness, one passion is treated by another passion. But the boldness that arises from faith involves treating the passion of fear with the opposite grace. In natural audaciousness, the passion of fear is cured by the passion of wrath and anger. They are only fearless and bold when their anger is stirred up. On the other hand, when faith cures the passion of fear, it does not ignite another passion. Instead, it sanctifies fear and introduces the true fear of God into the soul. It does not replace one evil with another, but overcomes evil with the infusion of the contrary good.
Fourthly, in cases of natural audacity, boldness often hinders thoughtful consideration. Individuals lack control over their spirits and act rashly and impetuously in their boldness. In Isaiah 35:4, the word translated as "fearful" actually means "rash heart." The same word is used in Isaiah 32:4, where it states that the heart of the rash understands knowledge. This illustrates that excessive fearfulness leads to rashness. However, when fear is moderate and properly guided by faith, it empowers individuals to carefully consider, advise, and examine matters. On the other hand, bold and impudent individuals do not care or consider what they say. When fear is rightly ordered by faith, the heart is capable of sound judgment and wise counsel.
Fifthly, natural audaciousness makes individuals forget the hierarchy and immodestly disregard what they say to superiors. However, when individuals are fearless through faith, although they are not hindered by fear in their own path, they know how to show due respect to those in positions of authority. This is something that a naturally audacious spirit lacks.
Sixthly, natural audaciousness is sudden and violent, whereas a person who is fearless through faith does not immediately acquire such boldness of spirit. It is a gradual process with several stages. At first, they may experience more fear, which then diminishes over time. Through gradual progression, they gain control over the spirit that was previously fearful. Conversely, natural audacity erupts abruptly and does not develop gradually.
Seventhly, natural boldness relies on external encouragement, while the fearlessness that comes from faith is based on the workings of God's Spirit in one's heart. Depending on the varying influences of
God's Spirit, individuals may be more or less fearful. On the other hand, natural boldness always operates in the same manner if the external encouragements remain constant. However, God's people, even with the same external encouragements, may experience different levels of fearlessness at different times due to the varying workings of God's Spirit upon them.
Eighthly, natural boldness stems from ignorance and insensitivity because people lack knowledge or awareness of the danger they are in. Faith, on the other hand, reveals the danger and makes individuals aware of it, and then it provides help. It is of no significance to be bold when one is unaware and does not understand the danger. However, a gracious heart perceives the danger correctly and is sensitive to it. Then, faith lifts them above their senses and beyond reason.
Ninthly, individuals who are naturally bold may exhibit desperateness because they have nothing to lose and do not care about their own well-being. However, through faith, individuals are not fearless due to desperateness; rather, they see hope in God, in Christ, and in His mercy. The more they have hope, the less they fear. In contrast, the naturally audacious are driven by desperation and therefore do not fear.
Tenthly, in cases of mere audacity, the outward appearance may be bolder than the inward reality. But through faith, individuals are less fearful inwardly than they appear outwardly. Faith has a greater effect in curing internal fear than in expressing outward courage and boldness. On the other hand, natural audacious people may speak boldly and make grandiose boasts, yet deep down, their hearts tremble. This is not the case with true faith. Some cast aspersions on