When is your name written in Book of Life?

Pocadots, you have asked one question but actually raised a couple of others. Although I have no scripture to support it, it seems reasonable that a person's name is written in the Book of Life at the time of birth. "Suffer the little children to come unto me, for of such is the kingdom of heaven." Words similar to this are in all three of the synoptics, and it certainly implies that children who die are going to Heaven. But I wonder . . . what is the age of accountability? All Christians seem to subscribe to this concept but it is not mentioned in the Bible. What level of maturity is necessary for a young person to be accountable, and if that young person dies without receiving Christ one day after reaching that age of accountability, will hell be his eternal destiny? If that is the case, shouldn't we encourage our children to make their profession of faith really early, just to be on the safe side? But then if they do this while too young to understand, are they really saved when they reach that age of accountability?

As for your idea that one's name is either left in the Book of Life or blotted out at the time of his death, I disagree. It fits nicely with the concept of eternal security of the believer, but this is a heresy. Witness the parable of the sower of the seeds, the parable of the prodigal son, and Galations 5:4. I submit that God has worn out many erasers by repeatedly writing in and blotting out our names in the Book of Life.

 

Come again?

 

Open Theism?

==Agree with eternal security, or not, the idea that the doctrine is heresy is over the line. Godly men have disagreed on that issue and neither the eternal security or conditional security position can/should be considered heresy.

The Bible does not teach that God erases names from the Lamb's Book of Life. Just like the other promises given to believers in chapters 2 and 3 of Revelation, Revelation 3:5 is a promise to Christians. It is not, in anyway, a threat. It also bears mentioning that, according to Revelation, names were written in the Lamb's Book of Life before the foundation of the world (Rev 13:8, 17:8). This agrees with Paul's assertion in Ephesians 1:3-14. Regardless of how a person understands the doctrine of election, and I am not wishing to get into another discussion on that issue here and now, to say that these names were written in the Lamb's Book of Life before the foundation of the world, yet have to later be erased, raises some serious theological questions. Did God make a mistake by electing that person before the foundation of the world, did He err in writing their names in His Book of Life before the foundation of the world, did God not know they would not endure? In other words the idea that God has to erase names, that He wrote in the Book of Life before the foundation of the world, raises serious questions about the foreknowledge of God (Rom 8:29-30). Again, in this discussion, it does not matter how a person understands "foreknowledge". Either way, to claim that God has to erase names that He wrote in His book before the foundation of the world raises some very serious questions.

I am certain you don't believe in "open theism", which is heresy, but if we take your logic to its logical conclusions we arrive at open theism.

 

Revelation 17:8 answers your question as to when the names were written in the Book of Life.

It said "from the foundation of the world".

While others say that the Bible indicates that names can be written and then blotted out I do not think any names were ever actually blotted out otherwise God will clearly give information on that since He had the Scriptures written for the benefit and information of His people, not mankind.

On the contrary, God says "I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and compassion on whom I will have compassion". That's what He told Moses. Just the same thing as someone saying, "what I have written, I have written".

Also, the Bible clearly says that God does not change. His will is forever.

Therefore, the elect child of God's name is written permanently in the Book of Life, and it was written there before God ever hung the first star in heaven.

This while He knows that when His child is born in time, that child will be born in enmity with Him, therefore Paul says "while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us". And Scripture says, "He loved us before we loved Him".

Now, that, dear friend, is grace in all its absolute purity.

 

Wonderful post pinoybaptist:godisgood:

I thought it was from the beginning too, but couldn't remember the Scripture.:thumbs:

 

Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified [him] not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Rom 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

 

How does the pre-chosen "elect" work?
If you are sure you are one of them, does it pass on to your children and then your grandchildren and then their children and their children and so on. In other words instead of being a "elect" person, is it an "elect" family as long as time lasts?

 

Amen! Isn't it wonderful that we don't have to speculate? God's Word tells us clearly.

peace to youraying:

 

I don't agree but you are entitled to your opinion. Now, back to the question: How do we determine the age of accountability? When is too soon for a profession of faith and when is it overdue?

 

God and the person determines it..
Every person is different.

It is impossible to know.
But when a child realizes that he or she sins.. wrongs God... and can understand that Christ died for their sins... they are at the age of accountability.

 

So, we can know when a child has reached that age, but we cannot know when a child has not yet reached it, right?

 

Bob only posted Scripture, and no personal comments. What don't you agree with...?

 

This Sir, is the question. I honestly don't know how it could be any clearer when we all reached the age of accountability. The best part that I like is that its scripture that tells us when, but if you won't have scripture then I or anyone else can't help you.

 

The biblical evidence points to the fact that our names were written in the Book of Life before the foundation of the world . Revelation 13:8 , 17:8 , and Ephesians 1:3-14 among other passages, were already given by others here . If you choose to disregard the biblical evidence , then shame on you . The OP has nothing to do with the so-called " age of accountability " . And when our names were written in the Lamb's Book Of Life has nothing to do with when we were saved .

This thread can be reduced to just 2 posts by Martin and Pinoybaptist -- posts #4 and #5 respectively . They explained it most cogently .

 

Really? We are all born saved?

"Before the foundation of the world" means before time. Since there is no such thing as "before time" to an omintemporal / atemporal God, ...as before is a time statement in itself, ...our names were written in the book of life outside of time at some point, with a certain point within time being the catalyst and defining moment.

 

No , we were not born saved . That's a silly inference . We are saved in time . We were elected ( to accommodate out human conception ) before the foundation of the world . It's biblical terminology . So don't argue with me about it . Take it up with the Lord .

 

We have another one, folks. "If you argue with me you argue with God." Man, God's personal spokespersons are multiplying here on the BB...

Unfortunately, "biblical terminology" doesn't support your usage of the word "elected".

 

Do you understand relativity and spacetime? According to relativity, time and space are interrelated. God Who created spacetime and energymatter transcends His creation. By transcending space, matter, and energy, God, by definition, transcends time as well.

Before the foundation of the world (which would be before spacetime was created) would logically imply "before" the act of Creation. No one is arguing that "before the foundation of the world" implies a God Who is/was bound by spacetime. However, the clear wording of the phrase intends a preemptive act of God to scribe names in His Book of Life. This act happened "before" you were born, and "before" the Creation. It is the cause of your faith, not the effect.