A. Psalm 69 was written by David and is filled with Messianic prophecy.
1. It is common for the Bible's prophetic passages to have dual meanings and fulfillments. This is the case in Psalm 69, for much of it has to do with David's life, but some of it was also fulfilled in Christ.
2. Consider some of the prophecies of Christ found in this psalm.
a. The overall message of the psalm is a plea to God for deliverance from enemies who persecute without just cause (see v. 4). Certainly, Jesus was persecuted in this way.
b. Verse 8 describes the estrangement of Christ from His own brothers (see John 7:1-9).
c. Verse 9 was fulfilled when Christ cleansed the temple (John 2:13-17).
d. Verse 21 was fulfilled when Jesus was given vinegar to drink mingled with gall while He was on the cross (Matt. 27:34).
B. Our present interest in Psalm 69 is found in verse 28, which says, "May they be blotted out of the book of life and may they not be recorded with the righteous."
1. In the context of Psalm 69, David is referring to his adversaries and persecutors.
2. In the context of its prophetic fulfillment, this is describing the fate of those who persecuted the Lord Jesus.
3. In either case, these persons are to be blotted out of the "book of life" and not "recorded with the righteous."
C. At present, let us consider what the book of life is and whose names are recorded there.
II. WHAT IS THE BOOK OF LIFE?
A. Let us consider the passages of Scripture that make references to the book of life.
1. The earliest reference to such a book is found in Exodus 32. Here Moses was pleading for the forgiveness of Israel after they had worshiped the golden calf at Sinai. Notice verses 31-34:
31Then Moses returned to the LORD, and said, "Alas, this people has committed a great sin, and they have made a god of gold for themselves. 32But now, if You will, forgive their sin -- and if not, please blot me out from Your book which You have written!" 33The LORD said to Moses, "Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book. 34But go now, lead the people where I told you. Behold, My angel shall go before you; nevertheless in the day when I punish, I will punish them for their sin."
2. The next reference is one we have already considered from Psalm 69:28 -- May they be blotted out of the book of life and may they not be recorded with the righteous.
3. In the New Testament, Paul described his fellow workers who shared his struggle in the cause of the gospel, "whose names are in the book of life" (Phil. 4:3).
4. By far, the most references to the book of life are found in the book of Revelation. These passages are filled with figurative language, so much caution should be used to avoid making false applications of these messages. With that said, consider these verses:
a. Revelation 3:5 -- "He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels." (Jesus to the church at Sardis)
b. Revelation 13:8 -- All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain. (concerning those who worship "the beast")
c. Revelation 17:8 -- "The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss and go to destruction. And those who dwell on the earth, whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, will wonder when they see the beast, that he was and is not and will come." (an angel to John)
d. Revelation 20:12 -- And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. (concerning the final judgment)
e. Revelation 20:15 -- And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (concerning the final judgment)
f. Revelation 21:27 -- ...and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life. (concerning the "new Jerusalem")
B. From these passages, let us summarize what is revealed about the book of life.
1. The book of life is a way of describing a record that is kept in heaven by God.
2. This record contains the names of righteous persons.
3. Persons who are unrighteous have their names blotted out from this book, which means that they are erased from the record.
4. The measure that determines whether a person's name is retained in the book of life is the record of that person's deeds.
5. Those whose names are retained in the book of life will have eternal life in the presence of God.
6. Those whose names are blotted out of the book of life will suffer an eternal punishment of separation from God.
7. It is Jesus who keeps this record.
III. IS YOUR NAME IN THE BOOK OF LIFE?
A. It is Christ who determines whether or not your name shall remain in the book of life, but it is you who will compile a record of deeds that He uses to make that determination.
1. Often it is said that we cannot save ourselves by any deeds that we may do. This is true, but let us understand that we are judged by our deeds.
2. Righteousness is not merely the state of being forgiven of sin, but it is also the active practice of that which is right. The book of life is a record of righteous souls, so we must be forgiven of sin and also do what is right to have our names written in that book.
3. The final judgment is when the book of life will be read. Consider how that judgment is described in 2Corinthians 5:10 -- For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
B. Your name will be retained in the book of life unless you provide a cause for it to be blotted out, namely, by sin.
1. The passages we have read repeatedly describe names being blotted out of the book of life. This indicates that a person's name is written there unless he gives a reason for it to be removed.
2. Certainly, God has extended His grace to all men and wants all to be saved (1Tim. 2:3-4; Tit. 2:11-14; 2Pet. 3:9). His desire is for every person is to be recorded in the book of life.
3. It is only when men sin against God that their names are blotted out, for they cannot be recorded with the righteous.
C. If you are faithful in Christ, then be assured that your name is in His book of life, and rejoice.
1. Even the vilest sinner can have his name recorded in the book of life through redemption in Christ. Notice these passages:
a. 1Corinthians 1:30-31 -- 30But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, 31so that, just as it is written, "Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord."
b. 1Timothy 1:12-16
12I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, 13even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; 14and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. 15It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. 16Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.
2. How wonderful it is to know that Jesus knows who we are and keeps our names in His book! Let us abide by the words Jesus spoke to seventy of His disciples and "rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven" (Luke 10:20).
