Ep 1310 | The Robertsons Warn Silence About Jesus Has Consequences

Summary

---

Unashamed with the Robertson Family

Ep. 1310 | The Robertsons Warn Silence About Jesus Has Consequences
April 13, 2026

---

Episode Overview

In this episode, the Robertson family dives into what it truly means to be an "unashamed" follower of Jesus. Anchored in their trademark down-to-earth style, they dissect how biblical confidence—or "parrhesia"—calls believers to a bold, public faith rather than a quiet, private one. Through scriptural analysis (with a particular focus on 1 John 4 and its message on love and confidence), personal testimony, and stories from persecuted churches worldwide, the Robertsons warn against the dangers of silence about Jesus and highlight the transformative power that comes with living and speaking the gospel out loud.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Faith in Public, Not in Private

• Global Stories of Bold Faith: The episode opens with Jace sharing about underground churches among Iranian refugees and the passion seen among new believers who risk everything for Jesus ([00:36]-[02:00]).
• Living ‘Unashamed’: The Robertsons emphasize that faith is meant to be lived out openly, not whispered behind closed doors. Jace recounts, “I'm sure I'm on a bulletin board somewhere in Iran because I had the privilege of speaking to the underground churches...” ([02:00]).

2. Deep Dive: The Biblical Word "Confidence" (Parrhesia)

• Original Word Meaning: Jace explains the Greek word "parrhesia," often translated as "confidence." It means more than self-assurance; it refers to boldness, openness, being public, and even being blunt about truth ([05:02]–[05:28]).
  • “That word is bigger than just confident... It’s about going public, speaking plainly, not whispering.” — Jace ([09:00])
• Practical Application: This confidence isn't arrogance, but is rooted in Christ, not self. The Robertsons connect “confidence” with passages in John where Jesus speaks openly, and contrast it with believers—or churches—who whisper about Jesus but keep their faith private ([12:13]–[16:52]).
  • “How many people do we have sitting in pews who whisper about Jesus in a church building and then go out and continue the whisper? You're not going to be confident or public when you're standing before him if you're private and whispering on earth.” — Jace ([13:20])

3. Public Faith Brings Consequences & Reward

• Historic and Personal Examples: Jace notes how when the gospel is proclaimed publicly, opposition arises—just as it did for Jesus and the apostles, and in their own lives ([16:52]).
  • Al recalls: “When that lays itself out, it’s an impact. It’s huge.” ([34:13])
• Personal Testimony: Al shares Phil Robertson’s landmark moment, when Phil boldly shared the gospel at the Superdome, facing immediate backlash but also finding new purpose.
  • Notable moment: “Phil, you can’t do that…oh, no, this is how we’re going now.” — Phil (as told by Al, [28:42])

4. Confidence Rooted in Christ, Not Ourselves

• Comparison with Worldly Confidence: The distinction is made between brash human confidence (e.g., Trump) and spiritual confidence—one is rooted in our strength, the other in Christ’s finished work ([30:02]–[32:00]).
  • “It's a different type of confidence that Phil had, though, because Phil's confidence was anchored in who Christ is.” — Guest/Co-host ([30:02])
  • “It's not that we're so great… it’s because the gospel is the power.” — Guest/Co-host ([33:13])

5. Scripture Exploration: Love, Fear, and Boldness

• Love as the Root of Confidence: The study threads through 1 John, Hebrews, Romans 8, and Jeremiah, showing how love and confidence are tied, and that shame and condemnation are dispelled through Christ’s love ([36:59]–[53:28]).
  • “There's no fear in love. Christ in love offers his body as a sacrifice. Through his body, the veil is torn. And now we enter into the holy place through love...” — Guest/Co-host ([42:00])
  • Jace: “If you start living like Jesus in this world, trust me... They’re coming. They’re going to rain down insult, persecution, hardship...” ([48:10])

6. The Call: Don’t Be Silent

• Warning Against Whispering: The episode issues a clear warning—silence about Jesus has consequences, not just for others but for one’s eternal confidence.
  • “You're not going to be able to love quietly. Just can’t do it.” — Jace ([40:16])

7. Christian Endurance and Identity

• Living Against the Current: Jace uses the “hoop net” fishing analogy to illustrate the difference between spiritually alive and dead—true believers swim against the current of the world, empowered by eternal life ([53:29]–[55:06]).
  • “You only catch things that are dead [if you align with the current]. The fish swim up the current because they're alive…We don't swim with the current of the world because everybody's dead. We're swimming into the current and we can go both ways because we're alive.” — Jace ([53:29])

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

“You're not going to be confident or public when you're standing before him if you're private and whispering on earth.”
— Jace ([13:20])

“That attitude where you don't give a rip is the same attitude you're going to have when you stand before God. You're just brimming with confidence.”
— Jace ([17:28])

“It's a different type of confidence... because Phil's confidence was anchored in who Christ is... The confidence of Phil Robertson that he had in Christ—THAT was the power.”
— Guest/Co-host ([30:02])

“We are not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power... our hope is in the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of salvation...”
— Guest/Co-host ([33:13])

“…the Lord is with me like a mighty warrior. So my persecutors will stumble and not prevail…”
— Jace, reading Jeremiah 20 ([37:40])

“There's no fear in love… Christ in love offers his body as a sacrifice. Through his body, the veil is torn. And now we enter into the holy place through love…”
— Guest/Co-host ([42:00])

“We're the ones on the side that get to live forever, which is so crazy when you think about it… At the end of the day, it’s about living forever with a being who’s eternal.”
— Jace ([54:16])

