When is our name written in the book of life?

[MoreCoffee]

I read all the passages. My question remains the same. The problem is not the Bible passages. The problem is your attempt to live under the law rather than grace.
Will you acknowledge that God's judgment of us will not be based upon the law, but instead will be based solely upon Christ's propitiatiary atonement for the elect?

Here is what Jesus said the judgement is based on. Make of it what you will. If it seems good to you to call it "old covenant" and "under the law" that is fine with me. I am not willing to spend time on several obvious errors in history, logic, and theology that are implicit in your question.

Matthew 25:31 When the Son of Man comes in his glory with all his angels, he will sit on the throne of his glory. 32 All the nations will be brought before him; and, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33 so will he do with them, placing the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left. 34 The king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, blessed of my Father! Take possession of the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. 36 I was a stranger, and you welcomed me into your home. I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you visited me. I was in prison, and you came to see me.’ 37 Then the righteous will ask him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, and give you food; thirsty, and give you something to drink; 38 or a stranger, and welcome you; or naked, and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick, or in prison, and go to see you?’ 40 The king will answer, ‘Truly I say to you: just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did it to me.’ 41 Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Go, cursed people, out of my sight, into the eternal fire, which has been prepared for the devil and his angels! 42 For I was hungry, and you did not give me anything to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me nothing to drink; 43 I was a stranger, and you did not welcome me into your house; I was naked, and you did not clothe me; I was sick, and in prison, and you did not visit me.’ 44 They, too, will ask, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, thirsty, naked or a stranger, sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ 45 The king will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you: just as you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for me.’ 46 And these will go into eternal punishment; but the just, to eternal life.”​

Hebrews 6:1-8, Revelation 22:19, 1John 5:16-17 teach that loss of life in Christ is possible for Christians. No theological system invented by men can make those passages teach something else, not without distorting them by twisting them around until they fit into the theological box that was invented by men to make them neat and tidy within a wholly human system of beliefs utterly foreign to Christ's teaching.

 

[RichWh1]

Here is what Jesus said the judgement is based on. Make of it what you will. If it seems good to you to call it "old covenant" and "under the law" that is fine with me. I am not willing to spend time on several obvious errors in history, logic, and theology that are implicit in your question.

Matthew 25:31 When the Son of Man comes in his glory with all his angels, he will sit on the throne of his glory. 32 All the nations will be brought before him; and, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33 so will he do with them, placing the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left. 34 The king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, blessed of my Father! Take possession of the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. 36 I was a stranger, and you welcomed me into your home. I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you visited me. I was in prison, and you came to see me.’ 37 Then the righteous will ask him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, and give you food; thirsty, and give you something to drink; 38 or a stranger, and welcome you; or naked, and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick, or in prison, and go to see you?’ 40 The king will answer, ‘Truly I say to you: just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did it to me.’ 41 Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Go, cursed people, out of my sight, into the eternal fire, which has been prepared for the devil and his angels! 42 For I was hungry, and you did not give me anything to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me nothing to drink; 43 I was a stranger, and you did not welcome me into your house; I was naked, and you did not clothe me; I was sick, and in prison, and you did not visit me.’ 44 They, too, will ask, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, thirsty, naked or a stranger, sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ 45 The king will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you: just as you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for me.’ 46 And these will go into eternal punishment; but the just, to eternal life.”​

Hebrews 6:1-8, Revelation 22:19, 1John 5:16-17 teach that loss of life in Christ is possible for Christians. No theological system invented by men can make those passages teach something else, not without distorting them by twisting them around until they fit into the theological box that was invented by men to make them neat and tidy within a wholly human system of beliefs utterly foreign to Christ's teaching.

The works we do are those that God gave each of us when we became born again. Ephesians 2:10 tells us that works exist so Matthew 25 is dealing with what we have done for others.
Or what we could have done and did not.

When Jesus separates the world He is separating believers from unbelievers.
The judgment will be based on what we did with the gifts God has given us.

