The Lamb's Book Of Life

Q: What does the Bible say about the Lamb's Book of Life?

The Lamb's Book of Life contains the names of God's elect, those chosen for eternal life before the foundation of the world. The Lamb's Book of Life, as detailed in Revelation 13:8 and 20:12-15, symbolizes the sovereign decree of God to save a particular people. It represents those whose names are recorded as the elect, chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world, and is reflective of God's grace and purpose in salvation. The book affirms that only those written therein will not worship the beast and will ultimately be saved from judgment.

Q: How do we know that God elects people for salvation?

Scripture asserts God's sovereign choice, as seen in Ephesians 1:4-5, stating He chose us in Christ before creation. The doctrine of election teaches that God sovereignly chooses individuals for salvation, a truth underscored in passages like Ephesians 1:4-5, which states that believers were chosen 'before the foundation of the world.' This idea reflects God's initiative and unmerited favor, affirming that salvation is not based on human effort but on His purpose and grace. Revelation 20:12-15 further illustrates the final judgment, confirming that those not found in the Lamb's Book of Life face eternal condemnation, thus emphasizing the importance of God's electing grace.

Q: Why is the concept of being chosen by God important for Christians?

Understanding being chosen by God reassures believers of their salvation and God's purpose in their lives. The concept of being chosen by God is fundamentally important for Christians, as it emphasizes the grace and mercy of God in salvation. It reassures believers that their salvation is not a result of their own works but rather a part of God's sovereign plan; thus, it places their confidence squarely in Christ. This understanding encourages believers to persevere in faith, knowing they are secure in the Lamb’s Book of Life, which affirms God's promises and the completion of their salvation through Christ.

If you will, turn with me to the book of Revelation. The Revelation of Jesus Christ. Let's look at chapter 13. I've got several texts and they're all in the book of Revelation. This is the first. So I'll read you some of the context in which my text is being stated.

And I stood upon the sand of the sea and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads, ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his head the name of blasphemy. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet as were the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion.

And the dragon gave him power, and his seat, and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death. And his deadly wound was healed. And all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast. And they worshipped the beast saying, who is like unto the beast?

Who's able to make war with him? And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies. And power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God to blaspheme his name and his tabernacle and them that dwell in heaven. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. and power was given him over all the kindreds and tongues and nations that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

If any man hear, let him hear. I brought several messages in recent days that may seem to you a little harsh or maybe even judgmental. It's not my intent to threaten, punish, or harshly judge anyone, and especially anyone who profess faith in Christ. It's not my intent. My aim, my goal, my intent is to encourage, establish, teach, and see you rejoice in the Lord Jesus Christ. That's what I meant. To rejoice in the free grace of God in Christ. But let me say this.

If you miss Christ, if you come short of the glory of God, That's what he says over there in Romans, isn't it? All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. They know nothing about the glory of God. Their righteousness is way below the glorious righteousness of God. They come short.

And if you come short of the glory of God, if you miss Christ, if you lay hold on half a gospel and go on with your life as though nothing else had anything to do with it, you'll most certainly stand before God in the last day with no hope at all. A little hope's not going to do you any good.

The only hope there is, is hope of glory, and that glory is in the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ in you, the hope of glory. And there's no hope in man, no hope in human reasoning, no hope in false religion, no hope in men's so-called free will. It's Christ in you or nothing.

And Satan is a subtle, crafty enemy. He knows more about human nature than anybody but God. Over in 2 Timothy 2, verse 26, concerning men and women caught in the snare of the devil, he says, that they are taken captive by him at his will. That's how crafty he is. And this world, though they're ignorant of it, are so influenced by him that they walk according to the prince of the power of the air and don't know it. The spirit, he said, that now worketh in the children of disobedience. And that work that he works in is false religion, Antichrist religion. We're told in 2 Corinthians 11 that his ministers are transformed into ministers of righteousness. Whose ministers? Satan's ministers. And what righteousness do they preach? Self-righteousness. They preach man's obedience to the law as their hope of salvation. Self-righteousness, preaching man's obedience to the law as his hope before God.

