The apostle Paul wrote;--- “For I am not ashamed of the gospel (0f Christ), for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, -- .” (Rom. 1:16)

   My method is what I would call “follow the bouncing ball”, a.k.a. chain reference. You may make up your own unique method. And that’s perfectly fine as long as it gets that valuable authority established, bears fruit and glorifies our Father. 

  I use a list of about twenty passages that are very strong and clear about how I believe God would have me to tell others not only about His magnificent love and mercy, but also strict guidelines of authority. There are most likely a thousand other Scriptures as powerful, but these should be sufficient to an honest heart. --- So what I do, is write down my “base” Scripture, that is the starting point in some convenient location (like just inside the fly cover), and this gives me that “springboard” I need.

  You may wish to add other Scriptures or use just a few well chosen ones. Also, you might prefer to write them down in chronological order from front to back, etc. --- But I just put (Lk. 24:45) as a starting point; --- “Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,”, and at the end of that passage I write down the next, then the next, etc.

1. 1 Pet. 3:15  “but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.”
    Do you believe this? --- If so, what is your hope? --- And upon what do you base it?

2. 2 Tim. 2:15-16  “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. --- But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness.” --- KJV says, “rightly dividing the word of truth.” --- One way to rightly divide, is to distinguish the difference between the Old and New Testament, and how to always put things in the proper context. --- And keep in mind that this is not the time to get into worldly talk or meaningless chatter. Stay on the subject at hand, for there are precious souls at stake, including your own.

3. 1 Tim. 6:3-5  “If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, --- he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions  (such as, “what about the dinosaurs?”)  and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, --- and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.” --- The KJV adds; “from such withdraw thyself.”

4. 2 Tim. 3:16-17  “All Scripture is inspired by God (God breathed) and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; --- so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” --- The apostle Paul in giving an example of what had happened to God’s disobedient children in Old Testament times, tells us in (1Cor. 10:11-2); --- “Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. --- Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.” --- The teachings of Jesus and His apostles connected together with these Old Testament examples are truly sufficient to make one mature enough spiritually to know and do the will of God.

5.  2 Pet. 1:3  “seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.” --- One could say that “life” would correspond with the spiritual essence of the soul, and “godliness” would be the Christ-like conduct one must maintain to preserve the soul. --- For further exhortation to grow in grace, you might also read (Vss. 4-11). --- And just at the end of this chapter is our next destination.

6.  2 Pet. 1:20-21  “But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, ---  for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.” --- Just as holy men of both the Old and New testament did not have a right to interpret God’s proclamations as the whim hit them, what gives us today any idea we might take the wisdom of God and bring it down to our own way of thinking? --- We hear all the time about so called religious people of the world say; --- “Well that’s just your interpretation.” Or, “Everybody’s got a right to their own interpretation.” --- Oh, no my friend, or else this Scripture is useless and makes no sense.

7.  Gal. 1:6-9  “I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; --- which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. --- But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!”--- And Paul knowing the critical importance of it, he repeated; --- “As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!” --- How many of us have known and loved those who had heard and gladly obeyed the truth of God’s word, they seemed so well grounded, but for whatever reason, they find themselves off in a completely different realm, caught up in the twisted teachings of some false teacher or preacher, and you sit back and marvel how can this possibly be? --- Paul says there is only one gospel, just one!!
 

8.  1 Cor. 4:6  “Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that in us you may learn not to exceed what is written, so that no one of you will become arrogant in behalf of one against the other.” --- When men get to going beyond the written word of God, they begin to imagine all sorts of theories and when they do, it will most likely lead them into the sin of pride and arrogance. --- “My theory is better than your theory!” --- Jesus said this is like the blind leading the blind and they both end up in a ditch. (Mt. 15:13-14)

9.  1 Pet. 4:11  “Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances (oracles) of God; ---  so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.” --- Another way to say this, or maybe paraphrase it; --- We are to speak where the Bible speaks and to be silent where the Bible is silent. Also please keep in mind, that what we say to others is to be in complete harmony with the oracles of God.

10.  Col. 3:17  “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” --- This goes well with number nine above. When we do or say anything in the name of the Lord Jesus, it’s not simply saying “in His name”, but rather by His authority. --- After all, HE IS LORD!!

