By
Shelby G. Floyd
We hear much news about sexual misbehavior in politics, business, news corporations, religious organizations, and regular homes. it is timely that we share what the creator said about honoring your marriage bed. Both the Jewish and Christian writings in the Bible are replete with high principles of marriage fidelity. Continue reading “GOD ORDAINED MARRIAGE”
By
Shelby G. Floyd
In the New Testament we find that “the book” mentioned by Daniel the prophet is actually “the Lamb’s book of life.” Those whose names written in the Lamb’s book of life will be delivered to heaven because they relied on the blood of the Lamb that takes away the sin of the world. Let us again be reminded of those two scriptures in the book of Revelation with which we started this lesson. John declared, “All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world” (Revelation 13:8, NIV).
And in the last chapter of the Revelation John said, “Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life” (Revelation 21:27, NIV). God has made it possible for our names to be recorded in “the Lamb’s book of Life” because his beloved Son offered himself up as our Passover lamb and because we have been cleansed by his precious blood like a perfect lamb without spot or blemish.
THE CELESTIAL CITY
We must receive, believe and obey the whole counsel of God. If our names are written in the Lamb’s book of life and we do not add to or take away from what God has revealed to us in his word, then where are we going at the last day? We will not be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone. Then where is our destination? We will go to that celestial city. It will be a large city. According to the measurements given its literal size would be a cube 1500 miles square. That is probably a figure of speech—a definite figure standing for an indefinite figure. That would mean that the city in heaven would be as large as the United States from shore to shining shore. God uses these terms to assure us that there is going to be plenty of room for all of us whose names are in the Lamb’s book of life.
DANIEL THE PROPHET
It is interesting to note that Daniel the prophet, who lived some 700 to 800 years before Christ, saw and recorded some things that are going to take place at the last day:
“At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt” (Daniel 12:1-2, NIV).
There is no doubt that Daniel is referring to the last day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns and the resurrection of both the just and the unjust. But on that day God’s people whose names are found written in the book will be delivered unto everlasting life. But those not found written in the book will be reserved to shame and everlasting contempt. Everlasting life and everlasting contempt stand in contrast. And the difference is whether our name is found written in God’s book. What a wonderful promise from Daniel to God’s people!
MY BIRTH CERTIFICATE
Recently, when I looked at my original birth certificate, where it listed baptism it was blank. My father and mother did not have me baptized when I was born. They left that blank. I did not need to be baptized as an infant because I was innocent and without sin. At that point I had done nothing right or wrong. Also, I did not have the capacity to believe, repent, confess Christ, and choose to be baptized of my own free will.
BAPTISM FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SIN
And as I grew up like everyone else I became a sinner and in need of forgiveness. I remember as a young man when I went forward and made the good confession and was baptized into Christ. One of the men who assisted me in obeying the gospel stated, “you will never regret what you have done today.” And I have been thankful all the days of my life that I made a commitment to live for Christ while I was young.
GOD GAVE ME A NEW LEAF
And it was on that day that God gave me a new leaf clean and white. God took away and blotted out all my past sins. He gave me a new leaf and he gives me a new leaf every day because none of us are perfect. We make mistakes and fall short every day. But the Bible declares, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7,KJV). So if we confess our sins, and repent and acknowledge that we are sinners every day, and pray that God will forgive us, he will keep that leaf in his book of remembrance just as clean, pure and white as it possibly can be.
I hope now as we prepare to stand and sing a song of encouragement, and you realize that your name is not in the Lamb’s book of life, that you will come forward and have your name recorded in the book of registry—the Lamb’s book of life. Before we sing that song of encouragement, I would like for all of us to take note and listen to these words that I wrote down many years ago:
He came to my desk with quivering lip—
The lesson was done.
“Dear Teacher, I want a new leaf,” he said,
“I have spoiled this one.”
I took the old leaf, stained and blotted,
And gave him a new one all unspotted,
And into his sad eyes smiled,
“Do better, now, my child.”
I went to the throne with a quivering soul—
The old year was done.
“Dear Father, hast thou a new leaf for me?
I have spoiled this one.”
He took the old leaf, stained and blotted,
And gave me a new one all unspotted,
And into my sad heart smiled,
“Do better, now, my child.”
—Kathlean Wheeler, Gospel Advocate, September 13, 1973, page 592.
That is exactly the spirit that God has in his relationship with you, if you will obey the gospel and have your name recorded in the Lamb’s book of life. As we sing this song I want you to remember that the Lord Jesus Christ as it were will be standing here with his arms outstretched as he did in the long-ago when he said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30, KJV). You will never find any rest for your eternal soul unless you have your name recorded in the Lamb’s book of life! Do not delay another day.*
*Copyright © 2010, 2023 Shelby G. Floyd, All Rights Reserved
This sermon was delivered by Shelby G. Floyd, August 15, 2010, at the Heartland Church of Christ, 1693 West Main Street, Greenwood, Indiana 46142 shelby@thefloyds.net
By
Shelby G. Floyd
At the last day the names recorded in the Lamb’s Book of Life will enter the Heavenly City!