And the Pharisees and scribes who came to Christ pretending to be his friends, yet constantly tried to disprove all that he claimed to be and say, they were called by our Lord children of the devil. That's what he said. You deserve your father, the devil. And most of man's sin and trouble comes out of his own heart. Satan gets a bad rap, don't he? He gets charged with everything on the sun. The devil made me do it. That was the joke of the 70s. The devil made me do it. No, he didn't. No, it was all on you. It all came out of your... That's what the Lord said.

Out of your heart come foolish thoughts. The devil didn't give them to you. come out of your heart, adulteries, fornications, all these things come forth from the heart and defile the man. Satan's work, now listen, it's in religion, false religion, trying to give you some hope before God that's not a hope. Trying to get you to worship somebody who's not God.

Common men and women gathered to hear Christ. The disease came to Him for healing, and the ignorance came to Him for wisdom. It was deceived men and women in religion who despised Him. It was religious men, very religious men, who stood at the cross and said, crucify Him, crucify Him.

We'll take this traitor over Him. We'll take this murderer over Him. And brethren, I wouldn't see any one of you taken in the snare of the devil. But you must be made aware that his snares are real. He's real. And sometimes in saying that, I appear to offend men. I'm not trying to offend you. I'm trying to tell you the truth. And I'll tell you something I'm learning more and more with age. The only way I can tell you the truth is tell you the truth. That's how you say it. And I'm going to tell you this, if I see a breach in your faith, I'm going to point it out. I don't mean to belittle you or judge you.

I'm trying to point you to Christ. You know, if your little child, you was walking with him, and you look down there, and there's a big old copperhead coiled up over here, wouldn't you pull him out of the way? Well, I'd just let him come up there and get bit, teach him a lesson. No. No, you're going to pull him out of the way. And that's the way I feel about this church. I see men being pulled and tugged away.

I'm going to say something. I'm going to try to tell you what it is. That don't mean you're going to hear me, but I'm going to tell you anyway. Maybe somebody will hear me. Now, my subject and my hope this morning is about the Lamb's Book of Life. I've got several texts on the subject.

First of all, here in Revelation 13. He's showing to John things that must shortly come to pass, and many of which have come to pass and shall yet come to pass. He's showing him Satan, that old dragon, shall so influence the world in antichrist religion that even the government shall be influenced by their way. They'll think the same way antichrist religion thinks. They'll think the same way. They'll operate on the same principle. Man's rights. You don't have any rights.

So much so that even buying and selling products will be seasoned with their religious salt. In Revelation 13, 8, it says, and all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him whose names are not written in the book of life of the lamb slain from the foundation of the world. And religion has so infiltrated our society that nobody says, have a good day anymore. They say, have a blessed day. Religions, even in the mouths of those who serve in the marketplace, isn't it?

And as the holy comforter himself unveils this frightening reality to John, he gives him this assurance. The lamb slain before the foundation of the world has a book. Has a book. And nobody whose names are written in this registry will worship the beast.

How come? Because God's going to see to it that they don't. That's why he's going to make the difference. He's going to intervene. He's not going to allow you to wander after this world. He's going to call you out of this world. The world will hear its own. That's what John said. If you were of the world, you'd hear your own, but you're not of the world. You're of the Lord and you'll hear him.

Look down at verses 18 of Revelation 13. Here's wisdom, he said, let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast. For it's the number of a man and the number of 600, 3, 4, and 6, 6, 6, 6. That's the number of a man. Well, where is this number?

It's in this beast with all these crowns. It's in government. It's in religion. It's everywhere. Everything that holds authority in this world is influenced by the old dragon. And men, they see it and just wonder at it. They're just lost in wonder at it. The beast is in the heart of man, unregenerate, unbelieving man, lost, ignorant, vulnerable man, left to himself, left to his nature, left to his imagination. No one is spared. No one resists. no one overcomes.