---

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:36] — Jace and Al discuss underground churches and persecution in Iran
• [05:02–10:33] — Deep dive into “parrhesia” and biblical confidence
• [12:13–16:52] — The difference between public faith and whispered faith
• [28:03–33:13] — Phil Robertson’s first public gospel stand and its ripple effect
• [36:59–39:32] — Jeremiah’s fire: prophesying boldly despite ridicule
• [40:42–43:54] — Hebrews: how Old Testament law was always insufficient, and Christ brings true confidence
• [45:28–48:10] — Romans 8, shame vs. confidence, and the consequences of silence
• [53:29–55:06] — The fishing net analogy: alive in Christ means pushing against the world’s current

---

Conclusion

The Robertson family’s challenge is clear: be unashamed. True biblical confidence isn’t about personality or bravado, but about a radical, Spirit-fueled love that cannot be contained or whispered. Silence about Jesus isn’t neutral—it’s dangerous. The episode closes with a stirring reminder that to live “confident” in Christ is to be public, loving, unafraid, and anchored in the eternal hope found only in the gospel.

---

Transcript

[Jace]

Spring Black Friday is on at the Home Depot. Save on grills and patio sets that will be sure to bring your hosting game up a notch. Fire up your feast with help from the Home Depot and save on grills like the next grill four burner propane gas grill was $249. Now on special buy for one.99 or give everyone the best seat in the yard with the Hampton bay Mayfield park four piece conversation set for only $399. Save on grills and patio sets with low prices guaranteed during spring Black Friday only at the Home Depot now through April 22nd while supplies last exclusion supplies. Seehomedepot.com Pricematch for details. I am unashamed. What about you?

[Al]

Welcome back to Unashamed. We just had a fantastic podcast, Jays, where you told a little bit about your experiences at the Chris Tomlin thing. I thought that was a amazing story. I didn't get a chance to say it because we're out of time, but it reminded me so much of the people we met for Larry Bowles ministry, which was a lot of refugees that were coming out of Syria and Iran. And these were people that were led to Christ. I mean, literally had visions of Christ and a lot of amazing things happen. But they are responsible now for this underground church. You mentioned it briefly.

[Jace]

Well, church is even the speaker that spoke that night. I tried to find his name, but since he was a surprise guest, I guess it was a surprise and I couldn't find it. But there's multiple and multiple underground churches and it's one of the largest growing churches on the globe.

[Guest/Co-host]

Did he speak? He spoke at the thing you were at.

[Jace]

Oh, yeah. It was a sermon. Now it was mainly about his conversion. And like, was he Iranian? Oh, yeah, yeah. He came here when he was nine years. Was he.

[Guest/Co-host]

He wants to come on the podcast, too. Was David Nasser, David Nassar. I stayed at his house last week.

[Jace]

That's him. Yep, that's him.

[Guest/Co-host]

Yep. I stayed at his house last week.

[Jace]

Bring him on. Let's hear that. Yeah, because look, I'm sure I'm on a bulletin board somewhere in Iran because I had the privilege of speaking to the underground churches. From Athens. Yeah, from Athens. And so, yeah, look, that, that's why I was so moved by it also. And it just felt global. I mean, you know, when Jesus said, go into all nations and share the good news, all authority on heaven, in heaven and on earth has been given me. Make disciples of all nations. I mean, this is what we're doing now. That's why I Brought up that 1st John 4:17. Because to me, we didn't talk about that enough. Because even that word where he says, in this way, love is made complete among us so that we'll have confidence on the day of judgment. And, well, that word, which I know we did a little word rabbit hole on the last podcast about Easter. And it's frustrating to people because when I go out in public, people come up and they're like, why. Why do y' all keep going looking up all these words? They didn't use English, and so some of the meaning gets lost. But I get why people are so. What is the word? Anxious about that. Because I used to be, when I was a young Christian, I thought when people start talking about Greek and Hebrew, I'm like, wait a minute now, I'm not very smart. And so it feels like you're making something complex. But look, the fact that I'm not very smart and I've figured out how to look up the original words and just look at all the verses where they are used, and it gives you kind of a refreshing definition of what they use, because you're looking at it in context. So don't think that that's a negative thing. I think that should be a part of your Bible study package instead of looking at it like, oh, you're making it too difficult.

[Al]

We had a Greek sister at WFR for all the early years when dad was first studying and we were young and we were just kind of getting ready to go to school to learn more of the Bible. But he asked her all the time. She had a Greek Bible.

[Jace]

Yeah.

[Al]

And so he would. He would be like, kula. Her name was Kula. He'd say, kula, tell me, what is this? You know, what is this phrase in Greek? What is it? I mean, I remember him asking her all the time. She was like, all times?

[Jace]

Yeah. He would say, hey, somebody get the Greek on the phone.

[Guest/Co-host]

You know, different Greek, different Greek, though. It's a different. It was different Greek that was. She spoke and what they.

[Jace]

It was.

[Guest/Co-host]

But she.

[Jace]

Since she was a believer, she had a. She was in the. She was in the. The right lane.

[Guest/Co-host]

Yeah.

[Jace]

Because she was just familiar with it. But what I was going to say is, I want to. I did one on that word. Confidence. It's bigger than what you think.

[Al]

It's.

[Jace]

It's like. Because if you just think confidence, this is one of the few places that Greek word. Let me look that up, man. How do you say that? Piray C. They have S, E, E in all caps. So it's like par. Ray C. Ah, that's the great word there for.

[Al]

Yeah.

[Jace]

But C is really highlighted.

[Al]

Yeah.

