The lambs book of life seems to have those written in it who have been redeemed by the blood of the lamb of godjesus christ. Those who fail to exercise faith prior to death are blotted out of the book. The book refers to the place in exodus where moses prays, but now please forgive their sin, but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written, and god replies, everyone who has sinned against me i will blot out of my book. If a person is never going to come to a genuine true faith in god their name will not be put in there from the beginning. If a person committed crimes, or otherwise defiled his standing in the city, he could be called before a tribunal and his name removed from the city registry, literally blotted out. Is it possible for a persons name to be erased from the. To be blotted out of the book of life is to lose your initial destiny to be in heaven. This is what a writer would do to erase a mistake he would use a wet sponge and remove the mistaken text. Even if a christian fails to overcome, this does not mean that their name will get blotted out of the book of life. Moses asked to be blotted out or removed to atone for the sins of the people of israel when they worshipped the golden calf. In a similar fashion, the words, i will not blot out his name from the book of life, at once suggest the understatement of a litotes. Nowhere in these passages do we read about movement from one book to another. The book of life, in this context, is the set of names of those who will live with god forever in heaven. It shall be that the firstborn whom she bears shall assume the name of his dead brother, so that his name will not be blotted out from israel.
In other words, that they be cut off from among gods covenanted people registry because they are found to be rebellious. New living translation erase their names from the book of life. This verse is usually involved in the debate concerning. Those whose names have not been blotted out of the book of life will live eternally with jesus. Christians who believe a person can lose their salvation point to the term blotted out in connection with the book of life. May they be blotted out of the book of life and not be listed with the righteous. Does this mean sincere believers can lose their salvation. Note, some bible commentators say that moses asked to be removed from the book of the living, which is a record of those who are physically alive on the earth at any given time. Is it possible for a persons name to be erased from the book of life. Does this mean genuine believers can lose their salvation. It is our view that attempting to explain the various passages by using two or three different books is overly complicated and imposes distinctions.
In each passage the reference is concerning ones name being found in or not found in the book of life. So many verses teach the security of the true believer that we know such a person cannot be blotted out of the lambs book of life. Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous. Those to be burned are those conceived as tares, together with those corrupted israelites who, kept not their first estate, and who were blotted out of the book of life.
Next follow the three texts to which the reader refers. This goes against gods promise of eternal security. Therefore, the way to avoid being blotted from the book of life is to get your name written in the lambs book of life. I will confess his name as one of my faithful servants and soldiers. The books of deeds and book of life are distinguished in rev. How does a name get added to the book of life and can it be erased. So no christian can ever be blotted out of the book of life. Names blotted out commentary a testimony of jesus christ.
None of the names written in this book is ever blotted out rev. The book of life is mentioned only eight times in the entirety of scripture. Hence to be blotted out of the book of the living means to forfeit the privileges of the theocracy, to be shut out from gods favour. We had an email question from a reader which asked about whether or not our names can be blotted out of the lambs book of life. From this passage we learn that this book that folks may be blotted out of is the book of the living in which the righteous are listed. Cities in johns day had a city register which listed the names of every citizen. The book of life contains the names of every person who ever lived. There is one book of life, and that is the book of the lamb book is a translation from the greek word biblio, strongs 976.
The overcomer mentioned in this letter to sardis is the. Many pastors and teachers say that if someone does not overcome, then their name will be blotted out of the book of life. The notation is that their habitation would be made desolate and they will be blotted out of the book of the living book of life that they not be written with the righteous. To be blotted out means that their name was written there in the first place. We have electronic mail from listener charles deyzel in. Another solution holds that the lambs book of life differs from the book of life. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment. No christian will have his name blotted from that book. Blotted out of the book of life protestant reformed churches.