This is our only hope and my only hope for anybody in this world, anybody that I preach. My only hope for you this morning is that God will speak to your heart and point you to Christ. It's not that you join this church or agree to certain doctrines. I'm trying to point you to the Savior. He alone can save. He can save. You don't have to be a theologian to be saved. But I'll tell you this, if he saves you, he's going to teach you the truth.

And you're going to have one mind. Everybody ain't going to be, oh, I don't agree with that. We'll fellowship, but I don't agree with grace. There ain't no fellowship. Fellowship fellers in the same ship. There's only one hope for men, and that's the everlasting purpose of God in Christ who is determined to save a people for the glory of his name, and he's going to do it. He's going to do it.

Now turn with me to my second text in Revelation 20. Revelation 20, I won't read you the whole chapter. You can read that for yourself. But I want you to see here beginning in verse 12. Here's what's going on. Here's the situation. Spirits carried him out, and he's seen things which must shortly come to pass. Shortly with God could be a thousand years, two thousand years. A thousand years like a day with him, and a day like a thousand years. Time has no bearing on God. But the gospel age is drawing to a close. The last gospel message has been preached, and the day of judgment's at hand. Revelation 20, verse 12.

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God. And the books were opened. What's that book? That's the book of men's works, everything that man's ever thought or did, recorded in the mind of God. I don't see God looking at a book, do you? No, he's God. He knows all things. But it's recorded in the mind of God, everything that you ever thought, everything that you ever said, everything that you ever did. And the books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the book of life.

And the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it. And death and hell delivered up the dead which was in them. And they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. Now watch this. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Whatever is written in the Lamb's book of life has to do with all means, all preparation, all provision made for you by the Father before the foundation of the world, including your works. In verses 12 through 15, will serve along with Revelation 13 as my text.

And I don't know for a fact, but just understanding this glorious book, I think I can say that this book of life is symbolic of all God's elect. That's who he's talking about. That's whose names are written here, all that were chosen of God. Israel's names were written symbolically on the breastplate and on the shoulder of the high priest so that he might bear them up before the Lord. And that's where these names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life. But here in Revelation, the revelation of Jesus Christ, it's symbolic of a book.

He talks about a book. We understand. You know, God stoops to talk on our terms. Thank God he don't talk to us in heavenly language. Most of the time, even our common language goes over our head. I can't imagine if he would speak to us in a heavenly language. But he bows down and speaks to us right where we're at, right on our level.

He likens this to a book, a manifest that records what goes on a ship and what's confirmed when it gets to its destination. a manifest. That's what this book is. And the fact that it is a book and the context in which it's being used is going to tell us four things. The book has an author. Is there a book in heaven and who's its author? It has an introduction.

You read a book, in the beginning it tells you what the book is. That's what the old black man said. First of all, he said, God tells you, and then he tells you what he's going to tell you. Then he tells you, and then he tells you what he done told you. And we have an introduction to a book, and then we have its content, and then we have its conclusion.

In Revelation 13, 8, the scripture tells us that it is the book of life of the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world. This is about his life. about his being slain. It's about the lamb. This book was given to him by his father, the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who blessed us with all spiritual blessings. How'd he do that?

Chose us in Christ. Religion has Saint Peter holding a blank book. And men and women, in their professions of faith, coming to the front or whatever it is they do, writing their own name in the book. And then St. Peter waits on them at the gate, and when they come there, he checks his book to make sure they have a reservation.

That's foolishness, isn't it? You listen to them, see if that's not what they're saying. Oh, what imaginary ignorance. men display in their vain ideas about God and heaven and hell. Go to any funeral home during any funeral. Sit there and listen. You'll be amazed.

God saved us, Paul said. Then he called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. And then secondly, this book has an introduction. The introduction tells us that God's going to save a people in Christ.

