Featured Rapture - I would be afraid not to believe in one

How you think it is so. I love what is in the book of Hebrews. I assume you do too. Maybe not for all the same reasons.

 

Question: How does a Will function? Are the names written in the will before or after the person who writes the will dies?

 

It is my understanding before. There are three books where it is mentioned about names being removed. There are disagreements on those three book references. The only one that counts is third reference, Revelation 3:5.

 

Indeed, it is before. Since this is true, and the New Covenant is the Will of Jesus and it was established at his death, therefore the names in the Will were already written in the Will. (Hebrews 9)

 

Pure speculation. Hebrews 9 says nothing regarding names being written. Jeremiah 31:31-34, Hebrews 8:8-13, Hebrews 9:1-28, Hebrews 10:1-39, . . .

 

It's not speculation.
The New Covenant is a Will that is in effect for the children who receive their inheritance.
37, how can we receive an inheritance if we are not God's children?
God doesn't discipline illegitimate children let alone give them an inheritance.

At some point you will have to acknowledge God has written the names of those who inherit the kingdom from before the foundation of the world.

 

Baptism and the Lord's supper ARE new covenant ordinances. Whether they are works or not is irrelevant although I agree they are. They are works to be kept by a redeemed people who can bring forth fruit of the spirit. The ordinances were given to the church because an individual has NO authority to observe them on their own. Churches are to be governed by the New Covenant teachings of Christ. Christ's words and teachings are the New Covenant. A church member may be carnal and think they have been born again. Whether they have had a new birth or not, they are still governed by the New Covenant given to a scriptural church. The New Covenant governs all the members of the body whether they are carnal or spiritual. Church discipline is a new covenant teaching revealed in Matthew 18:15-17

Ephesians 3:10 says, "that it might be known BY THE CHURCH the manifold wisdom of God. The scriptural church is the new covenant kingdom of God where that wisdom is manifested that it might bring forth fruit guided by the new covenant of Christ and the Holy Spirit. It is,THAT nation, because an individual cannot be a nation and observe the new covenant ordinances. Did not Christ himself, who gave us the new covenant, promise to build his CHURCH (Mt 16:18) and direct it/teach it (Eph 3:10) by the Holy Spirit. He also says in John 15:15, "...for all things I have heard of my father, I have made know unto you." He was talking to the members of the church he was forming/teaching that it might bring forth fruit unto righteousness". As matter of fact, the promise of the New Covenant is a promise to lead/guide his people in that he says, they (Ephesians 3:10) shall all know me from the least of them unto the greatest. The scriptural church is that nation. (1 Peter 2:5-9)

 

You are not acknowledging the fact that names as such are not directly mentioned in Hebrews until Hebrews 11. Wasn't in Hebrews 9. Which had to do with the Jeremiah promise of the Covenant itself. Jeremiah 31:31-34, Hebrews 8:8-13, Hebrews 9:1-28.

 

According to men. They do not make anyone to be part in the New Covenant.

 

You are desperately trying to avoid the fact that the inheritors of the will are written in the will.
Therefore, since the Covenant is a Will, this means that the names were already written down regarding those who inherit the salvation of God.

 

Christ asked the Pharisees and I will ask you, the baptism of John, was it from heaven or of men? (Matt 21:25)
Christ himself instituted the Lord's super. Was it from heaven or of men?

 

They are instituted by God. That institution is for remembrance, just as the Passover was instituted for remembrance.
To add salvation to participation in the sacraments would be a false teaching that neither Jesus nor his Apostles ever taught.

 

The saved have their names written in the book of life. This is not at issue. The why and when are all matters of interpertation.

 

https://www.baptistdistinctives.org/resources/articles/two-ordinances-baptism-and-the-lords-supper/

 

They are in the Will (Covenant) from before the foundation of the world. This is biblically supported.

It seems you are desperately looking for a way to get out of this truth.

 

Maybe not in the way you suppose. Only as why and how God having had choose per Ephesians 1:4, ". . . According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, . . ."

 

How do I suppose?
Your verse supports my assertion.

 

It supports my understanding too. We both, in some degree, agree in what it says. In where it does does not say, is where we do not agree. The simple truth being God is fully omniscient.

 

You cannot find anywhere in my posts where I said baptism or the Lord's supper saves. They are both covenant ordinances therefore a command for the redeemed of God, already made alive, to perform/keep

Ezekiel 36:27 gives the order of the steps.

1. And I will put my spirit within you (made alive)
2. and CAUSE you to walk in my statutes (Eph 2:10) (because I have made you alive)
3. and ye SHALL (not a option) keep my judgments and DO them (Jer 11:6...HEAR ye the words of this covenant and DO them}

Who can hear and do without first being made alive?
He who hath and ear, let him hear what the spirit (Step 1) saith unto the churches.

If instituted by God as you rightly say, then a command, as real as Matt 28:19-20. Or is Christ's command of the great commission optional and for remembrance only.

The whole new covenant is for using to bring to remembrance the work of Christ for his people but he had them literally perform them. (...DO this. Luke 13:34) (Eph 2:10)

Keeping the ordinances is also part of loving God and thy neighbor as thyself