Living Boldly: Embracing Christ's Triumph and Witness

In a world that seems to be growing darker and more resistant to the gospel, there is a deep longing among God’s people to see revival and the power of God move as it did in the days of the early church. The early believers were marked by a remarkable boldness—they were unafraid of persecution, rejection, or even death, and as a result, the gospel spread powerfully. Today, the call remains the same: every follower of Jesus is called to live boldly, not as a select few, but as the entire body of Christ. Cowardice is not a minor flaw; Scripture treats it as a serious sin, and boldness is essential for fulfilling our mission.

Drawing from 2 Corinthians 2:14-17, three marks of a bold Christian emerge. First, a bold Christian rejoices in their never-ending triumph in Christ. No matter the setbacks, rejections, or suffering faced, victory is assured because Christ always leads His people in triumphal procession. This confidence is not based on circumstances but on the unchanging reality of Christ’s victory over sin, death, and Satan. Even in the midst of suffering, there is reason to rejoice and give thanks.

Second, a bold Christian spreads the knowledge of Christ everywhere, becoming the aroma of Christ in every context—at home, at work, among friends, and with strangers. This fragrance is not just about what others perceive; it is first and foremost pleasing to God. Success in evangelism is not measured by conversions but by faithfulness to the message. Sometimes, the gospel will be received as a fragrance of life, leading to salvation; other times, it will be an aroma of death, provoking offense or rejection. Yet, in both cases, God is glorified, and the faithful witness is pleasing to Him.

Third, a bold Christian speaks in Christ with sincerity, not as a peddler of God’s Word, but as one commissioned by God, accountable to Him, and empowered by Christ. The temptation to water down the gospel or seek the approval of people must be resisted. Instead, the call is to speak the truth in love, with genuine conviction, and to trust God with the results.

Ultimately, the sufficiency for this boldness does not come from ourselves but from God. He makes us competent to be ministers of the new covenant, and our confidence rests in Him alone.

Key Takeaways

• 1. True boldness is rooted in the assurance of Christ’s victory. No matter the opposition or suffering faced, the believer’s triumph is secure because Christ always leads His people in victory. This unshakeable confidence should fuel joy and courage, even when circumstances seem bleak. [13:21]
• 2. The aroma of Christ is meant to permeate every area of life, not just scheduled moments of evangelism. Being the fragrance of Christ is the natural overflow of intimacy with Him, and it is a calling for every believer, not just a select few. Evangelism is successful when it is faithful, regardless of how it is received. [17:47]
• 3. Success in sharing the gospel is not determined by the response of others but by faithfulness to the message and the pleasure of God. Even when the message is rejected and becomes an aroma of death to some, God is still glorified, and the witness is pleasing to Him. This perspective frees us from the fear of rejection and the pressure to produce results. [31:01]
• 4. The temptation to water down the gospel or avoid offense is a subtle form of living for the approval of people rather than God. A bold Christian must resist the urge to be a peddler of God’s Word, instead speaking with sincerity, conviction, and a desire to please God above all else. [46:53]
• 5. Our sufficiency for boldness and faithful witness does not come from ourselves but from God. When the task feels daunting or we feel inadequate, we must remember that God Himself makes us competent and supplies the strength we need to be His witnesses. [51:55]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:33] - The Challenge of Boldness in Today’s Culture
• [01:52] - Longing for Revival and the Example of Acts
• [03:13] - The Necessity of Boldness for God’s Movement
• [04:33] - God’s Sovereignty in Evangelism and Suffering
• [05:49] - The Aroma of Christ: Our Ultimate Audience
• [07:02] - What Does It Mean to Live Boldly for Jesus?
• [08:15] - Mark 1: Rejoicing in Never-Ending Triumph
• [12:44] - Paul’s Suffering and Unshakeable Joy
• [15:57] - Mark 2: Spreading the Knowledge of Christ Everywhere
• [19:05] - The Aroma of Christ: Pleasing to God
• [22:18] - The Aroma of Death to Death and Life to Life
• [24:46] - Case Study: Jesus and the Rich Young Ruler
• [38:34] - Case Study: Jesus and the Woman at the Well
• [45:35] - Mark 3: Speaking in Christ with Sincerity
• [46:53] - Five Traits of a Bold Christian
• [51:17] - Our Sufficiency Is from God
• [51:55] - Closing Encouragement and Prayer

Bible Reading

2 Corinthians 2:14-17 (ESV) — But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.

Observation Questions

1. According to 2 Corinthians 2:14, what does it mean that God “always leads us in triumphal procession”? How does Paul use the imagery of a Roman victory parade to describe the Christian life? ([10:51])
2. In verse 15, Paul says believers are “the aroma of Christ to God.” What Old Testament practice does this language remind us of, and why is it significant? ([19:41])
3. What are the two different ways people respond to the “aroma of Christ” according to verses 15-16? How does Paul describe these responses? ([22:18])
4. In verse 17, what does Paul mean by saying “we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word”? What is the contrast he draws? ([46:53])

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon says that “true boldness is rooted in the assurance of Christ’s victory.” How does knowing that Christ “always leads us in triumphal procession” change the way a believer faces rejection, suffering, or fear? ([13:21])
2. The “aroma of Christ” is said to be pleasing to God, regardless of how people respond. Why is it important to remember that our ultimate audience is God, not people, when we share the gospel? ([20:23])
3. The message of the gospel is sometimes received as “life to life” and other times as “death to death.” How should this reality affect our expectations and approach to evangelism? ([31:01])
4. The temptation to “water down the gospel” is described as a subtle form of living for people’s approval. Why is this so dangerous, and how can we recognize if we are falling into this pattern? ([46:53])

Application Questions

1. The sermon challenges us to rejoice in our “never-ending triumph in Christ,” even when life is hard. Can you think of a recent situation where you struggled to see victory in Christ? How might remembering Christ’s triumph change your perspective or response next time? ([13:21])
2. Being the “aroma of Christ” is described as a natural overflow of intimacy with Jesus, not just a scheduled activity. In what areas of your daily life do you find it hardest to let the fragrance of Christ be known? What is one practical step you could take this week to be more intentional in those places? ([17:47])
3. The sermon says that “success in sharing the gospel is not determined by the response of others but by faithfulness to the message and the pleasure of God.” Have you ever hesitated to share your faith because you were afraid of rejection or failure? What would it look like to measure success differently? ([31:01])
4. The temptation to “water down the gospel” or avoid offense is real. Are there specific truths about the gospel you tend to avoid mentioning because you fear people’s reactions? How can you grow in speaking the truth in love, with both conviction and compassion? ([46:53])
5. The sermon points out that our sufficiency for boldness comes from God, not ourselves. When have you felt inadequate or unqualified to be a witness for Christ? What would it look like to rely on God’s strength and competence in those moments? ([51:55])
6. The example of Jesus with the rich young ruler and the woman at the well shows two very different responses to the gospel. How do these stories encourage or challenge you in your own approach to sharing your faith? ([24:46] and [38:34])
7. The sermon warns that cowardice is a serious sin and that boldness is a calling for every believer. What fears or obstacles most often hold you back from living boldly for Jesus? What is one step you can take this week to confront those fears? ([07:40])