FIVE WORDS AND THEIR USAGES HARMONIZED

FIVE WORDS AND THEIR USAGES HARMONIZED
Men have obscured God's revealed will by trying to explain what He said. God is quite capable of expressing Himself if we will but put forth the effort to study and meditate upon His Word.
Consider these five words and what God has said about them.
FOREKNOWLEDGE
FOREORDINATION
PREDESTINATION
ELECTION
FREE-WILL
(OR SELF-DETERMINATION FOR MAN)


FOREKNOWLEDGE

This term in NOT synonymous with the `omniscience' of God. In the KJV there are two instances of the word `foreknowledge' and two of `foreknow'. There are other words which have been translated from the same Greek word however. The word is `prognosis' and means precisely the same as the present usage of the word in medicine: "To know or perceive before". There is nothing in the word itself to indicate any eternal knowledge but is always used to indicate a knowing before some event in time. The context always determines the event before which the knowledge was.
A good illustration of this is found in Acts 26:5. Paul speaks of his life among the Jews in Jerusalem and states they KNEW him from the BEGINNING. The word used is the same `prognosis' of `foreknow'. It would be preposterous to think he was implying that the Jews knew him from the foundation of the world or even from the beginning of the Nation of Israel. He is simply stating that they knew him BEFORE HE BECAME A CHRISTIAN and had known him from the time he first entered Jewish religious and political life upon his arrival from Tarsus to attend the School of Gamaliel.
Perhaps a disclaimer is in order before proceeding lest someone think this is an attempt to deny the omniscience of God. There is no question about the fact that He knows all things. Or that He knows the beginning from the end. (I John 3:20)
The usage of the word most near to the common idea that God knew from eternity and therefore what he knew MUST come to pass, is found in Acts 2:23. Peter is preaching and some in the group of listeners had been present at and even responsible for, the crucifixion of Christ. "Him being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken and by wicked hands have crucified and slain." He is simply telling them that the death of the Son of God did not come as a surprise to the Gather for he had known and determined that Christ would die for the sins of the world. He is also telling them that the decision to take part in the killing of Christ was their own personal responsibility. Therefore the foreknowledge of God as to what He had determined to do had in no way relieved them of their personal wicked acts. The foreknowledge and determinate counsel concerned what God Himself would do and the decision to personally involve themselves in it, was made according to the free choice of those who killed Christ.
The fact that God has perfect knowledge of all things and is not restricted in His knowing by the veil of time cannot be construed to imply that He therefore has planned each happening and that all things are the result of his determining that they must take place. Imagine yourself standing before a schoolhouse. You know that at 3:30 the children will come out the doors and shove and play as they make their way home. It is yet but 10 o'clock in the morning but that knowledge is sure in your mind. Does that mean that YOU are responsible for school letting out? Now since our knowledge is sometimes faulty and incomplete we may not be aware that a bomb threat or some other event will let them out earlier but God's foreknowledge is perfect. He even knew about the little boy who would use the afternoon as an opportunity to visit the old swimming hole! The principle of foreknowledge however is the same. Neither you nor God caused it; you merely knew it would take place.
Another view of foreknowledge as it relates to time instead of eternity can be pictured thus. The child feels that he knows all there is to know about his mother since he has been close to her all his life. Yet the father's foreknowledge of her includes things the child can never know; How she felt when the child was first known to be on the way, how she planned for it and how she suffered during its birth and how she seemed to glow later as she held it close. You see, the child has knowledge of its mother but his father has FOREKNOWLEDGE. He knew what took place BEFORE the child ever became aware or even existed. In the same way, we may know Christ. Our knowledge or acquaintance with him began when we were born again but the Father knew Him before the foundation of the world.
A good Scriptural example of this just happens to be also a good example of the manner in which men have confused the issue by interchanging words with totally different meanings. In Peter's First Epistle, chapter one, v. 20, the KJV reads, "Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world but was manifest in these last times for you." The `foreordained' of this verse is from the same Greek word translated `foreknow' in other passages and Young's Literal Translation so presents it. "Foreknown, indeed before the foundation of the world and manifested in these last times because of you". This passage is not talking about a determination of a course of action but the knowledge or acquaintance with a person. When God knew Him and when he was