The woman's seed. That's how he begins his ministry to men. The woman's seed. He's going to crush Satan's head. The introduction tells us what this book is all about. God's going to save a people. It's not a book of chance and circumstance. It's a book of life. It's a book of life. It's not a book of death. It's not death and hell delivered up everything they had in them to God. This book is a book of life. It's about life. That's what we want to know about, isn't it? Turn with me to John chapter 17. The Lamb's Book of Life. We're talking about the introduction. What's this book all about?

His ministry's over. He's about to go to the cross. And he's praying to the Father. This is our high priest, the Lord Jesus Christ. He's praying to his Father. And he said, these words, verse 1, spake Jesus, lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, Father, the hour has come. glorify thy son, that thy son also may glorify thee.

As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God in Jesus Christ, whom thou sent." This book is about provision of life, eternal life. And this life is concerning an intimate knowledge of God. How can God be just and justify the sin? How can that be? How can he be righteous and save us from our sin? How can that be? How can a holy, perfect God have anything to do with a fallen man?

Every name written in this book is a man or a woman chosen of Christ to life eternal. And they shall be drawn to God, taught of God, known and served God. They're going to know Him and He's going to know them. And they're going to live forever with God in heaven. That's what this book tells us. The whole book. This is a book of redemption. That's what the Bible is, a book of redemption. And then thirdly, this book has content. The content of the Book of Life is the gospel of Jesus Christ.

It's the Lamb slain. Everything revolves around the Lamb slain. There'd be no future to man apart from the Lamb slain. That's why it says he was slain before the foundation of the world. And the Book's not only given unto the Lamb, But Revelation 13 tells us that it's about the life of the Lamb slain. His life is a perfect life. His life is our righteousness, His obedience. And His death is the crowning act of His life. He's the Lamb slain. And everything the Lamb has done, is doing, and yet shall do concerns the substitutionary death of the Lamb on the cross. the light that God shined upon the Lamb's work and creation from the beginning.

Creation is about the salvation of God's elect. There's no other reason for creation. Creation is not an experiment. God didn't create the world and then said, well, we'll see what happens. That's what man says. God had a purpose in it. He's going to create a people. These things were made by him and they were made for him and every event and advent, every season, every rotation of the earth as it goes around and the sun that comes up is like the tabernacle where the gospel set forth every day. He causes his sun to come up and shine down on the earth and that light is the light of Christ. There'd be no sun in heaven, is there? No reason for it. Christ is our light. And there'd be no more sea, no beast rising out of the sea. There's not going to be a sea.

And even to this day, he said, the earnest expectation of creation waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. That's whoever was put on that manifest is going to be confirmed at the end when the manifest is written. And that's what this is talking about. That all creation waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

And our great God in heaven has chose to save a people. And so sure is that salvation that he uses the word predestinate. Boy, that makes our minds just lay down in shivers when you use that. Predestinate. What's that mean? God determined to end from the beginning. That's what that means. Where's this man going? God knows. I know. Knows exactly where it's going. He had predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself according to the good pleasure of his will. How do I know that's so? It's written in the book. Written in the book. In this book is not only names written, but the means whereby they should live.

God has from the beginning chosen us to salvation by sanctification of the spirit and belief of the truth. And the spirit of God does not fall upon all men, calling and saving them who are willing. In Romans 8, 14, it said, for as many as are led by the spirit, they are the sons of God. Nobody else is going to be led. God's children will. Thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. I told you. You believe not, because you're not of my sheep. My sheep hear my voice. How come?

Spirit of God. Many of us are led by the Spirit of God. These are the sons of God. His Spirit beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. And Christ redeemed us, as he was sent to do, that we might receive the adoption And because we're sons, he sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father. God our Father was pleased to use the preaching of the gospel to save his elect, and it's the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth. Ministers are made able ministers by the Spirit of God, and believers are sanctified by the Spirit. They're brought to know God, to walk in the Spirit, and they're given One heart and one mind, the mind of Christ. Paul said, you read Romans chapter seven and you'll see the impossibility of salvation apart from Christ. And when he sums it all up, he says, oh wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

I thank God through the Lord Jesus Christ. So then with the mind, what mind? The mind of Christ, I serve the law of God. Well, I tell you, I don't want anything to do with that law apart from Christ, do you? The law condemns. The law judges. By our obedience to the law, no flesh shall be justified before God. But with the mind of Christ, I see that law honored. I see that law kept, honored, raised up where it should be. And Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believes it. The mind of Christ.

