I was wondering if I could ask the audience?
"Those who do not believe are condemned already."
What?
Well what if things chang next week? Tomorrow? In 10 minutes?
Condemned ALREADY?
Welp that sucks. Might as well head out to rape and pillage.
The only logical reasoning my finite mind can come up with concerning this statement is that He knew who that would be from eternity past. A small hint of his eternal knowledge and existence.
I dunno, just a silly question I guess, but it does have me wondering.
A
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what scripture says He will blot out names from the book of Life??
No not a silly question at all.
Maybe I have not expressed myself well.
Firstly I would say that we have no idea what God is doing in a person's life.
We should never write anyone off, always willing to walk with them and never base that on our thoughts which can easily become biased.
We should always be willing and open to hearing the Holy Spirit guide us and walk in it.
Secondly I believe God knows everything.
Everything from the beginning of time, even before the world was created.
He knows who will come to him and whom won't.
And as I said firstly we don't which is why we should always be willing to walk with others.
For God so loved the world, to me that's everyone.
That whoever believes in him will not perish.
So I believe God knows who will accept him and who will not.
What I don't get or fully understand is "blotting out" (will say a bit more later)
Revelation 13:8
8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Revelation 20:12-15
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
Revelation 21:27
27 But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
Revelation 17:8
8 The beast that you saw was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition. And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
So we have two passages that state 'names not in the book of life'
So for me when the book is opened and a name is not found I ask myself why not.
Blot out
Revelation 3:5
5 He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
3:5 The white garments probably symbolize the Lord’s recognition of godly character and faithful service in this life (v. 4; 6:11; 19:7, 8). White is the color of the garments the redeemed will wear in the Lord’s presence (7:13, 14). The Book of Life is the list of the eternally redeemed (20:12, 15). To not blot out is a figure of speech, affirming a positive by negating its opposite. Thus it means “I will include their names.” Blot out likely alludes to Ex. 32:32, 33, where God says He will blot out sinners, but not faithful ones like Moses, from His Book. Christ will make sure the faithful believer’s name and works are not erased, but remembered and honored. (NKJV study notes)
Revelation 22:19
19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
The above passages are often used to show that a genuine beliver can lose salvation.
Blotted out.
So one minute your in and the next your out (that's my simple surmise of those against ES)
So if that can happen what does it mean for the following?
Ephesians 4:30
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
John 6:39-40
39 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. 40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”
John 10:28-29
28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.
Titus 3:4-5
4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,
1 John 5:4-5
4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
I'm not an expert concerning the book of life.
Not really studied thoroughly.
Yes me theological bent will lead my thoughts and conclusions.
I genuinely do not believe that God blots out a belivers name.
I know I will get some comeback on that statement.
If a person's name is not found in the book when it is opened why not?
Was it in the book in the first place?
If not then it was never written in it to start with.
But I do say and have always said and will always guard against.
"We can't judge who is in and who is not"
We cannot base our theological bent or differences on this.
Jesus is the one who will judge, we can't.
We must always endeavour to walk with otgers, love as Jesus loves.
So if I have come across contrary to that, it was not my intention.
I would never condemn anyone, always willing to walk with anyone.
Bill
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