The Book of Life
Thursday Bible Study, Immanuel Lutheran Church, Mt. Olive, Illinois
September 3, 2026
In 1893 James Milton Black wrote the song “When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder.” He wrote the song because one of the students in his Sunday School class was absent. He visited her home and called a doctor to attend to her pneumonia. After that the thought of someone not being in attendance in heaven haunted him, and this inspired the song.
What is the Book of Life and how can I be sure that my name is written in it?
1. Exodus 32.32 – Moses uses the phrase to describe earthly life.
It is most likely that Moses is asking for the LORD to end his life as he did in Numbers 11.15. He doesn’t use the expression “Book of Life.” There is nothing we can do to put our names in or take our names out of the Book of Life. As one pastor said, “The names in the Book of Life are not written in pencil.”
2. Psalm 69.28 – David prays that his enemies be blotted out from earthly life like Exodus 32. As unbelievers their names are not in the Book of Life with the righteous.
Some suggest that everyone’s name is in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world and that if they reject Christ, they’re names are removed (Universal Inscription). The Hebrew word m-ch-h means “to wipe out, annihilate.” This fits better with his enemies being killed rather than removed from the Book of Life.
3. Daniel 12.1-3 Describes those who are delivered to eternal life.
Daniel is clearly speaking about the resurrection and eternal life.
4. Luke 10.20 Jesus urges us to rejoice knowing our names are written in heaven.
ἐγγέγραπται “written” is in the Perfect Middle Tense. The core meaning of the Perfect Middle is “a present state resulting from a past action.”
5. Philippians 4.3 Here it is equivalent to those who are saved.
John uses the phrase more than any other in the Book of Revelation.
6. Revelation 3.5 Again equivalent to those who are saved.
7. Revelation 13.8 Emphasizes that the names were written from the foundation of the
world See also Revelation 17.8.
8. Revelation 20.12-15 Describes other books used for judgment that record our works
as well as the book of life.
9. All in all, the Book of Life is an expression used as an equivalent to “those who are
saved.” What is the significance of using the image of a “book”?
The image of a “book” adds the sense of “permanence.”
10. When are the names written in the Book of Life? The Bible clearly says: From the foundation of the world.
Three schools of interpretation
1. Names are written in the Book of Life when Jesus is accepted. (Wrong)
2. Names are written from the foundation of the world but are “sealed” at conversion. (Wrong)
3. Names are written from the foundation of the world. Accept it at face value. (Correct)
The first two interpretations stem from the idea that we participate in our conversion in some way if only that of “acceptance.” [“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him” (Colossians 2.6) Ephesians 2.1 says we were dead in trespasses and sins and made alive.]
Those who hold to this view are afraid that the doctrine of election will lead to a lack of holy living if people think they have nothing to do with their salvation. “Why evangelize if salvation is predestined?” “Why strive to live a holy life if salvation is predestined?” Human beings feel they must have some control over their salvation. They think this gives them assurance. But this also leads to bad outcomes. How will I ever be sure of my salvation if somehow it depends partly on me? How terrible I must feel if I think that the salvation of my neighbor depends on my zeal to share the gospel with him? Synergism leads to pride and presumption or doubt and fear.
Why is the Lutheran (Face Value) interpretation more consoling? It consoles us because we know that God’s work is the only reliable work. It consoles us because we know that our salvation is not an accident, a coincidence, or a work we finished. God started it, continued it, and will finish it. “He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1.6). It was planned by God from the beginning. I’m sure that in the heart of a hypocrite this would disincentivize a person’s spirituality. But in the heart of a true believer it actually motivates. Consider how this truth motivated the apostle Paul when he came to the spiritually corrupt city of Corinth. God told Paul, “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city” (Acts 18.9-11).
What is happening when we evangelize and when people come to faith in Christ? Neither the witness or the converted person is putting their name in the Book of Life. It is already there! It is the Lamb’s Book of Life! What is happening is this: They are being awakened to the fact that they are saved! This is highly motivational. It tells us not to look at the outer person to see if they could become a Christian. We should witness to the worst criminal as well as to the most refined gentleman. God will determine the outcome since “Salvation belongs to the LORD” (Psalm 3.8).
But what about personal responsibility? Don’t confuse personal responsibility with God’s work in us. Something is happening. The heart is brought to repentance and filled with faith. Good works will result. But this does not come from personal responsibility, it comes from God. “No one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12.3). Ask yourself this question: Are we saved because we accepted Christ? Or, Do we accept Christ because we are saved? Which view gives all the glory to God? “By grace you have been saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2.8-10).
10. Martin Luther said on several occasions that the Book of Life is Christ Himself and
to be written in it is to be in Christ by faith.
11. The Formula of Concord (SD XI.13) states:
13 Hence if we wish to think or speak correctly and profitably about eternal election or about the predestination and ordering of the children of God to eternal life, we should accustom ourselves not to speculate concerning the absolute, secret, hidden, and inscrutable foreknowledge of God. On the contrary, we should consider the counsel, purpose, and ordinance of God in Christ Jesus, who is the genuine and true “book of life” as it is revealed to us through the Word.
Conclusion
Our hymnal contains the hymn “The Day Is Surely Drawing Near” (LSB 508) that accurately describes the Day of Judgment. It is drawn from an older poem known as the Dies Irae or “Day of Wrath.” The hymn pulls no punches as it describes the fright which will engulf the world at that time. It also offers great comfort to believers assuring them: “My Savior paid the debt I owe And for my sin was smitten; Within the Book of Life I know My name has now been written. I will not doubt, for I am free, And Satan cannot threaten me; There is no condemnation.”
1 When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound,
and time shall be no more,
and the morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair;
When the saved of earth shall gather
over on the other shore,
and the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.
Refrain:
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.
2 On that bright and cloudless morning
when the dead in Christ shall rise,
and the glory of His resurrection share;
When His chosen ones shall gather
to their home beyond the skies,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there. [Refrain]
3 Let us labor for the Master
from the dawn till setting sun;
let us talk of all His wondrous love and care.
Then when all of life is over,
and our work on earth is done,
and the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there. [Refrain]