All will be judged according to their works, the believer will be rewarded for his work and the unjust will be condemned by his works.

The difference between a believer and unbeliever is the believer has a defense attorney pleading not guilty whereas the unbeliever has no one defending him.

 

[MoreCoffee]

The works we do are those that God gave each of us when we became born again. Ephesians 2:10 tells us that works exist so Matthew 25 is dealing with what we have done for others.
Or what we could have done and did not.

When Jesus separates the world He is separating believers from unbelievers.
The judgment will be based on what we did with the gifts God has given us.

All will be judged according to their works, the believer will be rewarded for his work and the unjust will be condemned by his works.

The difference between a believer and unbeliever is the believer has a defense attorney pleading not guilty whereas the unbeliever has no one defending him.

I can read Matthew 25 and just let it say what it says without inventing some complex theology to make it say what some theology demands. The explanation in your post is just complicated human invention. Man made traditions imposed on what is written in the holy scriptures. Why not let Jesus say what he says and mean it?

Matthew 25:31 When the Son of Man comes in his glory with all his angels, he will sit on the throne of his glory. 32 All the nations will be brought before him; and, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33 so will he do with them, placing the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left. 34 The king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, blessed of my Father! Take possession of the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. 36 I was a stranger, and you welcomed me into your home. I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you visited me. I was in prison, and you came to see me.’ 37 Then the righteous will ask him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, and give you food; thirsty, and give you something to drink; 38 or a stranger, and welcome you; or naked, and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick, or in prison, and go to see you?’ 40 The king will answer, ‘Truly I say to you: just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did it to me.’ 41 Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Go, cursed people, out of my sight, into the eternal fire, which has been prepared for the devil and his angels! 42 For I was hungry, and you did not give me anything to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me nothing to drink; 43 I was a stranger, and you did not welcome me into your house; I was naked, and you did not clothe me; I was sick, and in prison, and you did not visit me.’ 44 They, too, will ask, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, thirsty, naked or a stranger, sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ 45 The king will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you: just as you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for me.’ 46 And these will go into eternal punishment; but the just, to eternal life.”

The Lord divides and judges. The ones he condemns call him Lord. So do the ones he rewards.

 

[MennoSota]

Hebrews 6:1-8, Revelation 22:19, 1John 5:16-17 teach that loss of life in Christ is possible for Christians.

No, they don't. You teach that humans God adopts by no merit of their own can unmerit their adoption papers and be considered prodigal sons that the Father never receives back.

 

[MennoSota]

Romans 8:29-31
[29]For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
[30]And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.
[31]What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?

 

[MennoSota]

2 Corinthians 3:15-18
[15]Yes, even today when they read Moses’ writings, their hearts are covered with that veil, and they do not understand.
[16]But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
[17]For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
[18]So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

 

[MennoSota]

John 6:63-71
[63]The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
[64]But some of you do not believe me.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning which ones didn’t believe, and he knew who would betray him.)
[65]Then he said, “That is why I said that people can’t come to me unless the Father gives them to me.”
[66]At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him.
[67]Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?”
[68]Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life.
[69]We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.”
[70]Then Jesus said, “I chose the twelve of you, but one is a devil.”
[71]He was speaking of Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, one of the Twelve, who would later betray him.

 

[MennoSota]

Romans 11:25-36
[25]I want you to understand this mystery, dear brothers and sisters, so that you will not feel proud about yourselves. Some of the people of Israel have hard hearts, but this will last only until the full number of Gentiles comes to Christ.
[26]And so all Israel will be saved. As the Scriptures say, “The one who rescues will come from Jerusalem, *** and he will turn Israel away from ungodliness.
[27]And this is my covenant with them, *** that I will take away their sins.”
[28]Many of the people of Israel are now enemies of the Good News, and this benefits you Gentiles. Yet they are still the people he loves because he chose their ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
[29]For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn.
[30]Once, you Gentiles were rebels against God, but when the people of Israel rebelled against him, God was merciful to you instead.
[31]Now they are the rebels, and God’s mercy has come to you so that they, too, will share in God’s mercy.
[32]For God has imprisoned everyone in disobedience so he could have mercy on everyone.
[33]Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!
[34]For who can know the lord’s thoughts? *** Who knows enough to give him advice?
[35]And who has given him so much *** that he needs to pay it back?
[36]For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.

