Blotted Out
                       David Bennett
                      © November 11, 2007

    [Moses speaking] "But now, please forgive their sin--but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written."  The LORD
    replied to Moses, "Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book." Exodus 32:32-33

    He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will
    acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels. Revelation 3:5

Notice, God did not tell Moses He had already decided who would be blotted out. The LORD told Moses that whoever sinned against Him
would be removed. Sin is not something God makes us do.

Calvinists would say only the few God had chosen before creation are in the book. If that is the case, who is in the book? Is God blotting out
names He had already predetermined would be in the book? Or were the names put in the book knowing they'd be blotted out later after
God caused them to sin? Or were they not predetermined in the way Calvinists think?

There certainly appears to be a choice implied here on the part of the blotee. Perhaps this shows that God did intend at Creation for everyone
to be with Him, but because of sin that entered the world it is when we don't overcome (by not accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior and
acknowledging we are saved by Jesus' sacrifice on the cross) that we are cast from His presence forever... This does not mean we save
ourselves by any stretch of the imagination, that was done by grace when Jesus became our substitute on the cross. That was the action that
saved us and accepting it does not cause it.

How does one "overcome" as it says in Revelation? We overcome by accepting (free will) what Christ did for us (predestined) and following
Him.

If we are drowning in a stormy lake and someone comes by in a boat and throws a lifeline to us we have to grab the rope and hold on to it or
drown. If we do grab hold of it (free will) we are not the cause of the boat coming to us and having someone throw the lifeline to us. That was
already set in motion and accomplished. Whether we grab hold of the lifeline or not does not change the fact that the means for our salvation
is available and at hand. But we must choose to accept the saving act or reject it and drown as a consequence if we reject or refuse it.

Jesus died for everyone, not just certain someones, therefore everyone has the same choice, accept Christ Jesus or sink into the abyss.







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