They learn through his birth, his life, and his death, and his resurrection who God is. And to know him that way is eternal life. And then every book has a conclusion. Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Everything demanded of God toward the sinner is fulfilled by the Son of God. That's what this book is all about. The work, the way, and the will are all made sure in the book.

John 5.13 says, These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. and that you may believe on the name of the Son of God. That's why I write these things. And here's what's recorded in the book. This is the record that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life, and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. The conclusion is the same as the introduction. In the beginning of this book, the book of Revelation, it says Christ is Alpha and Omega. He's the beginning and the end. He's everything in between.

God demands perfection. Well, first of all, He demands sanctification. We're sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And God demands perfection, and by what offering He has perfected forever them that are sanctified.

It's all in Christ. Every detail of our salvation is made and recorded in God's book of life. And because it's the book of life, it's a book of grace and mercy. And because it's the Lamb's book, it's complete. In Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. You're complete in Him. It's complete. There's nothing left to chance and circumstance.

All that the Father has given me, he said he'll come to me. Why would anybody come to him? Because the Father gave you to him. And he's going to see to it that you come to him. He's going to call you. He's going to teach you. He's going to draw you. You can't help but come. I'm going to say this, and I hope you'll listen.

I got a text several days ago from a lady that lives in the middle of Los Angeles, California. And I thought it was one of those crazies on Facebook or something. And what it was is this young lady would use her cell phone. Her daddy died, and she was very close to her daddy. And she would text messages to this phone number, just kind of pretending in herself to satisfy herself that she was talking to her daddy. She never expected a response. And it was my phone. I inherited his number somehow. Anyway, I answered her text. And I said, who are you? And she said, well, who are you? She said, I'm not expecting a text, and told me what it was all about.

Well, anyway, all of these things worked out in God's providence. And I told her, she asked me a religious question. And I said, well, I preached on this. this past Sunday, Am I a Believer? And told her how to get on there. She got on there and listened to the message. Now, how complex is God's providence, huh?

You couldn't sit down and make something like that up. And I can tell by her answer that she listened to the message and understood it. She's coming to visit somebody in Little Rock in late July and promised to come down and worship with her. Not in a million years could you come up with something like that.

That's what God's probably in. Oh, I'm so pleased that this congregation comes and listens and that God seems to be doing a work in everybody's heart here this morning. It seems to be listening. I hope that's so. But we're being listened to on islands that I can't even pronounce the name of. I get texts from people and calls from people. Who knows? In glory, we may know some effect of the ministry here.

But until that, we know about this book. And this book's going to be saved. And it's going to be saved through the preaching of the gospel, every one of them. All the details, all the means, all the providence, everything dictated in this book. There's nothing left out. Nothing left out. Well, I tell you, that gives me a sure hope, don't you?

Everybody written in this book, they're not going to go after the beast. They're going to go after Christ. They're going to look to him and keep on looking to him. And that number of man no longer written, they have the mind of Christ. That 666 is gone. That's the number of man, the number of the beast. But that's not the number of Christ. It's number seven in perfection. May the Lord help us to understand his words.

The Lamb's Book Of Life

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about the Lamb's Book of Life?

How do we know that God elects people for salvation?

Why is the concept of being chosen by God important for Christians?

Sermon Transcript

About Darvin Pruitt

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The Lamb's Book Of Life

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about the Lamb's Book of Life?

How do we know that God elects people for salvation?

Why is the concept of being chosen by God important for Christians?

Sermon Transcript

About Darvin Pruitt

Comments

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