[Jace]

And it's mentioned. How many times is mentioned? 31 times. What I found fascinating, just for time, is when it's used in John, because John's using it here later in years. Because this is kind of a big moment when you come face to face with God when he comes back. So whatever that word means, which is translated here, confidence. That would be a really good thing to be confident when you're standing before God. I'm just letting the silence reach the crowd. Because sometimes you have to simplify what all we're talking about. I mean, I hate to say this, but everyone listening to my voice right now, you're going to die.

[Al]

Yeah.

[Jace]

And you're going to stand before God. So you have a verse that says there's a way to be confident. Now it has a deeper meaning, and I want to show you where John used it in John, the first John that we studied. But man, if that's a possibility, this is a rabbit hole. You need to go down. Whatever that word means. I need that in my life. How do I obtain that in this context? It's like, well, in this world, we're like him, so how do we do that? And it kind of echoes when we read in First John 2, where he said in verse 6, whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. Well, doesn't that sound similar to in this world, we're like him. So he's making a point. How do you be like Jesus? So then you back up where we're at in First John 4. Here he's like, we know that he is in this is chapter three and verse last, verse 24. Those who obey his commands, which all of the commands that he seems to be zero and in on, involve love. Because remember when he summed up the old law, he said, love God, love your neighbor. That sums them up. And so now it's loved. How many times, Al in this one chapter?

[Al]

27 times.

[Jace]

27. 27 times. Which is why when he gets to 1 John 5, it says, by loving God and carrying out his commands, the essence of the commands are trusting God, and love is the fruit of it, the goal of it. So in 1 John 3, 24, he says, those who obey his commands live in him, and he and them. And this is how we know that he lives in us. We know it by the Spirit he gave us. What is the fruit of the Spirit, first word love. So that's why these When I told the Iran story that I heard at the Chris Tomlin concert, there were two acts of love that brought these two people under the umbrella of that family that gathered there the thousands. But it was just a big Jesus family who believed Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords for Good Friday. But it was interesting to me that in those two stories you saw the love of God in human form. Jesus at the right hand of God. But now the Spirit is living in them. And the life we're living living is a life of love. Ephesians 5:1 and 2. That's what it says. Live a life of love. Just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, which is the definition of love. That's where I was going with this. But do you want. Can we do this little word on confidence real quick?

[Al]

Yeah, let's do it.

[Jace]

Because I thought this was fascinating. If it wasn't interesting, I wouldn't bring this up. But when I read how the English word is used in other places, it fascinated me. So. So he used it three times in John chapter seven. And you remember how that story went the beginning of John 7. It was all about going public. Remember his brothers who didn't believe at that time. John 7. Five? That's kind of the wall hanger verse, because people go here and then they go to Acts 1 and see that his brothers are in that inner room praying. And you're like, wait a minute, what happened? They didn't believe in John 7:5, but in Acts chapter one in verse. I'll get this specific verse, Acts 1, verse 14, Jesus brothers are there. Well, what happened in between that they went from not believing to gathered in a room praying.

[Al]

You know what happened? Jays Eager Sunday happened.

[Jace]

Eager Sunday.

[Guest/Co-host]

So if you've been to the grocery store lately, you don't need the news to tell you that inflation is real. The dollar doesn't stretch like it used to, of course.

[Al]

And man, everything's skyrocketing.

[Guest/Co-host]

Oh, it's crazy. I mean, it raises a real question that the money you've worked decades to save, the retirement that you built, even the legacy you want to leave to your family, what's it actually going to buy 20 years from now? It's one of the reasons why a lot of folks are looking at ways to diversify their savings with real assets like gold, silver. And that's where Freedom Gold USA comes in. Because for generations, people have looked at physical gold or silver as a way to help preserve value, especially during times of inflation. Freedom Gold Helps people understand how physical precious metals might fit into a long term retirement strategy. This certainly needs to be part of your plan. Their motto is simple, get more metal for your money. Competitive pricing, no gimmicks, and specialists who focus on education, not pressure. Yeah, so when I think about leaving something behind for my kids, my grandkids, it is extremely important that I have assets that hold their value over time. So right now they're offering a free 2026 gold and silver guide and a no obligation consultation. All you got to do is call 888-411-1845 or visit unashamedgold.com that's 888-411-1845 or visit unashamedgold.com learn how diversification may help protect your retirement savings.

[Jace]

The dead man came back to life. And then they started going backwards. And now it just was that our brother got killed on a cross in an act of injustice. Oh, no. He gave his life freely, free for our sins. And he's our brother. And he came back from the dead. Isn't that just powerful? So the first time this Greek word is used in John 7. 4. So look at what it says. No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. So the public, it's translated confidence. In First John 4, that we'll have confidence when we're. Well, he uses it for going public. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world. So that's why I said that word is bigger than just confident. It's here translated like, so what were his brothers trying to get him to do? They were trying to get him to go public. It's also translated plainly, like speaking plainly. But in John 7:13, that's translated here openly or public. 7:13 says, but no one would say anything. Okay, so there's a pattern that develops. And the Jews use this word on their perspective of Jesus. They're like, so I'll read the context. 12 and 13, among the crowds, there was widespread whispering about him. This is why I thought this was so powerful. Jesus was doing things that were making the religious sect of the Jews nervous. But look, they were doing the opposite of confidence and openness in public. They were whispering, saying, oh, this guy, he's a good man. But I don't know. See, some said, he's a good man, but they were whispering, Jesus, this is the opposite of the feeling you want to have when you're standing before him, like, is that you? And you're looking around. But now look how this translates to your life. How Many people do we have sitting in pews who whisper about Jesus in a church building and then go out and continue the whisper. You're not going to be confident or public when you're standing before him. If you're private and whispering on earth. You see where I'm going with this? The now and the not yet doesn't apply to a whispering shy behavior in your view of Jesus. That's why I thought this was so powerful. So they use that word. John does, in describing them says, but no one would say anything publicly about him for fear of the Jews. And look, this is one of the reasons that two years into my faith as a 16 year old, I realized I'm not going to be able to follow Jesus quietly. I'm not going to be able to do it. And when you put it in the context of First John 4, when he's using this word, this is how you stand before God. You're confident, you're public, you're excited, you're shouting it to the world. We meet face to face. I just thought it was real powerful. So the other place he uses it is in verse 26 of John 7. Here he is speaking publicly and they are not saying a word to him. So let me read the context. Verse 25. At that point, some of the people of Jerusalem began to ask, isn't this the man they are trying to kill? Here he is speaking publicly and they are not saying a word to him. Have the authorities really concluded that he is the Christ? But we know where this man is from. They are whispering this. When the Christ comes, no one will know where he is from. But Jesus is doing the opposite, which is this word confident in public, he is out there speaking. So then he used it in John 11. Oh, we know what happened in John 11.