“And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life” (Revelation 21:26-27 NKJV).
We note that some names will not be recorded in “the Book of Life of the Lamb,”
“All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8).
This is because they worshipped the Beast of the Sea and the Beast of the Earth instead of the God of heaven and earth! (Revelation 13:1; 11). Why would any sane person go to meet God with their name not recorded in “the Book of Life of the Lamb” (Revelation 13:8)?
Some Names Blotted Out
Some names recorded in the Book will be “blotted out!” Your name recorded in the Book of Life, can be blotted out. This should wake us up, for we do not want our names blotted out of the Book of Life.
Some names were blotted out of God’s Old Testament book of remembrance (Exodus 17:14; Psalms 9:5). Some names of the dead church at Sardis were blotted out (erased) of the Book of Life: “The one who overcomes will be clothed the same way, in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels” (Revelation 3:5 NASB).
Moses and the Children of Israel
Remember the story when Moses went up on Mount Sinai to receive the law. He was gone for quite some time and then he came down from the mountain with the tablets in his hand. Moses exploded because the people created a golden calf to worship! And they committed immorality (Exodus 32:6; 1 Corinthians 10:7). It is on this occasion that Moses said to the children of Israel that God would blot out of his book those that had sinned against him:
Exodus 32: 30-33
The next day Moses said to the people, “You have committed a great sin. But now I will go up to the LORD; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.”
So Moses went back to the LORD and said, “Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made themselves gods of gold. 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.”
NIV
Moses loved the children of Israel and asked God to forgive them. But God said I will blot out of my book those who have sinned against me. God did not blot out the name of Moses because he had not sinned against him.
The Wicked Not Listed With the Righteous
Time went on and King David in his Psalms asked God to blot out of the book of the living the wicked in order that their names might not appear along with the righteous. “May they be blotted out of the book of life and not be listed with the righteous” (Psalms 69:28 NIV). David was a man after God’s own heart. He committed great sin, but he was always repentant. And he usually went to God and asked for forgiveness. Most of the time he went before God to find out what he should do before he decided about a matter.
The wicked will not dwell in the congregation of the righteous in the eternal assembly. It is good that we will not be thrown in with the wicked! God is not going to keep the names of the wicked and the righteous together. He will separate them as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats (Matthew 25:31-32).
False Prophets Not Listed in the Records
When we survey the Old Testament history, we find there were false prophets. There were also the true prophets such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel and Ezekiel. Ezekiel declared in his prophecy that certain false prophets would not be in the writing of the house of Israel: “My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and utter lying divinations. They will not belong to the council of my people or be listed in the records of the house of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Sovereign LORD” (Ezekiel 13:9).
The Faithful Receive A Crown of Life
But we can have assurance of our salvation and eternal destiny. In the New Testament our Lord promised that if we will be faithful even to the point of death, he will give us a crown of life:
“Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10).
Therefore, whether our name is in or blotted out of The Book of Life depends upon each one of us. We are made in the image of God. And we have free will of choice. It is up to us to make the right choice. We are glad that God write things down accurately.
Somehow, we like people to write things down. A Doctor after showing me my vitals on a computer said, “It is still alright to write things down!” When we incur a debt, and we are asked to pay for it, we want written proof that we owe such along with the interest. It is permanent and there is less risk of mistakes. Therefore, we are encouraged when we read the Bible that God keeps a written record of his relationship with his creation.
The Songs of Slavery
It is interesting that many poets and songwriters noticed that God writes things down. In America during the days of slavery, the book of Revelation was a favorite book of the slaves. They would create poems and songs they would sing. While they were working in the fields they would sing their spiritual songs with much emotion. One song they would sing had these words:
My Lord sees all you do,
And my Lord hears all you say,
And my Lord keeps a-writin’ all the time.
God writes things down. He writes down what he sees and what he hears. Almighty God is aware of those mistreated and of those who mistreated them. It is all written down in his book of remembrance.
The Prophet Malachi
The prophet Malachi wrote in the last book of the Old Testament that God writes things down concerning those who fear him and honor his name:
“Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honored his name. “They will be mine,” says the LORD Almighty, “in the day when I make up my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him” (Malachi 3:16-17, NIV).
Malachi declares that God writes down the names of those who fear and honor his name in the scroll of remembrance. Those names represent his treasured possession at the last day. Therefore, God writes down his treasured possession is his people.
Omar Khayyam
The poet Omar Khayyam wrote these meaningful words about the fact that God always keeps a perfect record, and he writes this record down in his book of remembrance:
The moving finger writes,
And having writ moves on,
Nor all your piety and wit,
Can lure it back,
To cancel half a line.
