December 18, 2005

Cawson Street Church of Christ

Hopewell, Virginia 23860

Mural Worthey

 

The Book of Life

 

Introduction

 

   We are very near the end of the year 2005.  Tonight, I will present a Year-In-Review, as I have done for the past several years (since 1999).  We also are approaching a new year.  We are very conscious of the marking of time in our lives.  It has meaning and significance because life is so valuable.  Someone wrote that time is the stuff of which is life is made.

 

   The Jews believed that God decided each year whether you would live for another year.  He did this between the first and tenth day of the seventh month, Tishri.  The tenth day of the seventh month was the great Day of Atonement.  The 10 days from the blowing of trumpets and the Day of Atonement, according to Jews, should be spent in prayer and fasting, repenting of your sins.  This was one’s last opportunity for repentance.  Cards would be sent to friends wishing them another good year of life.  If you repented and fasted, God would enter your name in the book of life, granting physical life for another year.  (The Feasts of the Lord, Kevin Howard and Marvin Rosenthal, 108-109.)

 

   Jews took passages like Psalms 69:27-28 physically.  David wrote, “Add iniquity unto their iniquity and let them not come into thy righteousness.  Let them be blotted out of the book of the living and not be written with the righteous.”  With the New Testament references, Christians have rightfully understood these passages to refer to eternal life and not just physical life for another year.  The Christian view takes on added significance beyond the Jewish view.  When we wish others life, health and happiness for the New Year, we should include both physical and spiritual life.

 

Books, Books, Books!!

 

   We are surrounded by books!  Have you noticed how much importance we place on books?  Years ago, the wise man of Israel wrote, “Of the making of books, there is no end.  And much study is the weariness of the flesh.”  (Eccl. 12:12.)  Books are important in all fields of study and investigation.  They make available information for both the present generation and generations yet unborn.  A wealth of valuable information on all subjects is found in books.  We have books dating back to man’s earliest days.  From the time of Creation onward, man has been able to read and write.  We have recorded these significant words: “In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth.”

 

   Scientific knowledge is communicated and preserved for others in journals and books.  Medical knowledge is likewise recorded.  The history of our country is being recorded daily.  But there is no book like those associated with the Bible.  This is the record of man’s existence and God’s dealing with him.  There are several important books related to God and man, and eternal life.

 

   The Bible says in reference to all that Jesus did while on earth: “And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written.”  (John 21:25.)  “And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples which are not written in this book, but these are written, that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you might have life through his name.”  (John 20:30-31.)  Everything that Jesus did and said is not recorded, but enough is recorded to produce faith that he is the Christ, the Son of the living God.  What is written is extraordinarily important.  We need to know what is said about Him, so that we may properly respond to Him.  For this reason, this book, the Bible, is written.

 

   Revelation refers to many books in addition to the Bible.  A vision of God on his throne is given to John and recorded for us.  God has in his right hand a book which is written on both sides, like the Ten Commandments were, and sealed with seven seals.  (Rev. 5:1f.)  This is clearly not the Bible because the contents are revealed one by one as the seven seals are broken.  The book contains information through visions revealed to John about what the Lord would do in judging the Red Dragon, the sea beast and the earth beast.  Near the end of the book, John records a great judgment scene with God on his throne again.  He recorded that the books were opened.  He referred to one special book, the book of life, in which the names of the redeemed were written.  (Rev. 20:11-15.)  John wrote, “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”  (20:15.)  This is obviously an important book.

 

The History of the Book of Life

 

   This biblical reference to the Book of Life has an interesting and long history.  We have already noted that the Jews thought about it only in the sense of physical life for the coming year.  The early Jewish references were genealogical records of the generations of the people of God.  Those who did iniquity were blotted out of that book.

 

   One of the earliest references to the book of life is this one.  Moses responded to the Lord: “Oh, this people have sinned a great sin and have made them gods of gold. Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.  And the Lord said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.”  (Exodus 32:31-33.)  This book is not named here, but it clearly is a book that God keeps for himself alone.  No man has the right to enter or remove one’s name.  God said to Moses, If someone has sinned against me, I will blot out his name.  This does not mean necessarily that the book is a physical book with ink and paper, or ink and leather.  It means that God knows those who belong to him.

 

   The New Testament references to the book of life is based upon the Jewish custom of keeping genealogical records of their families.  But now the concept is much deeper; it is the record of the redeemed.  Paul wrote:

 

   “Nevertheless, the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal, The Lord knows them that are his.  Let everyone that has named the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”  (2 Tim. 2:19.)