[Al]

When I was thinking judge before you read that in John 9, it's interesting. The word may not appear, but the story is there. Because you remember the guy that was born blind and the disciples asked about him. And then Jesus heals him and then he goes under scrutiny by the Jewish authorities and his parents do as well. And he's like, look, I don't know who he is, but I know one thing. He, because of him, I can see.

[Jace]

Yeah.

[Al]

And so I just think about that idea of confidence because. And they kicked him out of the synagogue. I mean they, they basically punished him because he got his sight, because he didn't care.

[Jace]

And that he didn't care. He didn't care what people thought. And that's what the word means. You don't care. Oh, if you, if you speak up about Jesus, that going to put you in prison. Think of all those verses.

[Al]

Yeah.

[Jace]

Yep. That attitude where you don't give a rip is the same attitude you're going to have when you stand before God. You're just brimming with confidence. So I, I think this is, this is fascinating in John 11, which I'm trying to win over our crowd unashamed nation, which these little word studies are so powerful because you start realizing, oh, don't get hung up on the English translation. Because these words usually mean way more than you realize when you start looking at how they were used in other contexts. So John 11, 14. And we're just researching this Parasia, verse 14. So Lazarus, remember, they're like, he's asleep, he'll get better. And Jesus had been speaking of his death. That's verse 13. That's the context. But his disciples thought he moved, meant natural sleep. So verse 14. So here's where the word is used. So then he told them, there's our word. Confidently, openly. In this context, it's plainly translated, plainly, bluntly, Lazarus is dead. It makes, it makes more sense. Now he just cuts to the chase. Lazarus is dead. Every time I've read that now, I think, because Trump, you know, love him, hate him, not sure about him, whatever. The man is blunt.

[Al]

Yeah.

[Jace]

You know, he speaks confidence, he. He speaks Parisia seow, whatever. However, Lazarus is dead. And for your sake, I'm glad I was not there. Which seems so kind of mean if you don't realize what he's about to do. Yeah. What the word means. He's just being honest and being blunt. Look, he's dead. That's not a problem. And he's going to prove that so that you may believe. But let us go to him. I just think it brings the word to light. So then he says it again in 54 of chapter 11, or it's used again. 54. Therefore, Jesus no longer. Okay, so same thing. He has opposition that they have a plot to kill Jesus. And so from then on, he no longer moved publicly among the Jews. Not that he didn't speak, but he just did. Cause they were trying to kill him. And he knows he's headed toward a cross.

[Al]

Well, there was a script that had been prophesied and laid out. And so he was going to do it his way. So that's why he wasn't going to be up there.

[Jace]

Exactly. So he started moving around. He uses it twice in John 16. He uses it other places. I'm just kind of cherry picking. I wanted to get a couple of them in here. John 16:25 says, now this is talking about pouring out the Holy Spirit and that context. And he goes through, well, look, we did, we did multiple podcasts on John 16. So we get to 25. He says, though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language, but will tell you plainly about my father. And so he was, same kind of thing about explaining this plan of him dying, being buried, being raised, the Holy Spirit being poured out. And they're like, you know, you seem to be talking in riddles, but they don't understand because they don't understand what he's fixed to do. Exactly. Remember, they just thought, well, you can't die. Remember when he told Peter and boy, he felt a tongue lashing, get behind me, Satan. Because they just didn't get it. But then he says it in verse 29 again, same word. Then Jesus disciples said, now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. Well, that word, speaking clearly, same word for being confident in the face of God. It's all clear. There's no fog. Your heart is laid out there. You know who he is. You put your faith and trust in him. You're all in for Jesus. You have been invited in to participate in the divine nature that is the Godhead, the triune God. And so the last place I wanted to read is John 18:20, because this is when he's being questioned by the high priest. And I love this verse 19. So now here he is, think about it. They're trying to pass sentence judgment on him, which is akin to what we're going to experience before God at the last day, verse 19. Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. Oh, I love this. I have spoken openly to the world. And so when you think that word, openly, same word, confidently, plainly, publicly. And so that's what we're called to be in this world now. Because in this world we're like Jesus 1st John 4. So that on the day of judgment we will be confident. So that was my little rabbit hole on that word.

[Guest/Co-host]

Spring is right around the corner. I guess it's actually here now. And it's time to get back outside. Transform your yard with fast growing trees. Fast growing trees. It's America's largest and most trusted online nursery with thousands of trees and plants to choose from. Over 2 million happy customers. Three of those customers right here.

[Al]

I had to get some new trees and fast growing Trees sent them. They were great. They're already in the ground. They're already thriving.

[Jace]

I went through the whole process in less than 10 minutes. The bad thing about it was my wife all of a sudden saw the possibilities. She said, we need to order some more trees.

