I was discussing Perseverance of the Saints this summer with someone and we got to a point where she told me that people can be "blotted" out of the "Book of Life". The passage she was referring to is:
Rev. 3:5 "The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels."
Reading this, one could incorrectly assume the Arminian point of view of salvation (based on works). The reason is that the name of a person was once written in and there is the potential that a name can be blotted out based on the "I will never blot his name out" which would suggest that one has to "conquer" to not be blotted out. If one does not conquer then he will have his name blotted out, making salvation based on works. In other words, the line of thinking (Arminian) is that when one is saved his name is written in the Book of Life. However, if that person does not conquer the world, which in this case would be through works, then his name will be blotted out of the Book of Life. On the other hand, if the person does conquer, then his name will not be blotted out. In my opinion, the reason that a person would come to this way of thinking would be that if it is mentioned that the one who conquers will not have his name blotted out, the logical conclusion of the one who does not conquer will be for his name to be blotted out.
My question is: What exactly is meant by this verse.? The context of the verse is:
Rev. 3:1-6: "And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: 'The words of him(A) who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.
"'I know your works. You have the reputation(B) of being alive,(C) but you are dead. 2Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works(D) complete in the sight of my God. 3(E) Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up,(F) I will come(G) like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. 4Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not(H) soiled their garments, and they will walk with me(I) in white, for they are(J) worthy. 5(K) The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never(L) blot his name out of(M) the book of life.(N) I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. 6(O) He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'
Another question is: What conquer specifically means here?
And how to refute this way of thinking?-specifically with the "Book of Life", which people take literally or metaphorically. (many Arminian people I've talked to believe in this "having ones name taken out literally because of not staying faithful to the end" mentality).
I don't know if I made my question clear or if it's understandable. Let me know. I can elaborate on it some more perhaps.
Rev. 3:5 "The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels."
Reading this, one could incorrectly assume the Arminian point of view of salvation (based on works). The reason is that the name of a person was once written in and there is the potential that a name can be blotted out based on the "I will never blot his name out" which would suggest that one has to "conquer" to not be blotted out. If one does not conquer then he will have his name blotted out, making salvation based on works. In other words, the line of thinking (Arminian) is that when one is saved his name is written in the Book of Life. However, if that person does not conquer the world, which in this case would be through works, then his name will be blotted out of the Book of Life. On the other hand, if the person does conquer, then his name will not be blotted out. In my opinion, the reason that a person would come to this way of thinking would be that if it is mentioned that the one who conquers will not have his name blotted out, the logical conclusion of the one who does not conquer will be for his name to be blotted out.
My question is: What exactly is meant by this verse.? The context of the verse is:
Rev. 3:1-6: "And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: 'The words of him(A) who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.
"'I know your works. You have the reputation(B) of being alive,(C) but you are dead. 2Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works(D) complete in the sight of my God. 3(E) Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up,(F) I will come(G) like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. 4Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not(H) soiled their garments, and they will walk with me(I) in white, for they are(J) worthy. 5(K) The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never(L) blot his name out of(M) the book of life.(N) I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. 6(O) He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'
Another question is: What conquer specifically means here?
And how to refute this way of thinking?-specifically with the "Book of Life", which people take literally or metaphorically. (many Arminian people I've talked to believe in this "having ones name taken out literally because of not staying faithful to the end" mentality).
I don't know if I made my question clear or if it's understandable. Let me know. I can elaborate on it some more perhaps.