The implication is that if you end up giving in to sin, your name will be blotted out of the book of life and you will be denied before god and the angels, something jesus elsewhere emphasizes mt. There is only one book of life, and names can be removed. Several passages in scripture mention being blotted out of the book of life. Those who believe have their names retained in the book rev. Only one time is it mentioned outside of the book of revelation. So then, at the great white throne judgment, if their names are not found in the book of life, it will show them to be unsaved and worthy of partaking in this particular judgment. Book of life of the lamb a book which records only those individuals who are predestined to salvation. And the lord said unto moses, whosoever hath sinned against me, him will i blot out of my book ex. Let them be blotted out of the book of life, and not be written with the righteous. Being blotted out of the book of life in revelation 3. Blotting out of names the book of life learn the bible. Unlike popular doctrines such as eternal unconditional security, the truths of people being blotted out remain.
This is a key passage for discerning what the hebrews understood this book to be. God is supposed to have a book of the living in his possession, which contains the names of all those on whom he looks with favour, and whom he will bless both in this world and beyond the grave comp. The one who corrupts the word of god will be deprived of access to the tree of life, despite whatever claim he thinks he has to that fruit. A brother asks, since we, calvinists, believe that god predestinated some to eternal life and some to eternal damnation to the glory of his rich mercy and just power rom. I will never blot out his name from the book of life. Can a believers name be blotted out of the book of life. It seems logical, however, that true believers would not try to take away or add to the bible. Can your name be blotted out of the lambs book of life. Are we saved as long as our name is written in the book. God writes someones name in the book of life, and god also blots peoples names out of the book, if they decide to reject him. Those written in the book of life had had their names written in from, the foundation of the world. Having said that, there are three passages in scripture that refer to names being blotted out or erased from the book of life the first from exodus.
Christ further promises every true christian that he will not erase his name from the book of life, but will confess his name before the father and. The believers name can never be blotted out of the book of life. From this list, as from any register of earthly citizenship, the names of. I dont think it ever says you can be blotted out, at least not in the sense that sometimes god does it. The positive is emphasized by the negation of its negative. There is no mention of being blotted out of this book. Im reading a book that says names are not added to the book of life, they are blotted out. The following is an excerpt from the macarthur new testament commentary on revelation 3. Several verses speak of god blotting or not blotting names out of the book of life. Are names written in the book of life, or blotted out of.
If we cannot lose our salvation, why does the bible speak about names being blotted out. Id always thought our names were added to the lamb. His eternal identity rests on the fact that he is an individual whose name is written in heaven luke 10. I will not blot out his name out of the book of life rv 3. No, your name can not be blotted out of the book of life. Sadly, many christians fear this may happen to them. It is the same idea of being blotted out of the book of life and in revelation 3. These references to blotting out of the book of life allow only two possibilities. Book of life tree of life blotted out age of laodicea.
And i think it is not quite precise to say, as charles does, in quite a few of the scriptures it mentions you can be blotted out of the book of life. No unbelievers are written in there because if they were written in the book of. The lord shall never be willing to forgive him, but rather the. It says we will be blotted out if we fail to meet certain conditions. But the expression, though perhaps confined originally to temporal blessings, was in itself a witness to higher hopes. He wrote, may they the wicked be blotted out of the book of life and not be listed with the righteous. Can a persons name be erased from the book of life.
Worthy ministries is happy to announce that after years of labor and prayer to this end, worthy news and worthy devotions are now available for churches and ministries, free of charge and free of advertising through our new syndication network. And i will not blot his name out of the book of life like that of the angel of the church at sardis. He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments. I have been reading some conflicting opinions concerning the book of life and the lambs book of life. Will god ever blot a believers name out of the book of life. If a person thinks their name can be blotted out it turns a promise into a threat. The book of life can be understood simply as the roster of the living. Others say the book of life has the names of everyone living and that names can be blotted out, and that the lambs book of life contains the names of born again believers and those names are eternally secure. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and i will not blot out his name from the book of life. Book of life a book which records the name of every individual ever born. Only those who overcome the sins of this world will be clothed in white raiment, and they will not risk getting their names blotted out of the book of life.