presented to man.
This provides us with a smooth transition to the consideration of our next word.
FOREORDINATION
Here is a word which is usually accepted to mean `To decree, decide or appoint in advance.' In its theological use it is nearly always thought to mean that God decided in eternity and so decreed.
Theology is supposed to be the science of God. Instead of expanding man's knowledge of God however, man often indulges in the obfuscation of that which God intended to be clear and simple.
Perhaps the most simple way of clearing away the fog will be to examine each passage which is generally used in considering the subject. The most familiar one, I Peter 1:20 has already been noted and so we proceed to another.
"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:10
The word used, literally translated, means, `to prepare beforehand'. This verse is certainly not telling us that God decided and decreed and determined every act of His people. Nor is it saying that every one who has been saved by grace through faith will walk in God's ways, because it is apparent to each one of us that this is NOT the case in practice. Many turn back and do not walk as they should. It is saying however that God has prepared or decreed a way in which his children should walk. He will not accept man's actions based on what the individual or society or theology might decide is the proper way.
"For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God unto lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ." Jude 4
Now an entirely different word is used. It is the word `prographo' and means, `to write before, to notify in advance'. The meaning of the entire verse becomes clear; God has notified ungodly men in advance of their condemnation. It is as if one breaks a law in our own society. Our legislatures and courts do not wait until the deed is done and then pass a law by which the punishment is meted out, but rather the law is written in advance and men are put on notice, "this is the condemnation upon those who break this law". Nothing is found here which encroaches upon the free will of man.
Perhaps the most perplexing verse to many is found in Acts 13:48; "And when the gentiles heard this they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed."
Still another word comes into use here. It is `tetagmenoi'. A literal rendering of the passage reads, " - and believed, as many as were disposed to life eternal".
When we see what God said instead of what others have said He said, it becomes clear. One of the phenomena we see today was evident then; We have all known of some who, upon hearing the gospel accept it readily while others resist. Some are disposed toward, or receptive to the Word while others are not. This does not depend upon whether God has decreed them thus but rather is according to the free will of the individual who hears. This is the same truth taught by Jesus in the parable of the seed and the four kinds of soil in the 13th chapter of Matthew. Each one does have the power to determine for himself what manner of person he shall be. While there are some things such as our ethnic and family groups which cannot be changed, those things which are determined by our state of mind or `mind-set' are within our power to control. One can determine for himself if he will wallow in self pity because he was born into poverty or he can work to change it. He and excuse himself for his sinfulness by saying "This is the way God made me." or he can turn to Christ. The choice is his and he will do as he WILLS. Those who orient themselves toward eternal life WILL be receptive to the Gospel while those who indulge themselves in sin will refuse to listen.
This doesn't exhaust the scriptures which some have wrested but serves to illustrate how men have often confused the issue by trying to explain God's expressed will for man. NEVER has God foreordained any event which would in any way detract from man's ability to exercise the God-given free-will which distinguishes man from the beast.
PREDESTINATION
Here is another word men have bandied about as if they were privy to the very mind and council of the eternal God. It is thought by many to mean something so very close to `foreordination' that the words are often used interchangeably. What God actually said however is almost diametrically opposite to this idea.
The word in the KJV is used but four times and in each case it is a translation of `prohoridzo'. The prefix, `pro' means `before' and `hidzo' is the source of our present word in English, `horizon'. It means a predetermined boundary. A look at the use of the word as it is used in Romans, chapter 8 and Ephesians, chapter 1 will illustrate a simple truth which has been complicated by men as they have attempted to make God say something which will agree with their preconceived notions of `Divine Truth.'
Romans 8:29 For whom God did foreknow he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. (v.29a) Moreover, whom He did predestinate them He also called.

