The strong delusion of false religion, the religion of this present age, free-willism, decisionism, and works salvation, is such a great counterfeit that our Lord tells us plainly, "If it were possible," the false prophets with all their signs and wonders, would "deceive the very elect." But thanks be unto God, it is not possible for God's elect to be deceived. Multitudes will be deceived by the messengers of Satan. Many who seemed strong in the faith will depart from the fold and run after those licentious men who preach up free will and the works of men. But none of God's elect shall be turned aside from the truth. The seal of God is upon his own (Rev. 7:3). Those who are born of God have an anointing, "an unction from the Holy One," and they know, by the inner witness of the Holy Spirit, the difference between the truth and a lie. God's elect know the difference between free-will and free-grace. The multitudes will go after the stranger, and follow him to destruction. But Christ's sheep "hear his voice" and "follow him." "And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers."
We are living in days of great darkness, deception, and delusion. Many antichrists have gone out into the world.
The Papist says, "Here is Christ." And many follow him. The Free-willer says, "Here is Christ." And many follow him. The Fundamentalist says, "Here is Christ." Many follow him. The Social Do-Gooder says, "Here is Christ." And many follow him. The Legalist says, "Here is Christ." And many follow him. The Religious Ritualist says, "Here is Christ." And many follow him. Indeed, before it is over, our test tells us that the influence of the beast, antichrist, is so great that "all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him," or worship under his influence. In these dark days there is great cause for concern. The souls of men are at stake. Multitudes are living damned by the religion by which they hope to be saved! But, blessed be God, there is no cause for concern regarding God's elect. They cannot be deceived! God will not allow it.
Read the text again – "And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world."
Proposition:Our text teaches one thing with unmistakable clarity: It is not possible for God's elect to be deceived and perish with the world. This is our security – Our names are "written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world."
Divisions:In this text, John casually reminds us of three comforting, assuring, soul-cheering truths taught throughout the Word of God. In the midst of this vision of woe, we are given three bright, shining lights of assurance.
Our text speaks of "the book of life" and those whose names are written in it as well as those whose names are not written in it. We are here assured that there is a book in which all the names of God's elect are registered and have been registered "from the foundation of the world." This book is called "The Lamb's book of life" (Rev. 21:27).
A. There Is Yet A Remnant According To The Election Of Grace.Even in the darkest days of apostacy, though all the world seems to be engulfed in the religion of antichrist, God has an elect people whom he will save, a people who cannot and will not perish with the world. Why is it that these elect sinners, men and women of every nation, kindred, tribe and tongue must be saved? The purpose of God according to election must stand.
A. This Election Of Grace Took Place And The Names Of God's Elect Were Written In The Lamb's Book Of Life From The Foundation Of The World (Eph. 1:3-6; II Thess. 2:13-114).
1. These elect ones were given by God the Father to the Lord Jesus Christ in the covenant of grace, that we might be a peculiar people unto him, and that in us he might "see of the travail of his soul and be satisfied" – (Isa. 53:9-11; John 6:39; John 17:2, 6, 9, 11, 24).
2. These men and women, whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life, were chosen by God the Father and predestinated unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, that we might be "to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the Beloved."
3. And in the time appointed by God, each of these elect ones is called by the effectual, irresistible call of his grace, to the obtaining of eternal life in Christ Jesus (Ps. 65:4; 110:3).
B. Divine Election Is Altogether The Work Of God's Eternal Sovereign Grace, Given Us In Christ Before The World Began (II Tim. 1:9).
There is an everlasting covenant of grace, made between the three Persons of the Holy Trinity before the world began, in which the salvation, redemption and eternal life of God's elect was secured (Jer. 31:3, 31-34; 32:37-40; Ezek. 36:24-28).
1. God's election of his people is sovereign and unconditional.
2. Divine election is the personal choice of some in Christ unto salvation and eternal life.
3. God's choice of his elect is an immutable choice of everlasting love.
4. In the covenant of grace God sovereignly determined these four things:
We trace the promise of life back to its original source in the sovereign purpose of God's free grace. And we find the veracity of God, his truth and faithfulness, pledged in an oath taken by God himself by which he has bound the honor of his name to the accomplishment of salvation for his elect, covenant people (Heb. 6:14-20).