 

[MennoSota]

John 10:1-18,25-30
[1]“I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber!
[2]But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.
[3]The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
[4]After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice.
[5]They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.”
[6]Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn’t understand what he meant,
[7]so he explained it to them: “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep.
[8]All who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them.
[9]Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures.
[10]The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
[11]“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.
[12]A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don’t belong to him and he isn’t their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock.
[13]The hired hand runs away because he’s working only for the money and doesn’t really care about the sheep.
[14]“I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me,
[15]just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep.
[16]I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd.
[17]“The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again.
[18]No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.”
[25]Jesus replied, “I have already told you, and you don’t believe me. The proof is the work I do in my Father’s name.
[26]But you don’t believe me because you are not my sheep.
[27]My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
[28]I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me,
[29]for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand.
[30]The Father and I are one.”

 

[MennoSota]

Habakkuk 3:2-19
[2]I have heard all about you, lord. *** I am filled with awe by your amazing works. In this time of our deep need, *** help us again as you did in years gone by. And in your anger, *** remember your mercy.
[3]I see God moving across the deserts from Edom, *** the Holy One coming from Mount Paran. His brilliant splendor fills the heavens, *** and the earth is filled with his praise.
[4]His coming is as brilliant as the sunrise. *** Rays of light flash from his hands, *** where his awesome power is hidden.
[5]Pestilence marches before him; *** plague follows close behind.
[6]When he stops, the earth shakes. *** When he looks, the nations tremble. He shatters the everlasting mountains *** and levels the eternal hills. *** He is the Eternal One!
[7]I see the people of Cushan in distress, *** and the nation of Midian trembling in terror.
[8]Was it in anger, lord, that you struck the rivers *** and parted the sea? Were you displeased with them? *** No, you were sending your chariots of salvation!
[9]You brandished your bow *** and your quiver of arrows. *** You split open the earth with flowing rivers.
[10]The mountains watched and trembled. *** Onward swept the raging waters. The mighty deep cried out, *** lifting its hands in submission.
[11]The sun and moon stood still in the sky *** as your brilliant arrows flew *** and your glittering spear flashed.
[12]You marched across the land in anger *** and trampled the nations in your fury.
[13]You went out to rescue your chosen people, *** to save your anointed ones. You crushed the heads of the wicked *** and stripped their bones from head to toe.
[14]With his own weapons, *** you destroyed the chief of those who rushed out like a whirlwind, *** thinking Israel would be easy prey.
[15]You trampled the sea with your horses, *** and the mighty waters piled high.
[16]I trembled inside when I heard this; *** my lips quivered with fear. My legs gave way beneath me, *** and I shook in terror. I will wait quietly for the coming day *** when disaster will strike the people who invade us.
[17]Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, *** and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, *** and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, *** and the cattle barns are empty,
[18]yet I will rejoice in the lord! *** I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!
[19]The Sovereign lord is my strength! *** He makes me as surefooted as a deer, *** able to tread upon the heights.

 

[MennoSota]

Isaiah 41:8-10
[8]“But as for you, Israel my servant, *** Jacob my chosen one, *** descended from Abraham my friend,
[9]I have called you back from the ends of the earth, *** saying, ‘You are my servant.’ For I have chosen you *** and will not throw you away.
[10]Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. *** Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. *** I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

 

[atpollard]

I can read Matthew 25 and just let it say what it says without inventing some complex theology to make it say what some theology demands. The explanation in your post is just complicated human invention. Man made traditions imposed on what is written in the holy scriptures. Why not let Jesus say what he says and mean it?