Thus Paul is inspired to set forth proof of the statement in verse 28 that `all things work together for good to them that love God'.
The first thing to consider in this passage is those whom `God foreknew'. The event before which He foreknew them is clear from the statement, "That He might be the firstborn among many brethren." This cannot mean his being born in the flesh in Bethlehem for in this birth he took upon himself the likeness of sinful flesh. Rom 8:3, Philippians 2:7. Rather it refers to the resurrection of Christ from the dead. Col. 1:18, "And he is the head of the body, the church; who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead: and that in all things he might have the preeminence.
This squares with the promise of Romans 6:5 "For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection."
The Old Testament is filled with expressions of the hope of the resurrection by the saints whom God knew before Christ was crucified, buried and risen. David expressed this hope and also the truth of Romans 8:29 in Psalm 17:15, "As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied, when I awake with Thy likeness."
The truth is simple; All the saints of the Old Testament (who were known to God before Christ) died in hope of the resurrection. They were predestined (limited by the boundary set by God) however to wait for this hope to be fulfilled until AFTER the resurrection of Christ in order that they might be conformed to HIS likeness instead of Christ to theirs. This was definitely for their good. It would have been tragic, indeed if they or we had been forced to bear the image of the first man Adam in our resurrected body!
Aren't your glad that we shall be conformed to the image of Christ, and not that of David, with all his fleshly faults?!
In the first chapter of Ephesians the context is different and those under consideration are not the same but the word and its usage has not changed. Eph. 1:5 "Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ, unto himself, according to the good pleasure of His will." The preset boundary
or limits in this occasion is plain, "the adoption of children". What is this adoption for which we wait upon the good pleasure of His will? It is set forth in unmistakable terms in Romans 8:23, "even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body."
We have a will which allows us to accept Christ when we are so inclined and to serve him if we desire. One who doesn't WILL to do so will neither be saved nor serve. One thing for which we all long and are certainly willing to receive in our new body; the adoption. However, in this we are limited. The boundary has been set and we cannot go beyond it until God wills it in His own good pleasure.
Ephesians 1:11 uses the word in the same manner; "In whom we also have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all thing after the counsel of his own will."
As children of God we have an inheritance (Rom. 8:17). Jesus said, "Fear not little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." Luke 12:32. So Paul informs us that having made His intentions known, God will, according to his own good pleasure, in the fullness of time gather in one, all things in Christ.(Eph. 1:9-10).
When will this happen? Will it be at our choosing? NO! Even as we are to be resurrected at the time set by the Father, so we will receive our inheritance according to His good pleasure and we must wait at the preset boundary for the will of God.
In this then, it is plain that God has not predestined that man will DO certain thing, but that he will not do them until He, God, is ready!
ELECTION
There seems to be no lack of understanding as to what the word means. Everyone seems to agree that it means a `choosing' while the word `elect' means the act of choosing when used as a verb and when used as a noun, those chosen. Yet in spite of this seeming agreement on election, confusion still clouds the air. It seems that some still try to make their concept of `The Doctrine of Election' shore up their false ideas of predestination and foreordination.
Election can be simplified if one will but use a variation of the well know Rule of Interpretation;
Who is doing the choosing?
Who is being chosen?
To what are they being chosen?
Consider Isaiah 45:4 "For Jacob my servants sake, and Israel mine elect, I have called thee by thy name; I have surnamed thee, though thou has not known me." God is addressing Cyrus who is to be the instrument for His chastisement of Babylon who had previously been chosen as the nation to bring His chastisement upon Israel for her rebellion against God who had chosen HER out of all the nations.
