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Wayne Boyd

Book of Life

Revelation 13:8
Wayne Boyd • May, 21 2026 • Video & Audio
1,692 Sermons
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Wayne Boyd
Wayne Boyd • May, 21 2026
1,692 sermons
Revelation 13:8 reveals the profound truth of God's eternal election and redemptive grace, anchoring the believer's hope in the unchanging sovereignty of God. The passage affirms that the names of God's people were written in the Lamb's Book of Life before the foundation of the world, securing their eternal salvation through Christ's sacrifice, which was planned and accomplished in eternity. This divine foreknowledge and purpose assure believers of their eternal security, not based on human effort or faithfulness, but on the finished work of Christ, the Lamb slain from the beginning. Amidst the pervasive darkness of apostasy and the worship of false gods, this truth stands as a beacon of comfort and assurance, reminding the faithful that God will preserve His remnant to the end. The sermon emphasizes that God's grace, not human merit, is the foundation of salvation, and that the blood of Christ guarantees the final triumph of the elect over sin, death, and the enemy.

In this sermon titled "Book of Life," Wayne Boyd addresses the doctrine of eternal election and redemption as articulated in Revelation 13:8. He argues that the names of God's elect are written in the Book of Life before the foundation of the world, underscoring the Reformed belief in unconditional election. This doctrinal concept is supported by Scripture, particularly the assertion that the Lamb was slain before time began, which provides assurance of salvation and eternal security for believers. Boyd emphasizes that this election is not based on human choice but solely on God's grace, thereby highlighting the significance of divine sovereignty in salvation, even amid the present darkness of apostasy in the church.

Key Quotes

“God has a book called the Book of Life. This speaks of God's eternal election and grace.”

“Their names are written in that book before we ever were.”

“Because of God's eternal election, because of God's eternal redemption, we have eternal security in God.”

“If even one believing saint should fail to attain heavenly glory, the purpose and grace of God would fall to the ground defeated.”

What does the Bible say about the Book of Life?

The Book of Life is a record of God's elect, whose names are written from before the foundation of the world.

The Book of Life, as referred to in Revelation 13:8, is a divine record that lists the names of God's elect, emphasizing God's eternal election and grace. This book was established before the foundation of the world, countering popular beliefs that names are added based on individual choices. Instead, it assures us that those destined to be saved were chosen by God long before they ever existed, affirming the sovereignty of God's grace in the salvation process.

Revelation 13:8, Ephesians 1:4-5

How do we know God's election is true?

God's election is affirmed by Scripture, particularly in Romans 11:5, which states there will always be a remnant according to the election of grace.

The doctrine of election is a crucial tenet in Reformed theology and is grounded in Scripture. Romans 11:5 clearly states that there will always be a remnant according to the election of grace, demonstrating God's sovereignty in choosing His people. This truth tells us that salvation is not based on human decisions but on God's predetermined plan. Hence, resisting the doctrine of election means arguing against God's own revelation in Scripture, emphasizing that without God's choosing, humanity would have no hope.

Romans 11:5

Why is eternal security important for Christians?

Eternal security assures believers that those whose names are written in the Book of Life cannot perish.

Eternal security is a vital aspect of Reformed theology, rooted in the belief that those whose names are recorded in the Lamb's Book of Life are assured of salvation. This security is not based on individual works but on the unchanging grace and sovereignty of God, affirming that Christ's redemptive work secures the eternal fate of His people. If even one believer could be lost, it would undermine the entirety of God's purpose and grace, challenging the efficacy of Christ's sacrifice. However, because our salvation rests solely in Christ, we are confident that we will persevere until the end.

Revelation 21:27, Romans 8:38-39

Sermon Transcript

Auto-generated transcript • May contain errors

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Open your Bible, if you would, to the book of Revelation, chapter 13. Revelation chapter 13, we'll be looking at one verse. One verse in chapter 13. Chapter 13 starts off with a lot of woe and a lot of despair and darkness, and it ends with that too.

