Salvation & Conversion

[Nim]

I've heard that everyone who is going to Heaven is written down already in a special book. So does that mean that no matter what someone does, they can't convert any of those people written down in that book into Atheists? Or if they do, they will become a Christian again no matter what before death?

People have said other things about how God already knows who is going and not going to Heaven, such as it being unfair or being proof that we don't have free will. But I've heard all those arguments before. I am just wondering about my question since I haven't heard it asked before.

 

[BarbB]

I think of the Lamb's Book of Life more as God foreknowing who would accept his gift of grace so that their name is in the book than that whoever is not written in the book is not saved.

 

[Anthony]

God already knows that some of us will chose not to be with him. But for us who are beleivers it's a grand Easter Egg hunt to find those who are not known to us yet, but who are known to Him.

 

[Reformationist]

I've heard that everyone who is going to Heaven is written down already in a special book. So does that mean that no matter what someone does, they can't convert any of those people written down in that book into Atheists? Or if they do, they will become a Christian again no matter what before death?

People have said other things about how God already knows who is going and not going to Heaven, such as it being unfair or being proof that we don't have free will. But I've heard all those arguments before. I am just wondering about my question since I haven't heard it asked before.

We, each individual who is saved, are saved because God interceded in our fallen nature and brought us out of bondage. He gives us life. He does this according to His holy counsel. It is according to His holy purpose. It is not according to our "free will" decision. Prior to our regeneration we are not free. We are in bondage to our sinfulness.

There is a little axiom that, though simple, is theologically accurate. It goes, "If you had it, you'll never lose it. If you lose it, you never had it." What this means is that once God has redeemed someone they can never fully fall because they are held by the power of God in Christ. This does not mean that we may not experience seasons of struggle. It just means that we will never fully fall away. Just as when Peter denied the Lord three times yet Christ kept Him from fully falling. Peter was kept by the power of God.

1 Peter 1:3-5
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

God bless

 

[Theresa]

All those written in the Book of Life will be saved, and I do think this is foreknowledge also, not double predestination.

But the fact of the matter is, we don't know for sure who is in the Book of Life because we can't read it from here, so we need to do our best and help those around us do theirs.