It is a New Testament principle that we should have boldness and confidence, but Christians currently fail to recognise its source and rejoice in its truth.
The first seven verses of the letter to the Romans is full of this note. The whole letter is a great manifesto of gospel truth. For four chapters we are faced with the reality of the bad news.
Our national situation, not least the recent challenge of foot-and-mouth disease, and the international context, keep on bringing through our television screens and our newspapers the reality of the bad news. We may argue that much that is good is happening and not reaching the headlines but examining our hearts as well as our screen we know only too well the truth that what Paul knew in his day is still absolutely relevant.
