Faithful Steward Ministries and FSM Women's Outreach

Indeed, I ask you too, my true companion, to help these women [to keep on cooperating], for they have shared my struggle in the [cause of the] gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.

Philippians 4:3, AMP

Is There a Difference between the Book of Life and the Lamb’s Book of Life?

There are eight references in New Testament to the “book of life,” and two of them refer specifically to the book of life that belongs to the Lamb, Jesus Christ. Seven of the references appear in the book of Revelation. Those whose names are written in the book of life are those who belong to God, those who have attained eternal life.

Paul refers to those who have labored alongside him as those whose names are in the book of life (Philippians 4:3), again identifying the book of life as a record of the names of those who have eternal salvation. In the same way, Revelation 3:5 refers to the book of life in which the names of believers in the Lord are found. These are those who overcome the trials of earthly life, proving that their salvation is genuine. This verse also makes it clear that once a name is written in the book of life, Jesus promises that He will never blot it out, proving once more the doctrine of eternal security. The Lord Jesus, who is speaking to the churches in this part of Revelation, promises to acknowledge his own before His Father. Conversely, Revelation 20:15 reveals the fate of those whose names are not written in the book of life—eternity in the lake of fire.

In Revelation 13:8 and 21:27, we find the references to the “Lamb’s book of life,” in which also are the names of all those who have been washed by the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ. The Lamb who has been “slain from the creation of the world” has a book in which are written all those who have been redeemed by His sacrifice. They are the ones who will enter the Holy City, the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:10) and who will live forever in heaven with God. Since the book of life is that which records all who have eternal life through the Lamb, it’s clear that the book of life and the Lamb’s book of life are one and the same.

Got Questions Ministries, Got Questions? Bible Questions Answered (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2002–2013).

.

Devotional Thought on this verse —Whose names are in the book of life.—Philippians 4:3.

HOW is this known? It must be a blessed privilege this, and highly desirable to attain if there be a true scriptural testimony to it. That there is a book of life, in which the record is made of the people of the Lamb, is without all dispute, from many parts of scripture. The church of the first-born are said to have their names written in heaven; such as are chosen of God in Christ before the world began. But these are secret things, which belong to the Lord our God. Yet it is said, the secret of the Lord is with them that fear him, and he will show them his covenant. Hence, therefore, is not the Bible a copy of this book of life? Are there not scriptural marks and characters given, by which the correspondence is proved? In both, they are distinguished by one and the same name and character. They are called the people, the seed, the offspring, of Jesus. They are his by gift, by purchase, by conquest, by a voluntary surrender. They are known by the character as well as by name. They seek salvation only in Jesus. God is their Father, Jesus their Redeemer, the Holy Ghost their Sanctifier. My soul, see thy name in bible characters answering to this persuasion, and be assured, that the original writing of the book of life in heaven, and the book of God for life upon earth, which is his written word, is in exact correspondence. Blessed Jesus, give me in this way to know whose I am, and to whom I belong, and then assured shall I be, that my name is in the book of life.

Robert Hawker, The Poor Man’s Morning Portion (New York; Pittsburg: Robert Carter, 1845), 268–269.

---

SERMON

THE BARRIER

A SERMON DELIVERED ON LORD’S-DAY MORNING, MARCH 27, 1881,

BY C. H. SPURGEON, AT THE METROPOLITAN TABERNACLE, NEWINGTON.