[Guest/Co-host]

Fast Growing trees has over 6,000 plants to choose from, including fruit trees, privacy trees, flowering trees, shrubs, and houseplants. Hey, look, whatever you're looking for, Fast Growing Trees, they've. They'll help you find options that actually work for your climate, your space, your lifestyle. Plus they have this thing called alive and thrive guarantee, and that means your plants will arrive happy and healthy. They have plant experts who can help you plan your landscape project. They can help you choose the right plants. They can teach you how to care for them. All the things. Fast Growing Trees makes it easy to get the R that you've always wanted. You always been dreaming about it, and, and you can get it at a price that doesn't break the bank. So right now they have great deals on spring planting essentials, up to half off on select plants. And listeners to our show get 20% off their first purchase when using the code unashamed at checkout. That's an additional 20% off. Better plants and better growing at fast growing trees.com using the code unashamed at checkout. Fast growing trees.com use our code unashamed. Now is the perfect time to plant. Let's grow together. Use unashamed to save the day or offers valid for a limited time. Terms and conditions may apply.

[Al]

And I love it. It's a great rabbit hole. And it, I love it that we just, in the last podcast, we're talking about, you know, Holy Week and like, all the events that led up to that and most of those texts that you use were centered in that timeframe, which was basically Jesus going public with why he came here, obviously. And even up to those three years, I mean, it was a lot masked in secrecy and parables and, you know, all the things that create the interest to look at it. But all that was to set it up for the biggest moment that would ever happen in our history, in human history, would be his going there, his dying, his being buried, his being resurrected, and his ascension. I mean, that whole thing changed the world forever, right?

[Guest/Co-host]

Yeah.

[Jace]

I will add one other thing, because in Acts 4, when Peter, of course, think of his story, here he is, he denied him, and then Jesus reinstates him. Remember, do you love me? Do you love me? Do you love me? Go feed my sheep. Jesus goes to the right hand of God pours out the Spirit. Then of all people, Peter stands up. You know, he preaches. He uses that in his sermon. That same word. In verse 29 of chapter 2, I may speak confidently, but in Acts 4:13, verse 29 and verse 31, it's translated boldness. Remember, that whole thing is about. And Peter said, we're delivering the Word with boldness and all. Boldness, the word of God with boldness. They observed the boldness of peter. That's Acts 4:13. So that. That is the Word, and that is it lived out in the way I think John was trying to get the believers to see, which in a weird way trickles down to us. We do it now and so that we have it then when we stand before him. It's a bold, public living, speaking, loving, like Jesus, you know.

[Al]

And it's interesting, yeah, because John was with Peter in that Acts story. Remember in Acts 3, they're coming into the temple and they heal the guy, and then this starts a ruckus, and then you get into chapter four and Peter steps up again, just like he did in Acts 2, and defends the faith. And now he's doing it to these Jewish leaders. Remember, he says, it doesn't matter what you do to it, because remember, they threatened to beat them, and they threatened to do that. And then they did beat him and they threatened all these things. He said, no matter what you do, we're not going to stop. And. And they. And so they just let him go. I mean, they just thought, well, you know. And finally one guy stepped male, I think is the one that stepped up and said, look, if this is from God, we can't stop him anyway.

[Jace]

Yeah.

[Al]

So just let it fizzle. But it didn't fizzle. And so here, Here John is writing about it all this time later, it reminded me, jason, we've told the story before. I won't tell it again. But about the first time, because I tell a lot when I go speak about living unashamed about the first time. I remember dad doing it at the Superdome, you know, like in a duck call setting, because he used to do the duck call speeches, like it at the du banquets, but he pretty much just stuck to the script. They were drunk anyway. Most of the time they're raising money at these things. But that time at the Superdome, he went public. I mean, like, he. He did just. He used that Greek word you're talking about, the paracea.

[Jace]

He.

[Al]

He did it in a public way and immediately got, like, backlash from the guy that was with us, the duck call guy, you know, that was. And he was like, phil, you can't do that. And Dad's like, oh, no, this is where. This is how we're going now. And that day, he says, dad says that a couple of people came up and whispered. Speaking of your whisper, he said it was a couple of. Couple of pastors. They came up and whispered, said, phil, we're with you on that. That was so good. Would you come do that at our church? And he says that's when his, like, public ministry began, of just being a defender of the faith. And it came just because he went public in a setting where you didn't normally do that. And the reward for him was that he got to do it for the rest of his life.

[Guest/Co-host]

Well, the. It's funny because one time I had a confrontation with some. A group of leaders, and when I walked out, it was pretty. Pretty hard confrontation, and I was a little nervous to do it. One of the leaders came out of

[Jace]

the meeting, and he.

[Guest/Co-host]

And he looks at me and he goes. And he whispers, behind you 100%, and gives me the thumbs up. And I'm like, why didn't you say anything? You were just in that meeting in there. It's like, okay, you're not. You're behind me. But you did not want to have any scene.

[Al]

He's way, way behind.

[Guest/Co-host]

But, you know, it's interesting, though, on this idea of confidence that it's all throughout the Book of Hebrews, by the way, and I was thinking about the difference between, like, you had mentioned Trump earlier, and he comes out with the vibrato and the confidence, and some, like, Phil. It is a different type of confidence that Phil had, though, because Phil's confidence was anchored in who Christ is. And I think that's a. When we think about who, like, how do we have confidence as Christians, it's not confidence in our own ability, our confidence in the power of our military, or confidence in whatever power you think you have. The actual confidence.

[Al]

Bank account.

