The Book of Life

TEXT:  Rev. 20:15

INTRODUCTION:

A.      SOME PEOPLE ENGAGE IN "BOOK WORSHIP."

          1.       Some worthwhile - Freedom important.

          2.       Some not good even for kindling( Acts 19:19 ).

B.      MANY BOOKS - SOME GOOD, SOME BAD.

C.      THIS LESSON FOCUSES ON ONE BOOK THAT IS GREATER

          THAN ALL THE WORKS OF MAN - THE BOOK OF LIFE.

I.     WHAT IS THE BOOK OF LIFE?

A.      IT IS NOT THE BIBLE, OR EVEN NEW TESTAMENT.

          1.       The NT is referred to as the law of the Spirit of life ( Rom. 8:2 ).

          2.       It is called the "words of this life"( Acts 5:20 ).

          3.       The words of Jesus, recorded in the NT, shall judge whether or not we shall have

          eternal life ( John 12:48;  6:68 ).

          4.       The NT is found alongside the Book of Life at judgment ( Rev. 20:12, 15 ).

B.      A REGISTER OF NAMES - SUCH ARE COMMON 

          AMONG THE JEWS.

          1.       Gen. 5:1f.  "The book of the generations of Adam."

          2.       Neh. 7:5.  "The book of genealogies."

          3.       Ez. 13:9.  "The writing( register ) of the house of Israel.

          4.       Jesus refers to a list of names recorded in heaven ( Luke 10:20 ).

II.    WHOSE NAMES ARE IN THE BOOK OF LIFE?

A.      THE 70 SENT BY JESUS( Luke 10:20 ).

B.      WORKERS IN THE GOSPEL( Phil. 4:3 ).

C.      THE PEOPLE OF THE LORD( Dan. 12:1 ).

D.      THEY WHO FEAR GOD & THINK ON HIS NAME( Mal. 3:16-17 ).

E.      THE CHURCH OF THE FIRST-BORN( Heb. 12:23 ).

III.   HOW DO WE GET OUR NAMES ENROLLED?

A.      BY BELONGING TO THE CHURCH

          ( Heb.12:23; 1 Cor.12:13; Eph.5:23 ).

B.      BY OBEYING THE GOSPEL:

          1.       Rev. 20:15.  God punishes those who are not written there.

          2.       2 Thes. 1:7-9.  And those who obey not the gospel.

IV.  BUT YOUR NAME CAN BE BLOTTED OUT.

A.      Rev. 3:5.  WHAT IF WE DON'T OVERCOME?

B.      Rev. 22:18-19.  WHEN WE DISREGARD GOD'S WORD.

C.      Ex. 32:33.  SIN WILL BLOT OUT OUR NAMES.

D.      Psa. 69:26-28.  THOSE WHO REJECT THE MESSIAH.

V.   WHAT HAS THIS BOOK TO DO WITH OUR DESTINY?

A.      Rev. 20:15.  LAKERS.

B.      3:5;  21:27.  ENTRANCE INTO THE ETERNAL CITY.

CONCLUSION:  IS MY NAME WRITTEN THERE?

A.      HAVE YOU OBEYED THE GOSPEL?

B.      HAVE YOU BEEN FAITHFUL?

C.      ARE YOU DILIGENTLY AT WORK?