Indeed, the apostle Paul gives us a golden chain of Divine grace, reaching from eternity to eternity, which cannot be broken until God ceases to be God (Rom. 8:28-30). This is the eternal election of grace. We rejoice in it and glorify God for it.
But the whole purpose of God in election, the whole covenant of grace, stands upon one condition. It is not conditioned upon man. Nothing in salvation is conditioned upon man. Election, salvation, and all the blessings of grace in the covenant are conditioned upon the obedience of Christ, our Mediator, his obedience unto death, even the death of the cross. And this condition was met by Christ from the foundation of the world.
II. And so, I want you to see the second thing mentioned in our text is The Eternal Redemption Of Christ.
Here John describes our Savior as "The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." In these words the Holy Spirit is telling us that redemption was virtually accomplished for God's elect before the world began. How can this be?
A. In The Purpose Of God Christ Was Slain Before The World Began.Had it not been for the eternal accomplishment of grace in the covenant, before the world began, God would have immediately destroyed the race as soon as Adam fell. God's benevolence and longsuffering with men is the result of his eternal grace toward his elect (II Pet. 3:9). The reason God allows the world to exist, the reason he tolerates reprobate men upon the earth is just this: The Lamb was slain from the foundation of the world!
NOTE: The world was made by the Lamb and the world was made for the Lamb, so that the Lamb might come into the world and be slain as the sacrifice for sin.
B. Everything In The Book Of God Points To Christ, The Lamb Of God, Slain From The Foundation Of The World.
From all eternity Christ was devoted to the work of redemption for the glory of God. He was set apart before the world began for an offering, just as the paschal lamb was set apart four days before it was actually slain. He is called a "Lamb" because he was destined to be a sacrifice for sin, like the lambs offered under the Mosaic law. And though he did not come into the world until the world had existed for four thousand years, he is said to have been "The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world," because he offered himself to God as the sin-atoning sacrifice from the beginning.
1. In Virtually All the prophecies of the Old Testament, Christ was presented as one already sacrificed – (Gen. 3:15; Ps. 22; Ps. 85; Ps. 40; Ps. 68; Ps. 89; Isa. 53).
NOTE: Other prophetic scriptures speak of things to be done in the future. But nearly every prophecy concerning the sacrifice of Christ the atonement of sin by him is given in the past tense! It is always looked upon as a thing already done!
2. All the types bear testimony to Christ as the Lamb that had been slain.
In every age, from Abel to Malachi, the same sacrifices were offered in faith – And that faith was based upon Divine Revelation that the only way of acceptance with God was by the blood of "The Lamb slain." Every type was drawn from the picture given by God and foreshadowed the coming of the Lamb to be slain!
C. From All Eternity God Regarded Christ As The Lamb Who Had Been Slain.
There has always been only one way of salvation: The Blood of The Lamb! In the Old Testament, God forgave sin and imputed righteousness to believers exactly as he does in the New, upon the basis of Christ's sacrifice as "The Lamb slain from the foundation of the World" – (Rom. 3:24-26).
D. When Christ Actually Died At Calvary, He Died According To The Eternal Purpose Of God, Which Can Never Be Frustrated, Defeated, or Overturned (I Pet. 1:18-20; Acts 2:23; 4:27-28).
The whole point of John in giving us this word about Christ is to assure us that those for whom this Lamb was slain can never perish. His atonement for sin is an effectual atonement for a particular people, by which he obtained eternal redemption for God's elect – (Heb. 9-12).
III. Thirdly, our text sets before us The Eternal Security Of God's Elect – (John 10:27-30).
We are debtors to God's Sovereign grace in Christ.
Be pleased, my God, to speak through these lips of clay nothing but vital truth, for the glory of Christ and the good of your people. Speak the word of salvation to some here tonight, according to the multitude of your tender mercies. And graciously meet the needs of your dear children by the Word of the gospel.
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