 

   Therefore, from the very beginning of its history, this book is described as belonging to God.  It is a record of those who belong to Him.  Those not in the book do not belong to God.  Jesus will said to those on his left, “I never knew you; depart from me you that work iniquity.”  (Matt. 7:23.)

 

   Other references are these: Jesus said to the seventy, “Notwithstanding, in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”  (Luke 10:20.)  Paul referred to “fellowlaborers, whose names are in the book of life.”  (Phil. 4:3.)  “. . . to the general assembly and church of the firstborn which are written in heaven.”  (Heb. 12:23.)

 

   To Sardis, the Lord said: “Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments.  They shall walk with me in white; for they are worthy.  He that overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white raiment, and I will not blot out his name of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father and before the angels.”  (Rev. 3:4-5.)

 

   “And there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defiles, neither whatsoever works abomination, or makes a lie, but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”  (Rev. 21:27.)  For the first time, the book is described as the Lamb’s book of life.  These are the names of those who follow the Lamb and worship him.  (Rev. 14:4.)

 

Five Doctrinal Truths Related to Book of Life

 

   It is interesting that from the Book of Life we can learn something important doctrinal truths.  We can reason backward from the book of life and know that once a lost person is saved, he can later be lost.  More than once the Bible refers to having one’s name blotted out of the book.  Moses, as the mediator of the first covenant, asked God to blot his name out of his book, rather than blotting the names of those who disobeyed God at the foot of Sinai. (Ex. 32:32.) Twice in Revelation, John wrote of blotting out one’s name.  (Rev. 3:5, Rev. 22:19.)

 

   On the other hand, we should not teach such an uncertain doctrine of salvation that we think that our names are constantly being erased!  One man wrote that he was sure that his name was probably removed and replaced several times every day.  This idea is based upon the false notion that every time a Christian sins his name is removed from the book until he repents and prays for forgiveness.  John wrote, “All unrighteousness is sin; and there is a sin not unto death.”  (1 John 5:17.)

 

   A second doctrinal truth that we can learn from the book of life pertains to whose names are written there.  In ancient days, books or records of the names of the children of Israel were recorded.  In the New Testament, we must be born again.  (John 3:1-5.)  It is a spiritual birth, being born of water and the Spirit.  When we are thus born again, our names are written in the book of life.  We can have assurance of our relationship with God as our Father.  “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.  For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.  The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.  If children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ; is so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”  (Rom. 8:14-17.)  Jesus is described as the Author and Finisher of our faith.  (Heb. 12:2.)  He is not just the Author, but also the Finisher.  That is important.  Paul wrote that if God spared not his own Son, shall he not also with him freely give us all things?  (Rom. 8:32.)  Yes, He will.

 

   A third doctrinal truth is that Jesus will be our judge.  The books being opened in both Daniel (7:10) and Revelation (20:11-15) refer to a judgment.  God, the Father, will judge no man, but has committed all judgment unto the Son; that all men should honor the Son even as they honor the Father.  (John 5:22-23.)  This final judgment will take place at the end of time.

 

   “When the Son of man shall come in his glory with all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory.  Before him shall be gathered all nations.”  (Matt. 25:31.)

 

   Those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life will enter into eternal glory with the Father. (Rev. 21:27.)

 

   A fourth doctrinal truth is the reason why some names are not recorded.  John explained, “And there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defiles, neither whatsoever works abomination, or makes a lie, but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”  (Rev. 21:27.)  Those who live wickedly will not be permitted in heaven.  That is the reason their names are not recorded there.

 

   When Moses spoke to God at Mount Sinai, pleading with God not to blot out the names of those at the foot of the mount, it is clear that the reason was because of the sinfulness of the people.  (Exodus 32.)

 

   Again, at Sardis where the book of life is mentioned, it is in the context of those who have not defiled their garments.  Some will walk with him in white garments because they are worthy.  (Rev. 3:4-5.)

 

   If anyone questions or doubts that God keeps a record of what men do, the existence of the Book of Life should forever settle those questions.  The works that men do are known by God.  In addition to the book of life, men will be judged from the books of their deeds.  (Rev. 20:12.)

 

   A fifth doctrinal truth is that there are books which men shall never read on earth.  These are the books kept in the memory of God.  The foundation of the Kingdom of God stands sure because he knows them that are his.  The Bible is the book that we need today to lead us to God and redemption.  If we follow his will and become his children, all will be well eternally.  God will keep the records; men are not allowed to do so.  If allowed, there would be some who would take that job from God.  But, thank God, they are not permitted to tamper with those books!  The book of life is not written or kept by the hands of men.