[Guest/Co-host]

Yeah, it's not in that. And that's why, like, you. Like, if you read Hebrews 4, it talks about, like, entering into, like, this rest. And then it. And then in Hebrews 5, it talks about kind of coming in with a. With confidence. But when you read it, you're kind of like, well, how am I gonna. Like he says, let us strive to enter that rest. And he talks about this. This sword of God. That's the word. It's living, it's active, it's sharper. Than any double edged sword piercing to the division of soul and spirit joints marrow, discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. No creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him whom we must give an account. And it just goes on. And you think, well, how in the world can he then just say just a few verses later to, for, for me to have confidence and enter into some kind of confidence to the throne. I'm like, like I don't understand that. And I think the confidence is like. Because that's that same picture in Revelation 1 of Christ Post resurrection that John on the isle of Patmos has. You can't enter in with your own confidence in that setting because God is too glorious. But when God reaches down, when that sovereign king with the, when that Son of man reaches down and touches your shoulder and says, don't be afraid now, now I can have confidence.

[Jace]

Yeah.

[Guest/Co-host]

Not because of me, because of him. So when Phil steps into that, that setting in the Superdome, it, it really was a key moment. I don't know what, what like shifted in him. He's always been a confident guy, but something in there was like, my confidence is in that Bible that's sitting right there inside that bag where I put my duck calls. As he's looking at the word of God and he's thinking that's where the confidence is at. And so when he pulls that sword out, when he pulls the word out and he gives it to this group of men, I think what they experienced there was not the confidence of Phil Robertson, it was the confidence of Phil Robertson that he had in Christ and that was the power. So then you go back to the whole premise of this podcast, being unashamed. It's not because, you know, we're so great and we, we know we're, we're not afraid of anybody. It's not that we're not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power not, not our own like willpower, not our own like character, not our own, you know, moral compass that our hope is in the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of salvation for everyone who gentile.

[Al]

To your point, he says it so clearly. The Hebrew writer does in Hebrews 2, 11, just what you said. He says, both the one who is holy and who makes men holy is not ashamed to call us brothers and sisters. And so that's the way we can live the unashamed life. And the reason we do it is because he's unashamed of us. And it's back to the quid pro quo in First John about love. The only reason we have the capacity to love is because he first loved us and showed us that love and that opportunity. And when you embrace that, it changes everything. And you're right, a guy for me as I was standing there as a, as a brand new Christian and just come back to faith, I'm back in the old place where I was living for the devil. And to see that go public, I mean that triggered something in my heart that's been there ever since. I mean it changed me. And so that's the thing about this confidence, Jay. It only changes you, but it changes other people. Because when that lays itself out, it's an impact. It's huge.

[Guest/Co-host]

So if you're looking to refinance, buy a new car, rent an apartment, anything that depends on your credit, trust me, you want your score to be as strong as possible and you want it now. And this is what you need. You need Smart Credit. I actually use this every month. Your credit score may have taken a bit big hit over the holidays and you may not even know it. Sure the late payments hurt, but so does opening a store credit card just to get that discount that you tried to get over the holidays. And transferring a balance from one car to another that can also drop your score really fast. So Smart Credit is the new science and credit scoring. With data experts who understand how credit bureaus operate, Smart Credit builds a personalized strategy designed to take action and maximize your score not by a few points in a few months, but potentially see a real upward change to secure better rates on everything that you finance. Better scores means faster approvals, lower payments and more money in your pocket. So don't let the holiday spending traps derail your entire year. Get ahead of it now with Smart Credit. I've been using Smart Credit for a while and I noticed that anytime there's a change in my credit credit score, I know about it and I do what I, I, I do what I need to do to fix it so you too can have great credit. Go to smartcredit.com unashamed and start your seven day trial for just $1. Your results will depend on your unique credit profile. But I think you're going to be excited to see how many points Smart Credit estimates you can gain. Results are not guaranteed. You can cancel at any time. That's smartcredit.com unashamed smartcredit.com unashamed

[Jace]

and I get so frustrated when people categorize sharing Jesus. You know they, they invented A word that comes from the Bible. But they say, well, that's evangelism. You know that? Only a few people do. And I'm like, who? Evangelists. But as believers in Christ, what made me think while y' all were talking is all these verses about, put on the full armor of God. But it's not just the armor he's given you. He is the warrior. You're with the warrior. We're talking about the armor. Like, these are things we have to put on. He's like, no, I'm right there beside you, and I'll give you an example of this. Jeremiah got this before Jesus died and was buried and resurrected. Here's a guy who, if you read the whole book of Jeremiah, you'll figure out the man preached about 40 years and all he got was heartache. And inside, no response.

[Al]

No responses.

[Jace]

Yeah, I mean, just ridicule. But there's a passage, Al. I think this was the first verse we memorized when we went to Bible school, and I never forgot it. But I just want to read this segment. Jeremiah.

[Al]

It was our theme verse, but I

[Jace]

want to read the context, because, look, Jeremiah 20, in verse eight, he says, whenever I speak, I cry out, proclaiming violence and destruction. Because he's telling his neighbors, like, look, what you're doing is going to result in death. It is not going to be good for you. And he says, so the word of the Lord has brought me insult and reproach all day long. He's like, I'm going out there giving the word of the Lord, and you know what? I'm getting insult and reproach because why he's doing it publicly, or this wouldn't be happening. But then he says this. But if I say I will not mention him or speak anymore in his name, his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in. Indeed I cannot. But I wish we hadn't stopped there, Al, because we memorized that verse. Because look at the next verse. I hear many whispering, terror on every side. Report him. Let's report him. All my friends are waiting for me to slip, saying, perhaps he will be deceived. Then we will prevail over him and take our revenge on him. But watch what he says in verse 11. But the Lord is with me like a mighty warrior. So my persecutors will stumble and not prevail. They will fail and be thoroughly disgraced. Their dishonor will never be forgotten. Which implies one day they're going to stand Before God. Yep. And he's going to say, hey, you remember my servant Jeremiah? Remember when he was talking and you kept ridiculing? I mean, I know these conversations are going to. Going to be had. Well, you should have listened, because here I am. Meanwhile, Jeremiah, I'm confident will be confident when he stands before God despite all the misery that was happening to him every day.