Matthew 25:31 When the Son of Man comes in his glory with all his angels, he will sit on the throne of his glory. 32 All the nations will be brought before him; and, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33 so will he do with them, placing the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left. 34 The king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, blessed of my Father! Take possession of the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. 36 I was a stranger, and you welcomed me into your home. I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you visited me. I was in prison, and you came to see me.’ 37 Then the righteous will ask him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, and give you food; thirsty, and give you something to drink; 38 or a stranger, and welcome you; or naked, and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick, or in prison, and go to see you?’ 40 The king will answer, ‘Truly I say to you: just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did it to me.’ 41 Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Go, cursed people, out of my sight, into the eternal fire, which has been prepared for the devil and his angels! 42 For I was hungry, and you did not give me anything to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me nothing to drink; 43 I was a stranger, and you did not welcome me into your house; I was naked, and you did not clothe me; I was sick, and in prison, and you did not visit me.’ 44 They, too, will ask, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, thirsty, naked or a stranger, sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ 45 The king will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you: just as you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for me.’ 46 And these will go into eternal punishment; but the just, to eternal life.”

The Lord divides and judges. The ones he condemns call him Lord. So do the ones he rewards.

So one need not believe in Christ to be saved, one need only do good works?
That is the message of those verses taken without the rest of scripture, isn’t it.

 

[MoreCoffee]

So one need not believe in Christ to be saved, one need only do good works?
That is the message of those verses taken without the rest of scripture, isn’t it.

Whose bible, whose canonical holy scriptures, has this passage alone? None that I know of. Who teaches that this passage alone is to be read? No one I know of. So what is the point of your question? Is it not obvious that what Jesus says is true? If so then why ask that we take these words alone when Jesus spoke more than this? Nevertheless Jesus did speak this and why make what he said into a maze of theological intricacies when reading it as it stands gives a vinaigrette of the last judgement of the just and the unjust?

The theme of this thread is "when is one's name written in the book of life?" and part of giving an answer to that is the connected question "can a name be erased from the book of life?" seemingly so, seemingly the holy scriptures in both testaments depicts names being removed, blotted out, erased. One's name in the book appears to be nuanced in ways that the thread's title invokes indirectly.

 

[RichWh1]

I can read Matthew 25 and just let it say what it says without inventing some complex theology to make it say what some theology demands. The explanation in your post is just complicated human invention. Man made traditions imposed on what is written in the holy scriptures. Why not let Jesus say what he says and mean it?

Matthew 25:31 When the Son of Man comes in his glory with all his angels, he will sit on the throne of his glory. 32 All the nations will be brought before him; and, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33 so will he do with them, placing the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left. 34 The king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, blessed of my Father! Take possession of the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. 36 I was a stranger, and you welcomed me into your home. I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you visited me. I was in prison, and you came to see me.’ 37 Then the righteous will ask him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, and give you food; thirsty, and give you something to drink; 38 or a stranger, and welcome you; or naked, and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick, or in prison, and go to see you?’ 40 The king will answer, ‘Truly I say to you: just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did it to me.’ 41 Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Go, cursed people, out of my sight, into the eternal fire, which has been prepared for the devil and his angels! 42 For I was hungry, and you did not give me anything to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me nothing to drink; 43 I was a stranger, and you did not welcome me into your house; I was naked, and you did not clothe me; I was sick, and in prison, and you did not visit me.’ 44 They, too, will ask, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, thirsty, naked or a stranger, sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ 45 The king will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you: just as you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for me.’ 46 And these will go into eternal punishment; but the just, to eternal life.”

The Lord divides and judges. The ones he condemns call him Lord. So do the ones he rewards.

You need to compare Scripture with Scripture and not use just one verse to establish or try understanding a doctrine.
Matthew 25 alone doesn't tell us everything. That's just one part of it.

