Yes, the resurrection of Jesus gives believers boldness by transforming their fear into fearless confidence in the power of God.
The resurrection proved that death could not hold Christ, convincing the disciples that nothing could defeat them. After witnessing His resurrection, Peter and the apostles stood boldly before Rome and Israel, unafraid of any physical threat. This power assures believers that even if killed, their eternal part will be resurrected just as Christ was.
Acts 4:13 — This verse explicitly shows the boldness of Peter and John, which is a result of the resurrection's power.
The Bible records that after Jesus' resurrection, the disciples, who had previously scattered in fear at His arrest, became remarkably bold. In Acts 4:13, the religious leaders took note of the boldness of Peter and John, recognizing they had been with Jesus. The resurrection was a literal, bodily event, as described in Luke 24, where Jesus showed His wounds and ate with His disciples, proving He was not a ghost. Jesus' resurrection demonstrated that death could not hold Him, as Psalm 16 and Acts 2 indicate, for God raised Him up, and His flesh did not see corruption.
Les Feldick emphasizes that the resurrection of Christ is the reason for the total transformation of the disciples. Before the resurrection, they were 'scared rabbits,' fleeing and denying Jesus. After they witnessed the risen Christ, they were fearless, boldly proclaiming the Gospel despite persecution, even facing martyrdom without fear. Les applies this to believers today: the resurrection power assures us that even if our physical bodies are killed, our eternal, immortal part cannot be touched. This is the bedrock of our faith—not just believing Jesus was a good man, but that He rose from the dead.
The evidence is seen in the dramatic change in the disciples, especially Peter. Before the resurrection, Peter denied knowing Jesus three times out of fear (as recorded in the Gospels). After the resurrection, Peter stood up boldly before Roman and Jewish authorities, unafraid of any threat to his life. Les Feldick points out that this change is impossible to explain except by the reality and power of the resurrection.
Les teaches that believers can have the same boldness by trusting in the power of Christ's resurrection. Since Christ rose bodily, we know that our eternal part will also be resurrected, so we need not fear what men can do to our physical bodies. This confidence allows us to face persecution with courage, knowing that our future is secure in resurrection power.
Les emphasizes that the resurrection is not optional but is the bedrock of the Gospel. It is not enough to believe Jesus was a good teacher or that He died; we must believe that God raised Him from the dead. This truth gives believers the power and assurance to stand firm, just as the apostles did.
Resurrection Foretold
Les teaches that David prophesied the resurrection of Christ, showing that death and hell could not hold Him, which is the foundation for our boldness.
Transformation of the Disciples
Les explains that the resurrection changed the disciples from fearful runaways to fearless witnesses, giving them boldness to face martyrdom, and assures believers that physical death cannot touch their eternal part.
Peter's Change as Proof
Les shows that Peter's denial before the resurrection and his boldness after are evidence of the resurrection's power, which gives believers confidence for the future.
Boldness in Acts
Les points to Acts 4:13, where the boldness of Peter and John is seen, attributing this to the power of the resurrection, and contrasts it with their previous fear.
Faith in Resurrection Power
Les stresses that the resurrection must be the bedrock of our gospel, and that witnessing it made Peter fearless, which is the same power available to believers.
Power of Resurrection
Les highlights that the power of Christ's resurrection transformed the disciples from 'scared rabbits' to men who stood against Rome, and this same power is relevant for believers today.
Fearless in Persecution
Les explains that after the resurrection, the disciples understood that nothing could touch their eternal part, so they could face death without fear, knowing they too would be resurrected.
Witnessed Reality
Les shows that Peter's witness of the bodily resurrection made him a totally different person, reinforcing that it was a real, tangible event.
Acts 4:13: Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
This verse highlights the boldness of the apostles after the resurrection, which was so evident that it astonished their accusers.
Acts 2:31: He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
Peter's sermon at Pentecost quotes this prophecy to prove that Christ's resurrection was foretold and that death could not hold Him.
Luke 24:39: Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
Jesus' bodily resurrection is demonstrated by His wounds, proving He is not a ghost, which gave the disciples concrete evidence for their boldness.
The disciples became bold because they witnessed the power of Christ's resurrection. Before that, they were fearful and scattered, but after seeing the risen Christ, they understood that death could not hold Him, and consequently, they had nothing to fear, even from those who could kill their bodies.
The resurrection gives believers confidence because it proves that God's power over death is real. As Les Feldick teaches, if we are killed, our eternal, immortal part cannot be touched and will be resurrected one day. This removes the fear of physical death and gives boldness to stand for the Gospel.
Les Feldick points to the transformation of the disciples, especially Peter, as proof. They went from being scared to death to being ready to face martyrdom without fear, which cannot be explained except by the reality of the resurrection.
Watch the Teaching: What Shall We Do? Acts 2 & God's Foreknowledge Explained