[Al]

And he even pointed ahead in Jeremiah 31 to the New covenant, which gets quoted by the Hebrew writer as well, that. I mean, he saw it. Jeremiah saw it. He knew. He knew that the Messiah was coming. He knew that God was going to come in flesh. He knew it all even way back then. And that's why he was confident enough to spend a whole life preaching and people just ridiculed him the whole time he was doing it.

[Jace]

Yeah. Well, now after we go, we've gone down through that rabbit hole. It makes more sense why John said right after that in First John 4, there's no fear in love. Yeah. You see what. Because that word confident means way more. It's you going public. It's it. You just. You're just unashamed. And so here's the evil one who tries to get you to shut your mouth because of your fear of death, which is Hebrews 2:14, which I seemingly read every podcast. But it's the whole reason God became a human is to destroy that threat that the evil one uses to shut people up and make them timid and afraid. It's kind of a totally different context, and I think that's what he's conveying here, that we just can't help it because God's love is so powerful, we're so mesmerized by it, that it just has to facilitate itself through us to other people. And you're not going to be able to love quietly. Just. Just can't. Can't do it. Because people are too messy. No.

[Al]

And I like, go ahead now.

[Guest/Co-host]

I mean, I think that if you go back to that Hebrews and think about. That's such a good picture of it, that the case the Hebrews writers making on confidence is he's actually setting up profound insecurity. At first, he's like, let me walk you through the way the thing's currently set up, at least in your mind, to someone who was under. Under Judaism. And it's a systematic argument that shows the weakness of the entire system in that it's only. The only thing that it can actually do for you is to highlight how sinful you are. But. But the Hebrew Writer goes on to say that it's impossible, impossible for the blood of goats and bulls to take away sins. It can't happen. It's an annual reminder of your sin, but it's impossible for it to actually take away your sin. And if you just run the logic out, you're like, yeah, that does sound kind of stupid that I could sacrifice some animal and that's going to pay for what I've done. Of course not. And so it builds that out. It. It builds up things like, oh, let's talk about your priest, by the way. You know the priest that goes and offers atonement for you? Well, he's got his own issues and he's got to go make atonement for his sins before he can even make atonement for your sins. And he's got to do it every single year on Yom Kippur. And, and it just goes down, the whole thing of, of like this argument of how this is such an insufficient way. And so it builds out the insecurity, which would be the lack of confidence. And then to your point, Jace, you said there. What, you said something. There's no fear in love. Well, introduce Christ, who through his flesh. And this is what the text says. Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that's that veil into the Holy of holies through the curtain, that is, through his flesh. That's why when you read First John and Second John, it talks about the Antichrist being anyone who does not acknowledge that Christ came in the flesh because it actually, if you don't acknowledge that he came in the flesh, well, then there actually wasn't a veil that was torn. And we have no way back into the Holy of holies, since we have now, though a high priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart and full assurance. This is the confidence you're talking about, of faith. With our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. And then it says, let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir one another up to guess what love and good works. There's no fear in love. Christ in love offers his body as a sacrifice. Through his body, the veil is torn. And now we enter into the holy place through love, so that. So law is fulfilled with love. And that's the whole kind of point of the Book of Hebrews. And therefore now we can have confidence.

[Al]

So I know many of you feel like no matter how much you eat, the scale just doesn't budge for you. And I was certainly there. And it's not that you're lazy or failing, sometimes your body just goes into survival mode. You probably heard about the popular GLP1 drugs that are out there, and for some people they've helped, but they really don't address why your body started storing fat in the first place. There's a smarter way to get your body back on track and it actually works. I am a product of that. PhD weight loss. They treat unwanted weight as a symptom, a signal that your metabolism, your hormones, your stress response, they all need attention. You fix those, the weight comes off naturally. And here's the key, it stays off. I'm a year and a half into this program now. Here's a picture of me at the beginning. And you'll see not only did I lose the 80 pounds that I set out to lose, but I've kept it off. And that's the most important part. Other diets and programs that you've tried may not have done that for you. They didn't do it for me. PhD weight loss has and it's been great. I'm off my meds, I'm healthier than I've been probably in two decades. Right now you can call PhD weight loss and mention Al. You'll get two free weeks in the program and they'll pay for your food. That's a $1,500 value, completely free. Call 864-644-1900 now and mention Al. That's 864-644-1900 or you can go to myphdweightloss.com no more guessing, no more short term fixes, just a smarter way forward.

[Jace]

Well, now I want to do this grid, this same grid that we're doing from First John 4. If you go to Romans 8, I mean, we just had eager day and you think, what is one of the opposites of confidence or this word, which is bigger? And I would argue that condemnation is on the opposite end of the spectrum because then there you have shame, guilt. So Romans 8 starts off, there's no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus, the law of the spirit of life has set me free from the law of sin and death. But look, watch how that moves to where he goes, where John goes in 1 John 4 about having confidence. Because in this world we're like him. And we'll be confident when we stand before God. He goes to the eager verses where he says, the whole creation is waiting for the freedom of its bondage decay to see the sons of God revealed. Then it goes to our eagerness about the redemption of our bodies. In verse, where was that? At 25, 23, we grown, we wait. Okay, then it starts talking about our prayer life because now you have access to God, you can be confident because that relationship has been repaired. So all he's cleaned you up for free. There's no condemnation.

