November 25, 2008 – Maranatha – Awaiting Christ's Return

~Philippians 4:3 And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.

~Revelation 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

The Bible says in Philippians 4:3 that our names can be in the Book of Life right now – while we are living. The women that labored with Paul, Clement and Paul’s other fellow laborers’ names were all in the in Book of Life. The Book of Life contains all the names of those who are born again and covered under the blood of Jesus Christ.

The catholic church, however, says it is a sin to presume that you are saved from God’s wrath and eternal damnation. The catholic church teaches that after death, the catholic must go to purgatory to purge away any unconfessed sin before entering Heaven. Therefore, the catholic does not have that assurance of when/if he will enter Heaven.

That’s not what Paul wrote in Philippians 4:3. These believers’ names were already in the Book of Life. There was no wondering with Paul. It was stated as fact. Dear catholic, please read your Bible. It was given so that man could decide for himself where he will spend eternity. The Bible was not left to the “knowledgeable and learned.” It was left for all to read and come to the knowledge of salvation! Don’t be one who leaves his eternal life in the Bible interpretations of another person. Don’t have their knowledge but have your own. God’s Word is truth – He will guide you to His truth.