How can a believer have confidence before God? Is there anything that he can do to assure himself in God’s presence? At the top of the list is embracing Christ as Savior and Lord. Confidence before God will never be real, but rather a lie, unless someone has truly turned to Christ in faith and repentance.
In Hebrews 4, the author tells us that Jesus is the new and eternal Great High Priest. He holds His office forever. He is also One Who sympathizes with the weaknesses of the Christian. As a result, the text is basically saying that Jesus knows what it is like to be human. He came in sinful flesh, and although He did not know sin in the same way that the rest of humanity did, the Bible tells us that He was tempted in every way that mankind also finds himself tempted.
Due to this fact, the author of Hebrews tells us that the Christian can approach the throne of grace in confidence to find both grace and mercy to help him during his times of testing. Through the cross, the Christian can have confidence before God because of the work of Christ.
But is there another reason for why the Christian can have confidence before God? The answer is yes. Bu this other reason is only secondary in that it does not bypass the cross but only flows through it. What is this other area that can bring about a confident relationship with God? Simply put, it is when salvation is truly evidenced in one’s life, and thus, he is pleasing the Lord by his very conduct.
David was a man who recognized that he was in the faith. He may have been on the other side of the cross, but nevertheless, his lifestyle was a testimony of a fragrant offering to the Lord. Psalm 7:8-11 tells of David’s confidence before God.
Righteousness as an evidence of salvation
At the outset of Psalm 7:8-11, David recognizes God as a judge. Scripture says, “The Lord shall judge the people: judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me” (Ps. 7:8). What an amazing statement. Yes, David knew that he was a sinner. There is no way he could have not known. He was familiarized with the Law of God. He was even a man after God’s own heart. He knew God intimately.
All of this led David to a recognition of his sin rather than a deception about his present condition. If someone wants to be deceived about who he truly is, all he needs to do is stop seeking the Lord. Deception is already all around him. The only thing deception needs to take root is a lack of truth. Truth fights the lie. The light of God exposes the darkness. The world, the flesh, and the devil will surely veil the minds of anyone who does not come into regular contact with the truth of Scripture.
But David was not a deceived man. He knew God, and he allowed God to search his heart. He was a man who walked with the Lord and was pleasing in the Lord’s sight. As a result, David could appeal to his righteousness before God. Once again, this did not bypass God’s forgiveness and the cross. It was also not an appeal to a judicial righteousness (i.e., justification). (The context of Psalm 7 does not allow this type of interpretation because David also brings up his walk of integrity and uprightness before the Lord).
David knew that he was in the faith and that he was a forgiven man. He knew this first of all because he was also a righteous man before the Lord.
Integrity as an evidence of salvation
David turns from righteousness to integrity. But he does so in such a way that ultimately leaves him at the mercy of God. He points to the integrity that is in him. This is true integrity. A simple definition of integrity is doing the right thing when nobody is looking. In actuality, however, Someone is always looking. So integrity ultimately is not about the eyes of man but rather the eyes of God. At all times, David conducted himself in ways that were right and good.
Whether he had an audience of many or an audience of One, David did what was pleasing in the eyes of the Lord. He appealed to the integrity that was in him. True integrity is of the heart. There can be no other way around this truth. A man will quickly divert from the way when others are not present if his heart is not for the Lord. This kind of man merely hangs on for the praise of man rather than the glory of God.
Longing as an evidence of salvation
Since David knew that he was a saved man and a forgiven man, David longed for the day that God’s kingdom would be seen on earth. Scripture says, “Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just…” (Ps. 7:9). The disciples would have benefited from paying better attention to David’s prayers. They asked the Lord Jesus to teach them to pray. This may not have been a bad question, but all of Scripture is the heart of God. As a result, one can know how to pray if he knows God’s Word.
Jesus told the disciples that they should pray for God’s kingdom to come and that God’s will would be done on earth in the same way that it is currently done in heaven. David prayed this same prayer here in Psalm 7:9. “Establish your righteous rule, Oh Lord, and let Your kingdom come,” was the desire of David’s heart. It also led to confidence before God and assurance of his salvation.
A clear conscience as an evidence of salvation
Scripture says, “…for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins” (Ps. 7:9). Here, David appealed to his conscience. The conscience is the highest court on earth. An earthly judge may declare a guilty man not guilty if a lawyer is persuasive, but the conscience of that man cannot be fooled. God tries the hearts of man. What a scary thought this can be for many. Once again, the believer must come under the covering of Christ. A conscience will only ever be cleansed by the water and the blood.
But as one conducts himself in this life in a way that is pleasing before the Lord, he will find that he is able to say with the apostle Paul, “For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience…” (2 Cor. 1:12). Paul’s conscience was a barometer for him in his relationship with God. Elsewhere, he says, “And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men” (Acts 24:16). Paul believed that a clear conscience was an evidence of salvation. David believed that it was a reason to approach God confidently.
Uprightness as an evidence of salvation
Toward the end of Psalm 7:8-11, David says, “My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart” (Ps. 7:10). David yet again appeals to his internal disposition toward God. David did not seek to proclaim his outward conformity to God’s Word. David pointed to his heart. It is on this single point that many Christians miss the mark.
Outward conformity can be a great temptation. David was concerned with his heart before the Lord. His heart was good, it was pure, and it was upright. David honored the Lord in a place that nobody else had access to. In the chamber of his heart, where his very blood flowed, his heart beat for the Lord, and the glory of God coursed through his veins.
Application
Christ is the primary reason as to why someone can have confidence before God. When someone walks faithfully before the Lord, this will then give him an assurance of his salvation, thus leading him to a further confidence before the Lord. Trust in Christ and honor the Lord in your heart.
Final prayer
Father, I thank You for the example of David. I recognize that at times I do not honor You in my heart like David did. Help me to be who Your Word tells me to be. Thank You for Jesus today and His wrath-bearing death. In Jesus’ name, Amen.