How can believers ensure their names remain in God's "book of the living"? Defining the Book of the Living • Psalm 69:28: “May they be erased from the Book of Life and not listed with the righteous.” • Scripture pictures a real, heavenly register in which God records the redeemed (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 20:15). • Entry is granted by grace through faith in Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8-9). The Divine Author and the Entry Process • Exodus 32:33: “Whoever has sinned against Me I will blot out of My book.” • Revelation 13:8 shows names written “from the foundation of the world,” highlighting God’s sovereign initiative. • John 1:12-13 affirms that new birth—required for entry—is of God, not human effort. God’s Guarantee: Security for the Redeemed • John 10:27-29: Christ gives His sheep eternal life; no one can snatch them from His hand. • Ephesians 1:13-14: Believers are “sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,” guaranteeing inheritance. • Revelation 3:5: “He who conquers… I will never blot out his name from the Book of Life.” The promise stands for every genuine overcomer. Our Response: Living in the Assurance • Assurance is grounded in God’s promise, yet expressed through persevering faith (Hebrews 3:14). • 1 John 5:13: Believers can “know” they have eternal life. • Confidence grows as faith produces obedience (James 2:17). Daily Practices that Confirm Our Election • Continual repentance and confession (1 John 1:9). • Regular intake of Scripture (Psalm 119:11). • Persistent prayer and dependence on the Spirit (Ephesians 6:18). • Active fellowship and accountability within the church (Hebrews 10:24-25). • Growth in Christ-like character (2 Peter 1:5-8), which results in the promise: “For if you practice these things, you will never stumble; and you will receive a lavish entrance into the eternal kingdom” (2 Peter 1:10-11). Warnings that Guard the Heart • Hebrews 12:14: “Pursue… holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.” • Deliberate, unrepentant sin invites discipline (Hebrews 12:6) and exposes false profession (1 John 3:9-10). • Revelation 22:19 warns against tampering with God’s word, underscoring reverent obedience. Encouraging One Another Until the End • Mutual exhortation prevents hardness of heart (Hebrews 3:12-13). • Bearing one another’s burdens fulfills Christ’s law (Galatians 6:2). • Shared worship keeps eyes fixed on the “Author and Perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). Summary Truths to Hold Fast • God writes and preserves the names of all true believers. • Salvation is secured by Christ’s finished work and sealed by the Spirit. • Persevering faith, holy living, and loving fellowship confirm that security in daily experience. By resting in Christ and walking in obedience, believers live in the joyful confidence that their names remain forever in God’s Book of the Living. |
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