[Al]

He lives in us through his spirit.

[Jace]

But look, then he moves to our vocation about living now like Jesus. Because when he gets to verse 29, he says, for those God foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son. Well, that's exactly what First John 4:17 says, in this world we're like him. So then where does it go? Well, then it goes to there's no fear in love. When you go to verse 34, who is it that condemns Christ? Jesus, who died more than that, who was raised to life, is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ shall trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, sword. When people read this, it's like, well, I'm not going. I'm not having all that stuff happen in my walk with Jesus. Well, maybe you're doing it too quietly.

[Al]

Maybe, maybe you need to get that whisper up.

[Jace]

If you start living like Jesus in this world, trust me, I'm a living example. They're coming. They're going to rain down insult, persecution, hardship, threats, bullets, and everything else which has happened in our family's life. And it's just part of it. And I mean, I'm saying this grid works. And in fact, when he gets to verse 37 and says, Knowing all these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us eerily. Sounds like where John is going in 1 John 5 when he says verse 3, this is love for God to obey his commands. His commands are not burdensome because they're all about love for everyone born of God. Overcomes the world sounds eerily similar to more than conquerors. And what are we overcoming the world in love? This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he believes the that Jesus is the son of God, which echoes our whole definition of that word. Confident. Remember when he was using it about he who Comes to me and believes and goes public.

[Al]

Which is exactly why then he closes J For I am convinced that neither death nor life, so it doesn't matter that we die. Neither angels nor demons. Oh, we're so afraid of these beings. And Satan shouldn't be. Neither the present nor the future. All these people looking at end times, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

[Jace]

Yeah, well, my point is theologically, which, you know, we don't get down into the roots of that because people start yawning. But Romans 8, it's like he talks about, yes, the not yet part, us being resurrected, getting new bodies. But when he gets to that, start talking about our prayer life in the middle of Romans 8, all of a sudden he gets to now we're supposed to be conformed to Jesus likeness, we're praying to God and the Spirit is helping us with words that we can't understand. And then all of a sudden he starts talking about trouble and hardship. Well, that's talking about now. He then goes to our lifestyle and I feel like theologically that's missed because people think, oh, that's all about a future occurrence. But Paul makes that segue into you not being separated right now from the love of Christ as you walk unashamedly in this world, conquering one obstacle after another.

[Al]

No, it's so good. And you mentioned earlier about the armor. He does the same thing there in Ephesians 6 because he goes into all that about the armor and about these forces that attempt to attack us in the now. But then he closes that whole section days with three verses about prayer, remember? I mean like he goes through all the different things, but his big selling point is here's what you got that's going to help you in the now. You've got this opportunity, the Holy Spirit to speak into the triune God as you're going through this life. I mean that's huge. I mean that's a huge weapon for us, you know.

[Jace]

Well, I just think that's why I wanted to bring up Jeremiah, because we get, we all get in these situations where I do many worldly events and I get up, I share Jesus and look, opposition happens. I think you have to be reminded, Jeremiah, are we with a mighty warrior or are we not? Yeah, it just gets lost, I think in the way we live our life and love supernaturally and spirit led is linked to this love in John's writing. That's what's so beautiful about this. He's like, whoever. You know, the verse before 1 John 4:17 is all talking about us living in him. And then you have confidence, you have this aura, this boldness, this public just. You can't help it. It's a fire that's in you that must be declared, but it's eerily linked to life itself. We're the ones on the side that get to live forever, which is so crazy when you think about it. Made me think about a weird fishing illustration. You know, me and my dad, and I guess you were a part of it, too. But I was more in the. The thinking part of this. I was so amazed the first time my dad put out hoop nets in the river because I thought, well, if we're going to catch fish. And look, everybody I've ever taken to the river and showed them how to do the hoop nets, you know what the first thing they say, they're like, well, shouldn't the mouth of the net be where the current's flowing into it? That's what you would think. You're trying to catch fish, so the current is blowing. Well, you would think you would want to catch everything that's going down.

[Al]

Yeah.

[Jace]

But guess what? If you did that, you only catch things that are dead. Like any kind of floating thing coming down that has no power to swim up the current. You're just catching. And there's a famous spiritual quote from somebody that's like, what is it? The difference in something floating down is going with the current, but if it's alive, it can swim against the current. And so you put your nets the opposite of what you think, because all the dead stuff gets stuck not in the net, but the fish swim up the current because they're alive and they're able to swim and they'll go in the net. And so you're. It's. It's the difference in being alive and dead, but it's a. You can honestly see the practical implication of that. We don't swim with the current of the world because everybody's dead. We're swimming into the current and we can go both ways because we're alive. And so we're telling everybody, don't be dead. You're just floating down a roaring torrent and you're banging up against the bank or anything that comes along the way. And that's what I think is so beautiful about the way John wrote this, with having love and light, the truth and life, like all interconnecting this at the end of the day. It's about living forever with a being who's eternal. He's eternal. What are we ashamed of?

[Al]

And the, the Greek word there for life, Jace, in this context is Zoe. And again, it's bigger than just life. It's, it's kind of like you're talking about with confidence. It's a, it's a bigger life than just thinking about, you know what, I'm going to be born and I'm going to die. This is so much bigger, which is what we're trying to convey on the podcast. We're out of time yet again, but we'll, we'll dive back in next time. Don't understand. Thanks for listening to the Unashamed podcast. Help us out by leaving a rating and review on Apple Podcast and don't miss an episode by subscribing on YouTube. And be sure to click the little bell and choose all notifications to watch every episode.