But right in the middle, is this beautiful verse, this wondrous verse, which brings great joy to the people of God. It's going to be Revelation chapter 13, verse 8. One verse here, and we're going to see this verse speaks of Christ, speaks of the Lord Jesus Christ. It's a very reassuring verse, and John reminds us again amidst visions of darkness and woe, this verse is found in this chapter. And it's a verse that brings great joy to God's people. It's comforting. It's assuring to we who are the Lord's people. And it will bring us joy, I believe, because these soul-cheering truths are taught throughout the Word of God.

And they're brought forth here in this one little verse Revelation chapter 13 verse 8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him whose names are not written in the book of life So they worship the Antichrist their worship a false God Whose names are not written in the book of life and of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Now take note, the first cause of joy for we who are God's people that's set before us here is God has a book called the Book of Life. My, and this speaks of God's eternal election and grace. Our text speaks of the book of life. And those whose names are written in it were written in it before the foundation of the world. Now, some folks will tell you, well, the moment you choose Jesus, God writes your name in the book of life.

That's a lie. Because we see here, whose names are not written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. This book was written in eternity, outside of time and space, with indelible ink. It can't be erased. No one's name can be blotted out of the Book of Life, whose name's already in there.

Isn't that wonderful? And here we're assured that God has a book. God has a book with the names of all his people written in it. Isn't that wonderful? It's called the Book of Life. It's actually called, too, the Lamb's Book of Life. Oh, is it wonderful? All that God chose in Christ before the foundation of the world, their names are written in that book. Remember, Brother Henry Mahan said, written with the blood of Christ. Oh my. My oh my. And the elect's name are registered. Isn't that amazing?

We being registered in the Lamb's Book of Life from before the foundation of the world. That means before we ever were. Before we were ever born. So, this Writing down our names in the Lamb's Book of Life has nothing to do with us. God didn't look down through time and say that we choose them. It's not about that. It was written before we ever were.

In Christ, it's the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. That's amazing. We see here it's called the Lamb's Book of Life in Revelation 21-27. It's also mentioned there. But it's here before us to remind us that as long as the world stands, there be a remnant according to the election of God's grace. God will always have a remnant, no matter what. No matter what. Look how little faith we see now. Look how little of the true preaching of the gospel of God's grace How little there is. People are entertained by churches. The pastors are like clowns. People say, well, that's awful harsh. Well, Paul said, I'm determined to preach Christ and Him crucified, that's it.

And God said in Romans 11 5 that there will always be a remnant according to the election of grace. Now people say, well, I don't like that word election. I don't like that doctrine. Well, then you're arguing with God. Because that's a statement from God's word in Romans 11 5. There will always be a remnant according to the election of grace. And that's God's grace.

And as I heard Brother DJ Ward say again this week, God hadn't chose some, heaven would have none. Is that right? That's right, isn't it? Because there's none that seeketh after God, there's none that understandeth, there's none good, no not one, and there's none righteous. My, we need a savior. Everyone listening to this message needs a savior. Right? Oh yeah.

And what we see here is even in the darkest days of apostasy, and we're gonna see it's gonna wax worse, it already has, but even in the darkest day of apostasy, though the world is engulfed in the religion of Antichrist, which is will worship, that's what Gil thought, that's what Calvin thought, that's what Spurgeon thought, that Antichrist is a spirit, it's the spirit that exalts men and puts God down here. No, we exalt God and put man in his rightful place in the dust. We're in desperate need of God. He doesn't need any of us. My, oh my. So when the world has gone after false Christ, which we see all around us, that God still hasn't elect people.

He will always have a remnant, according to the election of grace, right to the very end. And those people cannot and will not perish with the world. They're in God's grip. Their names are written in the Lamb's book of life from eternity. And they cannot perish. They'll die here physically, but they will be in glory forever. God will not lose one of them. God's eternal election of a people, according to God's grace, secures his people from the delusion of false religion. Why don't we get caught up in false religion? Because God protects us and keeps us from it. Why does he wake us up to the fact that we were in false religion at one time? Because we're his people. And that's all according to his grace and mercy. Let's read verse eight again of Revelation 13.