11. Mt. 7:21 “Not everyone who says to Me, `Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.” --- The warning here is totally against formal and external worship. It’s not good enough simply to appear pious, but if one is not doing the written will of God, Jesus declares that their entrance into the Kingdom (whether on earth or in heaven) will not be allowed. --- Also, read (Vss 22-29).

12.  Mt. 15:8-9  “THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME. --- BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.” --- Many people today act as hypocritically as the scribes and Pharisees Jesus was condemning; --- they honor God with their lips both in prayer and praise, but their heart is set upon the pleasures  of this world and far from Him. --- They substitute the precepts and traditions of man, for the commandments of the Lord.

13.  Rev. 22:18-19  “I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; --- and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.” --- All through out the Book of God, there are warning after warning about tampering with His words. --- We must honor and revere His will if we would ever have the blessed hope for that tree of eternal life. --- For example; ---

14.  Num. 24:12-13  “Balaam said to Balak, ‘Did I not tell your messengers whom you had sent to me, saying, --- Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything contrary to the command of the LORD, either good or bad, of my own accord. What the LORD speaks, that I will speak'?” --- In another place Jesus asks; --- “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mt. 16:26)

15.  Deut. 4:2  “You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.” --- A solomn warning from Moses to the people of Israel, which also stands for the people of God today. Why? As the wise man says in:

16.  Prov. 30:5-6   “Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. --- Do not add to His words Or He will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar.” ---  Every word of the Lord most assuredly has been put to the test, and not one flaw may we dare to find or doubt. --- The Psalmist wrote in (Ps, 12: 6); --- “The words of the Lord are pure words; As silver tried in a furnace on earth, refined seven times.” --- The word “seven” in the Bible is generally taken to mean “complete” or “perfectly whole”! --- Thus, God’s words are tested and found to be perfectly pure, and one who dares to add or take away from it will be proved a liar, or false teacher. 

17.  Prov. 14:12  “There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” --- And in (Vs. 15) he continues; --- “The naive believes everything, But the sensible man considers his steps.”---
We certainly have many doctrines and figments of man’s imagination that seem right and even might be very comforting, but when placed along side the pure white light of God’s Scriptures, --- In the end is the way of death and comdemnation. --- Just think about all those 900 plus poor naïve souls who so blindly followed Jim Jones into the jungles of Guyana, SA, back in November 1978.

18.  Jn. 12:48  Jesus warns, “He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day.” --- There’s a world full of well intentioned people out there who, in their desire to be religious and honor God, do so in their own way and by their own standard. And they have confidence in their  own ability to invent ways that they think will please God. --- This is a deadly mistake!! --- It will be the words of Christ which will judge our souls in the last day, and not the words and feel good spirit of any man.

19.   Rev. 20:11-12  “Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. --- And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.” --- (Vs. 13-15) continues; --- “Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. --- And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”---The Spirit inspired apostle Paul declares in (Rom 14:10-12)
“For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. --- For it is written, ‘AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME, AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL GIVE PRAISE TO GOD." --- So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.” --- Who would dare say that God does not have perfect memory? --- The only thing He forgets is, repented of and forgiven sin (Jer. 31:34). But when it comes to that great and terrible day, He will remember and call to bear every un-repented of sin. And failure to have our names on God’s record, or have them rubbed out because of sin and rebellion by not yielding to His authority will prove to be an eternally fatal mistake.

20.  2 Jn. 8-11  “Watch yourselves, that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward. --- Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. --- If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting;  (Why?) --- for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds.” --- What is of paramount importance is our own standing before God.  And this can be assured by an unwavering love for and submission to the Divine authority of  God’s written will. --- Any threat brought about by false teachers should be exposed and speedily rejected, lest we be caught up in their lies, thus becoming partners with them. --- This same apostle admonishes us to “Test the spirits to see whether they are from God; because many false prophets (teachers) have gone out into the world.” (1 Jn. 4:1)

Questions and comments more than welcomed: ewilburn@austin.rr.com 
Please don't delete this from your files, as who knows that while you may not at this time be moved by these scriptures but perhaps in time you might want to refer back to this and come to know better the love of the Lord. --- ew