There are several different elections or choosings involved in the passage. God had first chosen Jacob's seed to become His nation. That nation had chosen to rebel against God and worship other gods. He chose Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon to chasten His rebellious elect, but Nebuchadnezzar and then Belshazzar had chosen to be lifted up in pride. God, in turn has now chosen to send Cyrus against the Babylonians. It should also be noted that in each case man's will was involved in agreeing to that which God had chosen. Joshua 24:15 "Choose ye this day whom ye will serve-". This was the challenge put to the people by Joshua and they freely answered, (v.16) "God forbid that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods." Nebuchadnezzar had already chosen to enlarge his dominion by adding territory extending into Egypt. When Sennacherib, king of Assyria had attempted earlier to do this same thing, God had sent him home in defeat and could well have done the same with Nebuchadnezzar had he elected to do so. Even so, Cyrus had already set his objective of overcoming Babylon and God elected to make him victorious.
Isaiah 42:1 uses the word, "Behold my servant whom I uphold: Mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him; He shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles." This begins one of the greatest prophecies of Christ in the Old Testament. We know that it speaks of Christ because Jesus said so; Luke 4:18. To what is he elected? Certainly not to salvation! Even a casual reading of the chapter reveals that it is the Messiah who is chosen to bring light and judgement to the world. He was elected because the love and holiness of God demanded it and Christ alone could fill the need. Though others have set this task for themselves it remains Christ and He alone who is the chosen of God to perform it.
Matthew 24:22, "And except those days should be shortened there should no flesh be saved: but for the elects sake those days shall be shortened." Since this is in the New Testament it must be speaking of church saints who were chosen to be saved. Right? WRONG! The hard evidence as to who these elect ar is found in verse 15. "When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains-". These elect then are:
1. The ones to whom Daniel chapter 9 was written. If one isn't
persuaded as to their identity by the rest of the chapter, then verse 20 should make it clear, "And whiles I was speaking and praying and confessing my sin and the sin of my people ISRAEL-". Jesus even nailed down the precise geographical area in which they would be found at the time, "Let those
which be in Judaea-"
2. These are observing, not the Lord's Day, but the Sabbath. v-20.
3. These have a `holy place', the Temple.
According to Daniel they will be offering their sacrifices when this event takes place. The elect here is again that nation which God has chosen and which He shall again protect in it's hour of dire need.
I Thessalonians 1:4, "Knowing brethren, beloved, your election of God-". Here is a passage which must surely refer to election to salvation! WRONG AGAIN! Verse 5 indicates what this election was. "For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance." How had the gospel arrived in Thessalonica? In the 16th chapter of Acts the account is given how the Holy Spirit would not allow Paul to further evangelize Asia at that time and directed him instead toward Macedonia and thus to Thessalonica. It is clear that God had indeed elected them to be recipients of the gospel message. When they heard it however it was their choice as to whether or not it would be believed and according to Acts 17:4-5 some did believe and others refused. This election then is not to salvation but rather to have the opportunity.
I Peter 1:2, "Elect according to the foreknowledge of God". Perhaps the best way to examine what Peter has said is to read a better rendition of what he actually said. The translation of I Peter 1:1-2 as given by Young's Literal Translation of the New Testament is as Follows; "Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the choice sojourners of the dispersion of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, according to a foreknowledge of God the Father -". The ~foreknowledge' of this passage concerns the dispersion which took place in the time of the persecutions of the Church at Jerusalem. Peter, the apostle to the Jews felt a need to instruct those who were no longer under his physical care. Thus the need for the Epistle.