And all that dwell on 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. Now note what joy we see here. Oh my, the text here speaks of an eternal redemption. Christ being the lamb slain from the foundation of the world. So before there was ever a sinner, God had a savior. The word of God. Remember God said to our king, a body I prepared for you. Yeah, he's the seed of the woman, isn't he? God prepared a body for him. And he's God in the flesh. He was fully man and fully God. He's the Messiah sent to save his people from their sins.

That was his one mission. I'll tell you what, you can boil that mission all down to one. Two things. He lived the perfect life for us, but the most important, right? Scripture says he came to save us from our sins and he did it by the shedding of his precious blood. Isn't that wonderful?

So we see here that our text speaks of an eternal redemption. an eternal redemption of God's elect as John describes our Savior as the lamb slain from the foundation of the world. So in doing so, John is telling us by inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God that redemption was virtually accomplished for God's elect before the world began. As it is in the mind and purpose of God, Christ was slain before the world was made. Christ was a lamb from before the foundation of the world and that which was planned and purposed was put into motion when God created time and space, right? In order for Christ to come into this world and to redeem us by dying in our room and place to purchase our eternal souls. Had it not been for, think of this, had it not been for the eternal accomplished accomplishment of redemption in Christ being the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world in the covenant of grace. Now that all occurred in the covenant of grace, right? Between the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Had that not been planned and purposed and accomplished before the world began, God would have immediately destroyed the race as soon as Adam fell. But that wasn't part of his plan, was it? And he'd be just in doing that, wouldn't he? But that wasn't part of his plan.

His son must come into this world and save his people from their sins. So what do we see here? What benevolence, what longsuffering God has with his people, with men in general, and women in general. And this is all a result of his eternal grace, beloved, toward his elect. And think how much God tolerates reprobate man upon this earth. You know why? For the sake of his elect. For the sake of his elect. For whom the lamb was slain from before the foundation of the world. God's people will be saved. They have been 2,000 years ago. They must be born again. And they will be born again. Because they were saved 2,000 years ago.

My. What security this brings God's elect. Now let's look at this again. Let's read verse 8 again. 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. Here's a third joy. Last joy. The third last joy coming from this verse. God's election in his redemption, his eternal election, and we see the eternal redemption that we have in Christ assures us of eternal security in God.

You see how they all hinge together? They just go right together, don't they? And they lock in. So because of God's eternal election, because of God's eternal redemption, we have eternal security in God, in Christ. Those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life, for whom the Lamb was slain, cannot perish. They cannot perish. Because this redemption, this eternal redemption, assures us of eternal security, which is only in Christ. It's not based upon us. It's based upon Christ. And think of this.

Those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life, for whom the Lamb was slain, cannot perish because they've been redeemed, they've been saved from their sins by God Himself. By God Himself. If even one believing saint should fail to attain heavenly glory with Christ, the purpose and grace of God would fall to the ground defeated. The blood of Christ would mean nothing if God could lose one of his sheep, and the glory of God would be gone, and his honor would be disgraced.

But praise be to God. Our God is God. Our God is God. We have been redeemed by God himself, beloved. The Messiah. The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. The Lord Jesus Christ, beloved. And we've been saved by his blood and righteousness. And we've been saved from our sins. All of them. Oh my. They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, by the word of their testimony. Who do we testify about? The Lord Jesus Christ. And we overcome the enemy and everybody else in this world by the blood of the Lamb, by Christ, by looking to Him, in Him alone. Hallelujah to the Savior. Hallelujah to the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen and amen.
Wayne Boyd
About Wayne Boyd
Wayne Boyd is the current pastor of First Baptist Church in Almont, Michigan.
Broadcaster:
First Baptist Church
Theology:
#Election #Predestination #Grace
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