Confident without being Overconfident

BEYOND THE BASICS | Chuck Bartlett | Newburgh, Indiana

I remember reading a comment made by a person who left the Lord’s church years ago stating, “The problem with members of the church is they don’t have confidence they are going to heaven.” This person may well have encountered Christians who felt that way, but it does not have to be that way. Let us take a closer look.

The apparent problem that faithful Christians have with stating. “They are going to heaven” has to do with not wanting to be presumptuous and take over the Lord’s role as being judge (2 Corinthians 5:10). Saints should also heed Christ’s warning about those who thought they were going to heaven but were mistaken (Matthew 7:21-23). So, should the child of God think they are not going to go to heaven and that they are always in danger of being excluded from eternal life?

It’s important that we see the distinction between trusting in the Lord and trusting on ourselves. All who are saved are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8). Therefore, we know God’s grace is reliable and we are to walk by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7). Even though people think grace means God overlooks sin, or that one can walk by faith without scriptural authority – creating a false hope – Christians know better. Just because so many people in their foolish thinking have convinced themselves they are ready for the Judgment day, it should not remove the confidence the faithful should have. Having said that, let us look at the dangers that the Lord’s people face in being overly confident.

Letting down your guard

The apostle Paul told the church at Corinth that they need to “take heed lest you fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12). There was a negative (warning) but balanced with a positive. It would be impossible to take heed if it were not possible to know what is right. The fact is, one can know they are doing wrong because they know what it means to be doing right and they are capable of doing it.

In line with all of this, the same church was told to regularly examine themselves to make sure they are in the faith (2 Corinthians 13:5). By knowing the standard of truth, if we depart from the faith then we can always get back on track (1 John 1:8-10). Our God is faithful and just to forgive us. Salvation is not earned but we must work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12).

Trusting doesn’t have to be arrogance

For the most part, answering out loud that we are okay spiritually might cause others to think we are bragging or being arrogant. Even with the cautions put in place about being over-confident, it doesn’t mean Christians should not be confident. After all, our confidence is in the word of God and His grace. The last thing children of God need to be doing is questioning the inspired word and having doubt. We are clearly told we can know the truth (John 8:32).

Consider this: a man is asked, “Does your wife love you?” If you answer yes, does it mean you’re puffed up as if you are the best husband in the world? It could, but not necessarily. Could it not simply be that you’re confident in your wife’s words and actions that she truly loves you? With such, is it wrong to have confidence and feel good inside? Obviously not. How much more so with our heavenly Father. He knows us and we know Him; we can have faith and we can be pleasing to Him (Romans 10:17; Hebrews 11:6).

We ought to speak like Paul and say, “nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to him until that Day” (2 Timothy 1:12).

Having hope with an element of doubt

Christians are warned about doubting when they pray (James 1:5-8). If we are to have confidence in prayer, why would we think it wrong to trust in God’s promise of heaven? Jesus, prior to leaving this earth, comforted His followers by telling them, “Let not your heart be troubled” (John 14:1). The Lord went on to say He would return and they could come and be with Him (John 14:3). Christians might feel that keeping an element of doubt is a sign of humility, but it is a lack of faith. It betrays a lack of confidence in the Lord. So when they face hardships, some forget about God entirely. Others may not forget about Him, but still have a lack of trust in the Lord, and are seemingly satisfied with it, as though such is OK with God. We cannot allow doubt to be stronger than faith.

When you read Paul’s parting words to Timothy, believing his death was imminent, you don’t find words of confidence coupled with doubt. He stated, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7-8). Paul did not say “maybe” there will be a crown laid up for me that the righteous Judge “might” give on that Day. The whole point in having faith is to walk by it. No, this isn’t confidence in self; rather it is confidence in the Lord who is true to His words.

Knowing error but not truth?

Brethren are admonished to expose false teachers (1 John 4:1). If we are following those who teach error then we are just as wrong (Matthew 15:14). The point is, we cannot know what is wrong without knowing what is right. If one can know with all certainty what is false, then does it not make sense that you can have just as much confidence in the truth? This brings us right back to our opening comments – Jesus said, “You can know the truth.”

Truth does not just expose error, it brings us comfort, encouragement, guidance, hope, and assurance. No apologies are expected from the one who trusts in the Lord and in the power of His might (Ephesians 6:10). I know Christians can leave the Lord (1 Timothy 4:1), but the faithful are to have the peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7). Let us learn from our brethren in the first century who endured tribulations such they knew that if they endured heaven would be theirs (Revelation 2:10).

Yes, take heed lest you fall, but also, when you walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another (1 John 1:3-7). May we truly value the blessed hope we have and walk with confidence, but not over-confidence.

19.01.01 | GROW magazine