 

[MoreCoffee]

You need to compare Scripture with Scripture and not use just one verse

It isn't one verse. It is this:

Matthew 25:31 When the Son of Man comes in his glory with all his angels, he will sit on the throne of his glory. 32 All the nations will be brought before him; and, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33 so will he do with them, placing the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left. 34 The king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, blessed of my Father! Take possession of the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. 36 I was a stranger, and you welcomed me into your home. I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you visited me. I was in prison, and you came to see me.’ 37 Then the righteous will ask him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, and give you food; thirsty, and give you something to drink; 38 or a stranger, and welcome you; or naked, and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick, or in prison, and go to see you?’ 40 The king will answer, ‘Truly I say to you: just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did it to me.’ 41 Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Go, cursed people, out of my sight, into the eternal fire, which has been prepared for the devil and his angels! 42 For I was hungry, and you did not give me anything to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me nothing to drink; 43 I was a stranger, and you did not welcome me into your house; I was naked, and you did not clothe me; I was sick, and in prison, and you did not visit me.’ 44 They, too, will ask, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, thirsty, naked or a stranger, sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ 45 The king will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you: just as you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for me.’ 46 And these will go into eternal punishment; but the just, to eternal life.”​

which is a whole lot more than one verse.

to establish or try understanding a doctrine.

I do not use holy scripture to "try understanding a doctrine" I read holy scripture with reverence to learn what God says to me. From the holy scriptures I learn to speak well of God.

Matthew 25 alone doesn't tell us everything. That's just one part of it.

That is true, Matthew 25 tells us what Jesus said of the last judgement and he said other things about judgement and other matters in other passages.

 

[RichWh1]

It isn't one verse. It is this:

Matthew 25:31 When the Son of Man comes in his glory with all his angels, he will sit on the throne of his glory. 32 All the nations will be brought before him; and, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33 so will he do with them, placing the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left. 34 The king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, blessed of my Father! Take possession of the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. 36 I was a stranger, and you welcomed me into your home. I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you visited me. I was in prison, and you came to see me.’ 37 Then the righteous will ask him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, and give you food; thirsty, and give you something to drink; 38 or a stranger, and welcome you; or naked, and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick, or in prison, and go to see you?’ 40 The king will answer, ‘Truly I say to you: just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did it to me.’ 41 Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Go, cursed people, out of my sight, into the eternal fire, which has been prepared for the devil and his angels! 42 For I was hungry, and you did not give me anything to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me nothing to drink; 43 I was a stranger, and you did not welcome me into your house; I was naked, and you did not clothe me; I was sick, and in prison, and you did not visit me.’ 44 They, too, will ask, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, thirsty, naked or a stranger, sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ 45 The king will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you: just as you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for me.’ 46 And these will go into eternal punishment; but the just, to eternal life.”​

which is a whole lot more than one verse.I do not use holy scripture to "try understanding a doctrine" I read holy scripture with reverence to learn what God says to me. From the holy scriptures I learn to speak well of God.That is true, Matthew 25 tells us what Jesus said of the last judgement and he said other things about judgement and other matters in other passages.

Believe it or not the Bible is a tool that should be used as one. In seminary it is a textbook, not demeaning the Scriptures. Just saying that they are to be used and revered. Not just revered.

 

[MoreCoffee]

Believe it or not the Bible is a tool that should be used as one. In seminary it is a textbook, not demeaning the Scriptures. Just saying that they are to be used and revered. Not just revered.

Did somebody say any different?

 

[RichWh1]

2 Timothy 2: 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15 (NASB)

KJV says rightly dividing the word of truth.

What is the word of truth we are to rightly divide, or interpret correctly?

 

[MoreCoffee]

2 Timothy 2: 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15 (NASB)

KJV says rightly dividing the word of truth.

What is the word of truth we are to rightly divide, or interpret correctly?

Have a look at the passage that the verse is in.

