Has Your Name Been Written in The Book?

Introduction:

It was at this passage that, after his death, they found two short phrases handwritten in the margin of Martin Luther's Bible. These two phrases he had written certainly do express the truth as taught in the Scriptures concerning judgment and eternity. The phrases were: "Born once - die twice; Born twice - die once". There is an old saying, “Everybody wants to go to heaven but, nobody wants to die”.

Has your name been written in the book of life.

I. The end of the present universe (11),

II. All are to be judged (12);

III. Judgment is according to the deeds that a person has done (12);

IV. Those whose names are not found in the book of life are thrown into the lake of fire (15) and that this is "the second death" (14).

Born Twice - Die Once

"Jesus answered and said unto him, 'Truly, truly I say unto you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God... unless one is born of the water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." (,).

The way to avoid the second death is to be a partaker in the second birth! Jesus said that there were two necessary parts in being "born again". He referred to it as "being born of the water and the Spirit".

Later, following His resurrection, He will send out the apostles to "make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit." (, cf. ,). Obeying His commands, the apostles taught the believers on the day of Pentecost to "repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (,). When the Ethiopian nobleman heard the gospel and then saw some water, he expressed the desire to be baptized in the water, and subsequently was (). Saul of Tarsus was told, "Arise, and be baptized, washing away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord." (). This is how "baptism does also

now save (us)" (,).

But not only water is necessary. As Luther correctly pointed out, the water must be connected to the Lord's word. As Jesus said, "born of water and the Spirit". Jesus promised to send the Spirit to guide the apostles unto all the truth (). When the apostles received and taught that truth, and people obeyed it, they were purified. As Peter later wrote, "Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls ...for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable, but imperishable, that is, through the living and abiding word of God." (,).

Since it was the Spirit who revealed this word of truth, when we obey the word, Jesus said we are "born of water and the Spirit" (see also , ; ; ).

So, Luther was correct in his statements about baptism which we considered. He was right because what he said is what the Scriptures say. The bottom line, briefly put, is: "Born once - die twice; born twice - die once."

Conclusion:

I stated in my introduction a phrase that was found in the margins of Martin Luther’s Bible: “Born once – die twice; Born twice – die once”.

See Nicodemus a Pharisees a religious ruler came to Jesus at night.

He knew who Jesus was that he was sent by God.

But he lacked one important thing he did not truly understand what it meant to be saved.

Jesus told him unless you are born again you cannot see the kingdom of God (you cannot go to heaven).

This will perhaps be the most important question you will be asked this week. Not are you a Christian, not you been saved, not are you Holy Ghost filled. Because this single question answers all these questions are more. Has your name been written in The Book?

Has your name been written in the book of life.