They were a choice people. They were distinguished from others by the fact of the sanctification of the Spirit to obedience and the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus. God still elects to bless, watch over and instruct those who are willing to be one of these!
John 5:21 is often cited to show that Christ saves those HE wants to save. "As the Father raiseth up the dead and quickeneth them, even so, the Son quickeneth whom he will." This is an indisputable statement of fact and if one but continues to read, when he comes to the 24th verse we find who he WILLS to save. "Verily, verily I say unto you, he that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation but is passed from death unto life." God has chosen, elected, to save only those who willingly accept his son.
THE FREE WILL OF MAN
Revelation 22:17b "and whosoever will, let him come and take of the water of life freely -". Thus the Bible ends on a note that has been its theme from the beginning as God said, "Let us make man in our image." Of all the material creation, man stands alone in this respect; He has the ability to make choices which affect his relationship to his creator and determine his eternal destiny.
Jesus is quoted in John 10:34 saying, "Is it not written in your law, I said ye are gods?" In this he was making reference to Psalm 82:6. As the serpent sought to beguile Eve with the forbidden fruit his clincher was, "ye shall be as gods, knowing good from evil". Eve was too innocent to realize that she already had this ability without its evil consequences. She had the ability to know what she should do and should not do and make the choice according to her own desires. This ability was hers and Adam's because God had created them that way in order that He might have a creature with whom He could fellowship.
Surely God had the power, had he so desired, to make a creature who was incapable of sin. One which would only worship and praise God forever. Such a creature would have been no more than a robot, programmed to do the will of its maker and there can be no real fellowship with such a being. We might program a recorder to praise us and agree with our every thought but there is no fellowship there as there is when, "brethren dwell together in unity".
Should God so wish, he could force men to accept His will. This however is the action we have come to associate with a twisted mind: When someone is so desperately lonely he kidnaps another and forces his attentions upon them. Our God needs to stoop to nothing so shameful as this!
He created a being in His own image. A person able to exercise his own free will. When that will is to honor the creator, then true fellowship exists between God and man.
In His omnipotent sovereignty God chose to make man a free moral agent. Because of his foreknowledge He knew this man would choose to sin. Because of His Holiness He foreordained a plan of salvation and a plan of work and service and will accept no others. Those who would have eternal life and fellowship with God MUST willingly accept this.
For the benefit of those who accept Christ, He has predestined or limited us to not go beyond and gain eternal things while still in this body. He has chosen for our own good to make us wait for the good pleasure of His will on these things.
He has elected, CHOSEN, Israel to be His nation and will someday grant to her all the promises made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. BUT the individuals who shall make up that nation when the promises are all fulfilled are those who have used their free wills to do the will of God. Malachi 3:16-18 "Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of Hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not."
He has elected His Church to be his bride and those who choose to serve him in it according to His plan will share in that honor.
One thing which becomes very clear as the truth of these five things is understood is that the sovereign God in His foreknowledge has foreordained nothing, predestined nothing and elected no one in such a way as to encroach upon the free will of the creature, man, made in His own image. Man can accept or reject Christ when the Holy Spirit convicts him. God will not force him to accept nor will He consent to save man any other way. Man can, after he sis saved, follow Christ in baptism and serve him or he can choose to turn back and not walk after him. God will neither force service from man nor accept any except that which he has prescribed. Anything short of this plan would be an attempt to lower God to the status of a master technician and rob those made in his image of that which makes them to differ from the beasts of the field.
Fred C.Creel

