On what basis can we resist Satan steadfastly and use great boldness? We can do it on the basis that Satan has been judged and defeated and that all our sins have been atoned for. He does not have the right to say a single word to us. Therefore it is written, “Resist him, steadfast . . . .” “And he will flee from you.” 1 Pet. 5:9; Jas. 4:7. Satan is always in the wrong. Everything he does is indisputably none of his concern. Even though we have sinned, Jesus is still the conqueror; He is our Advocate. He is always for us and with us as long as we are not willfully sinning. And whatever is not in order in life will be put in order. Jesus finishes the work He has begun. Since we have such hope, we advance with great boldness! NKJV: “We use great boldness . . . .” 2 Cor. 3:12. All of Satan’s accusations will bounce off just like water off a duck’s back if we believe fully and firmly in God’s work. The conqueror, Christ, is in our midst and within us! Hallelujah! Go forth in faith! Charge in Jesus’ name! This is the firm foundation of faith: 1) All past committed sins have been forever erased. 2) Soon I will gain the victory where I still do not have the victory. 3) The adversary, the devil, has already been conquered. Final victory is assured! What a glorious, sure salvation! All falling is to be considered temporary. Thus speaks faith! If you have fallen, jump up like a rubber ball! Go at it again in a living faith in full victory over all conscious sin. It will succeed! Living hope, and that alone, is sufficient reason for us to use great boldness, and justly so. For hope does not put us to shame. Those whose hope is in Him are not disappointed. They obtain what they hope for and believe in according to His promises. We are even in our right to use great boldness while it is still not going well with us. Then it will become like this: As it is going better with us in life, this will add to the boldness that was already great beforehand because of our living hope. It is written that those whose ministry is a blessing in the church “obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness . . . .” 1 Tim. 3:13. They are particularly bold. A good conscience automatically results in boldness! It can therefore be a dubious exercise to urge people to be bold. There may be something in their lives that does not permit them to be bold. This could then contribute to them becoming impertinent instead of bold.Elias Aslaksen

“Looking diligently, lest anyone draw back from the grace of God . . . .” This is a strange exhortation. All believers pray for grace, and it is grace they praise. Nevertheless, this exhortation tells us that one can easily draw back from it. The reason is that people have a false understanding of grace. Earlier in the chapter we read about the Lord’s chastening, and that He scourges every son whom He receives. In other words, it is a very great grace that when the Lord receives us, we have the Father of spirits to chasten us. Tit. 2:11-13. To draw back from the chastening is to draw back from God’s grace. The chastening is what humbles us so that we can hear God’s voice. We would rather be clothed than unclothed, and most people strive to be clothed so that their sin and their shame will not be revealed. The preachers sew a cover for all the sleeves and make hats for the heads of people of every height. Ezek. 13:18. They brush everything over with whitewash. V. 10. When God’s grace comes and unclothes us, so that we sense our need, and laughter turns to mourning and joy turns to gloom, most people draw back. Jas. 4:9. On that day when this mortal shall put on immortality and this corruptible shall put on incorruption (1 Cor. 15:52-54), those who draw back will remain behind like Esau did when Jacob was blessed.Sigurd Bratlie