2Timothy2:14 Remind your people of these things, and urge them, in the presence of God, not to fight over words, which does no good, but only ruins those who listen. 15 Be for God, an active and proven minister, a blameless worker, correctly handling the word of truth. 16 Do not take part in useless conversations, alien to the faith. This leads to a greater impiety. 17 Such teaching spreads like gangrene: I am thinking of Hymeneus and Philetus. 18 They strayed from the truth, holding that the resurrection has already taken place; and with this, they upset the faith of some. 19 But the solid foundations laid by God are not shaken; on them, it is written: The Lord knows those who are his, and: Let him who confesses the name of the Lord turn away from evil. 20 In a large house, we find, not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay. Some are reserved for special uses, others, for ordinary ones. 21 All who clean themselves of what I speak of, will become a noble vessel, useful to the Lord, prepared for any holy purpose. 22 So shun the passions of youth and seek righteousness, faith, love and peace, together with those who call upon the Lord with a pure heart. 23 Avoid stupid and senseless discussions, since such are the cause of misunderstanding. 24 God’s servant must not be quarrelsome, but kind to all, always teaching, and patient with those who do not understand, 25 and gently correcting opponents; perhaps God may grant them to repent and discover the truth, 26 withdrawing them from the snare of the devil, who held them captive to his own will.​

The word that is to be "correctly handled" is the gospel, the good news of the kingdom of God which Jesus Christ preaches saying "repent and believe the gospel because the kingdom of God is at hand". Of course there is detail in the message. The sermon on the mount is one example of the detail in Christ's gospel message.

Matthew 5:3 Fortunate are those who are poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Fortunate are those who mourn; they shall be comforted. 5 Fortunate are the gentle; they shall possess the land. 6 Fortunate are those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they shall be satisfied. 7 Fortunate are the merciful, for they shall find mercy. 8 Fortunate are those with pure hearts, for they shall see God. 9 Fortunate are those who work for peace; they shall be called children of God. 10 Fortunate are those who are persecuted for the cause of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Fortunate are you, when people insult you and persecute you and speak all kinds of evil against you because you are my followers. 12 Be glad and joyful, for a great reward is kept for you in God. For that is how this people persecuted the prophets who lived before you. ...​

There is much more in the sermon. And much more in the teaching of Christ. John noted that when he wrote

John 20:30 There were many other signs that Jesus gave in the presence of his disciples, but they are not recorded in this book. 31 These are recorded, so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Believe, and you will have life through his name!​

So the word that is to be carefully handled is the good news that Jesus Christ gave to the disciples to preach to all the world. It involves the old testament scriptures and the as yet unwritten new testament scriptures (unwritten at the time that Paul was writing to Timothy, some letters were already written, some say one or two maybe three of the gospels, but not yet the gospel according to saint John, nor the revelation, nor some other letters such as 1,2, and 3 John, and Jude perhaps, and perhaps 1 & 2 Peter, and maybe Hebrews, and some other new testament scriptures) and of course all the things that were transmitted by word of mouth and example of life too. The "word of truth" is more than a book. I think all Christians know that in their hearts. The Word is most importantly and fundamentally Jesus Christ himself.

But is your question not a little bit off topic? After all, we all here in CH acknowledge the holy scriptures as revelation from God. And we all believe in Jesus Christ. So our topic is intended to be "when is one's name written in the book of life?" And that matter has been addressed in many posts already. But a little diversion is okay if it is for genuine questions asked to learn or to impart some lesson.

God be merciful to us all, grant us wisdom, and save us from endless disputes about words.

 

[atpollard]

The theme of this thread is "when is one's name written in the book of life?" and part of giving an answer to that is the connected question "can a name be erased from the book of life?" seemingly so, seemingly the holy scriptures in both testaments depicts names being removed, blotted out, erased. One's name in the book appears to be nuanced in ways that the thread's title invokes indirectly.

There is nothing in scripture that states that a name CAN be removed from the Book of Life, and no scripture that depicts a name ACTUALLY BEING removed from the Book of Life. There is 1 Psalm in which a man requests that his enemies be blotted out of the book of life, but no indication that God did so.

In your quote from Matthew, all we learn is the same lesson that James teaches us ... a dead faith cannot save anyone. It tells us nothing about the OP topic.