We continue our discussion of explaining to others what we believe.

We have suggested that you begin with the doctrine of salvation by God’s great and saving grace, simply stating that we believe salvation is all of grace; meaning that it is undeserved and that it is accomplished by the power of God.  It is not a matter of man’s worthiness nor of man’s ability and choice.  This is ‘grace’ in the full and complete sense of the word.

We also suggested that at this point we can perhaps indicate that we are Calvinists, and see if there is any response to that.  Possibly there will not be, but, regardless, it can be pointed out that it is Calvinism that really honors salvation all of sovereign free grace as it should.

In the second place it will be necessary to indicate that we have a high view of scripture, believing it to be the Word of God, without any error and governing the whole of our life, which is to say, infallible and authoritative.

In this connection it is necessary that we have the ability to use the Bible if called upon to do so.  By that I mean we ought to be able to proof-text various doctrines.  In this area we are woefully weak (meaning we have not changed much since I was a young person).   There is really little excuse for this, and it ought to be remedied.  At the end of the article I will mention some of the proof texts we should know (at least where to find them) and be ready to use.

Our high regard for scripture can show itself in a most natural way.  One such occasion which often presents itself arises in connection with our Sunday observance.

In the course of our discussion at Redlands the same question arose, what do we say when someone at work, for instance, with whom we seem to hit it off, suggests going here or there (the beach perhaps) on Sunday?  What do we tell these friends?

To be sure we can tell them, “We do not do those things on Sunday.  We go to church.  In fact, we go twice; so we can’t go in the afternoon either.” But what do we say when they ask, “Why not?  Why can’t we go to the beach after you go to church?”

It does not sound very convincing if all we can say is, “Well, that’s how I was brought up, and my parents would tend to get upset.” We sense we need a Biblical response.

I would suggest that you point them to the Fourth Commandment.  Why do we keep Sunday the way we do, and why do we refrain from so many other things, such as recreation?  Because the Fourth Commandment states, “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy; six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God.”

Now, you may question whether this is going to convince them of the rightness of your position.  Probably not.  But at this point that is not your purpose.  Your purpose is to demonstrate your high regard for scripture.  That purpose it will serve admirably.  What it will demonstrate is that our churches and you take God’s Word seriously.  Who will challenge that the Fourth Commandment is God’s Word?

It is possible that someone may respond that the Fourth Commandment is an Old Testament requirement and not a New Testament law.  You should ask them whether the same holds for adultery, lying, and stealing.  The Fourth Commandment remains one of the Ten, except now the Sabbath is called The Lord’s Day.

Pointing to God’s commandments makes a powerful testimony.  It demonstrates that we are a people of conviction, and that we live by those convictions.  Anyone who is going to be attracted to our churches is going to be impressed exactly by this point.

At Redlands we had a recent instance of this.  A man with no previous Reformed background became a member of our congregation a few months back.  He had had opportunity to observe several of our families who happened to be on his mail route.  He was their ‘mail-man.’ He was impressed by the stability of the homes, and the behavior of the youth.  He could tell they were respectful (of all things).  He came to our services to find out what made these people ‘tick.’  He did not know WHAT we believed, only HOW we lived, to an extent.  Importantly, he noted that where he had gone before, the members, in his own words, were “Christians on Sunday morning.  And that was about it.”  What attracted this brother was that we took the commandments of God seriously, Sunday and the whole week through.  This was to him sincerity of faith.

Now to get back to proof texts.

There are two groups with whom proof texts will be most necessary: those who are committed to the ‘God-loves-everybody’, ‘Free-Will’ school; and those who deny Christ’s real and full divinity, and hence the Trinity as well.  The Jehovah Witnesses represent this latter school.  As David had five smooth stones ‘to-hand’ when he confronted Goliath, so we ought to have a good number of proof texts in our ‘pouches’ to be used as the need arises.

I will suggest to you ten proof texts for the support of Calvinism, three for each of the first three points, and one general proof text that explodes the myth of ‘Free-Willism’, namely John 6:37-44.

For the proof of Total Depravity let me suggest:

Psalm 51:5 “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.” (Man is not born innocent.)

Romans 8:6-8 “…So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.”  Verse 7 speaks of the carnal mind as being “enmity against God.” (cf. also Romans 3:10-17)

Ephesians 2:1-5 “And you hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins…and were by nature children of wrath, even as others…”

Three proof texts for Unconditional Election would be:

Acts 13:48 “And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.”

Romans 9:11-13 “…As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.”  Verse 11 speaks of “the purpose of God according to election.”  This was before the children were born.  (cf. also Romans 8:29, 30)

Ephesians 1:4 “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him…”  Verse 5 goes on to speak of predestination.

Proof texts for Limited (or particular) Atonement would be:

John 10:15 “As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.”  Not all men are counted as Christ’s sheep, as is evident from vs. 26.

John 17:9 “I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.”  It is evident that Christ does not love all men.  He would certainly have prayed for those whom he loves.  For them he also died.

John 6:39 “And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.”  The key phrase is “all which he (the Father) hath given me.”  Obviously that is not everybody head for head.

A powerful, all-purpose text is John 6:37-45.  If we cannot recall any others, we ought to know at least this one.  Verse 37 states “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” (This proves Irresistible Grace.)

Verse 44 states “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him; and I will raise him up at the last day.” (This explodes the myth of ‘Free-Willism’, for no man can come to Christ apart from God’s drawing him.)

I will also suggest five texts for the proof of Christ’s divinity.  It is very common to be confronted by members of sects which deny Christ’s divinity, as for instance the Jehovah Witnesses.  It is a great shame if we cannot even use the Scriptures to prove this most basic of all Christian doctrines, the bedrock of our faith.

Isaiah 9:6 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.” (This passage is important because it proves the doctrine is ‘Old Testamental’.)

John 1:1, 14, 18 (I quote only vs. 14) “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”  (“Only begotten” means Jesus shares God’s nature, as a natural son does his father’s.)

John 20:28 “And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.”

Philippians 2:5, 6 “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God.”

I Timothy 3:16 “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, etc.”

A sixth proof to hold in reserve is the very powerful passage of Hebrews 1:8 (which quotes the O.T.) “But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom.”

One word of warning should be sounded here.  Most modern versions of the Bible weaken the proof for Christ’s divinity by either changing words or omitting phrases.  This is good reason to stick to the King James Version.

In conclusion, if you are somewhat prepared, you will be able to be a ‘good witness,’ that is, able to add to the testimony of your godly walk the Biblical proof of your faith.  A little preparation will give the necessary confidence.  One does not need the full armor of Saul, (that is, be a full-fledged theologian), but simply the essentials of David, namely, a faith in God, a love for His cause and name, and 5 smooth stones ready for the sling.  Who knows what amazing things may occur?  God’s great grace can work, and does work, in mysterious ways.