Five Gracious Truths

Five Gracious Truths

As Jesus stood before Pilate, He said "everyone that is of the truth heareth my voice." Pilate's answer is a question which haunts the human race: "What is truth?" It seems that man has so confused every issue that in his mind everything has become relative. Every issue has to be qualified in so many ways that no one is able to render a definite decision. We can almost sympathize with the man who, when greeted with the common greeting, `how are you?' answered, `compared to what?'
What is truth? We might give the short conclusive answer found in John 17 as Christ prayed to the Father, "Thy Word is truth!", but I would like to give briefly five distinct truths, each established on the other.
First a truth that the whole human race needs to relearn. There is an ABSOLUTE difference between right and wrong! Regardless of what theological infidels may say about situation ethics, sin is still sin. It matters not how broadminded men may become about the question, God has some very definite declarations about the matter. "All unrighteousness is sin" 1 John 5:17. Here is a very definite statement of truth! It is a statement that needs no qualifying. Indeed it cannot be qualified without questioning the truthfulness of God Himself! "Whatsoever is not of faith is sin" Romans 14:23, and "Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God!" Romans 10:17.
Man has always been prone to try to find some good in sin that he may justify himself. Even in Isaiah's day God said by the mouth of that great prophet, "Woe to them that call evil good and good evil." Isa. 5:20. Call it social contact if you will, but the drinking party that causes men and women to lose control of their inhibitions is still sin. Immorality is still sin even when its name is changed to `love'. It matters not how hard men may try to change the nature of sin by labelling it a sickness, it is still sin in the eyes of a Holy God and the consequences are still the same as in the beginning.
Which brings us to the next truth. Sin brings forth DEATH! James 1:15. There is no denying that there is a temporary, fleshly pleasure to be derived from sin. Moses had to choose between the afflictions of God's people and the pleasure of sin for a little season. The euphoria of carnal pleasures is a great deal like the effects of drink and drugs. They may seem uplifting at the moment, but the after effects are like the after effects of a life of sin in that the torment is far greater than the pleasure received!
Since all unrighteousness is sin and is the transgression of God's law of perfect holiness, He MUST mete out justice. Since man is caught in a web of sin with no power to extricate himself we come to the third truth. The penalty of sin was paid in behalf of helpless man by that perfect man Christ Jesus.
"For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly!" Rom. 5:6.
On this subject let us simply let the word of God speak to us!
He bare our sins in his own body on the tree. 1 Pet. 2:24
He was made sin (a sin bearer) for us. 2 Cor. 5:21
Behold the lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world.
John 1:29
For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God. 1 Pet 3:18
So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many... Heb. 9:28
Here is a divine truth which can bring hope and cheer to poor, sin-cursed man who finds himself under the terrible storm of God's wrath against sin.
THERE IS NO OTHER WAY FOR MAN TO BE SAVED! "Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven, given among men whereby ye must be saved" Acts 4:12. Good deeds cannot get the job done for it is "not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us." Titus 3:5. We are not to be saved by the keeping of the Law for we are told in Galatians 2:16, "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ that we might be justified by the faith of Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." Also, in verse 21; "for if righteousness came by the law, then Christ is dead in vain!
`What is truth' was the question of Pilate and in the midst of the Babel of voices today it is still a legitimate question. It matters not what men may say, however learned or pious they may seem. It matters not what our forefathers may have said, however ancient their words may be. Nor does it matter that multitudes of men may agree that the Bible is unreliable. Truth is still truth and all the denial in the world can never change it! "Yea, let God be true, and every man a liar." Romans 3:4.
Now I would like to briefly restate these truths and then present one other that is built upon them.
Truth number one; sin is sin and is relative only in the deluded mind of man, while before God it is absolute and has touched the whole human race. "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God."
Truth number two; this sin has caused man to be without God and without hope in the world. It has brought about his spiritual death as well as sickness and death to the natural man.
Truth number three; Christ took upon himself the penalty of sins for the whole human race after having lived a perfect life though tempted in all points like as we are.
Truth number four; there is no other way of salvation than that provided in Christ Jesus. "For by Grace are ye saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast."
Now for this final great truth for our consideration. Christ is coming again! In our text it was Christ standing before Pilate. Someday the roles will be reversed and Pilate will stand before Christ. There will be no question then as to the truth. Jesus said, "They have one that will judge them in that day, the words that I have spoken, they will judge them!" John describes it in this way. "And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God, and the books were opened, and another book was opened which was the Book of life and the dead were judged out of the things found in those books!" No perjured witnesses here to give forth their conflicting testimonies, but only the truths of the eternal Word of God with which to compare the deeds and lives of those who stand in judgement. There will then be no philosophizing or moralizing about the relative goodness or badness of sin but only condemnation for these who names are not found written in the Book of Life.
You may not think that sin is so bad, but your thoughts cannot dull the righteousness of God! You may think somehow to escape the consequences of sin but the only way is the way that a loving God has provided. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved! Then you will be able to say with the redeemed of all ages;

How great the love that searched me out
it could only be divine,
No other love could reach me;
I'm saved and he is mine.

How great the love that suffered!
only God could love me so;
to give His Son to die for me;
I'm saved! This I know!

How great the love that intercedes
when I fail him o'er and o'er,
The love of God still keeps me,
I'm saved by His great power!

How great the love that comforts
and makes me to know this;
Is spite of cares and sorrows,
I'm saved and I am His!
(F.C.Creel)