God can cancel a line. Man cannot cancel a line except by changing our life to please the Lord! God writes things down and there will be no mistakes. The record will be clear and accurate. God’s memory is perfect! God writes things down in his book of remembrance to reassure us that his record is just, righteous and loving to those who fear his name. Above all, make sure your name is recorded in the Lamb’s Book of Life!
Copyright © 2023 Shelby G. Floyd, All Rights Reserved
Shelby G. Floyd, minister of the heartland Church of Christ, 1693 West Main Street, Greenwood, Indiana 46142
By
Shelby G. Floyd
Is your name in the Book of Life? You might say, “What book are you talking about?” Well, Face Book, of course! A lot of us are on Face Book. It is a social network, and it is interesting. It is a good way to communicate with our friends and family, especially if they are separated by some distance. My first cousin says that Face Book is like the old-time telephone party line, where everyone could listen in to someone’s conversation and find out the latest gossip. Face Book is one book we can have our name in. But that is not the book that we speak of today. We ask is your name in the “Lamb’s Book of Life?”
Recently, I got out my original birth certificate. It is a fancy birth certificate, listing the day of my birth at St. Francis Hospital in Beech Grove, Indiana. On the back side of it, my footprints and my thumbprints are imprinted. It said my hair was red, how much I weighed at birth, and who my father and mother were. Some of you can remember when my hair was brown and now it is white with age—red, brown and white!
I read in my daily Bible readings this week the Psalms of David. And there was a reading that jumped out and was very meaningful to me. I want to share it with you:
Psalms 139: 13-16
13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
NIV
It is that last verse which I emphasize. “All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” When I look at my birth certificate, my name is in that book. But God knew how many days I would have upon this earth before I was even born. And he wrote them down in his book of the physical living. And that is amazing! And one of these days we are going to receive another certificate—our death certificate. And our names will be written in the book of those who have ceased to be on this earth. And so physically all of us who are alive today have our names recorded in the book of the physical living.
From 1965 through 1968 I preached for the Arlington church of Christ in Jacksonville, Florida. And while I was living there I visited a used bookstore. And I purchased this little green book that has water marks all over it and the title was blotted out. I took a magic marker and inscribed the title on it. The title is “A Bunch of Everlastings,” by F. W. Boreham. This book is made up of some of the favorite texts of preachers down through the centuries. I love this book and would not take anything for it. Most preachers prize their books as their most cherished possessions. The text I have chosen for our topic today was Dean Stanley’s favorite text, Revelation 21: 27!
Let me share with you the story in this book about Dean Stanley. There were two soldiers in England who boarded a train. They sat down by this gentleman and found
out he was from the same town as Dean Stanley. Then they related a story to him about their visit to Westminster Abby, in London, England. As they were ready to visit the Abby it was closing for the day. As they were being turned away, Dean Stanley appeared and asked them if they could return on the next day. They were very disappointed and said that they had to leave the next day. Dean Stanley then took the keys from the regular tour guide and showed them throughout the famous building where all the notables of Great Britain were laid to rest. As they were leaving, he said, “But, after all you both may have a more enduring monument than this, for this will molder into dust and be forgotten, but if your names are written in the Lamb’s book of life, you will abide forever.”
He invited them to breakfast the next morning, paid their fares to their home, and again in bidding them goodbye he urged them to make sure that their names were written in the Lamb’s book of life. And then he added these words as they parted company, “If we never meet again on earth, we shall certainly meet in Heaven.”
That is a wonderful story. And I ask, “Is your name written in the Lamb’s book of life?” If it is not, make sure that your name is recorded in God’s book of life—the Lamb’s book of life! The expression, “the Lamb’s book of life” is found only one time in the New Testament. It is used near the end of the book of Revelation when John declared,
“Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life” (Revelation 21:27).
In the context in which this passage is stated, John is discussing the new Jerusalem—heaven itself. And then he describes the people who will live in that celestial city. No one will enter the celestial home unless their name is found in the book—the Lamb’s book of life. And this is what makes heaven so outstanding, because those who go there are related to the Lamb of God who gave his precious blood that we might be free from sin: “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).
And now we look at a related passage that does not use the exact expression the Lamb’s book of life, but it conveys the same idea in different wording: “All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world” (Revelation 13:8). Those whose names are written in the book of life will not worship the beast but will worship God in spirit and truth as we are commanded (John 4:24). When John said that the Lamb was slain from the creation of the world it means that in type, prophecy and promise, Christ was promised to be the Lamb of God that would be slain on the cross of Calvary. All the blood of bulls and goats was but a type of the blood of Christ shed on the cross at the fullness of times (Galatians 4:4-5).
After reading both of these passages of Scripture, we ask again, “Is your name written in the Lamb’s book of life?” If it is not, make it your priority to see that you have your name recorded in the registry of God’s book of life!
Copyright © 2023 Shelby G. Floyd, All Rights Reserved
Shelby G. Floyd, Minister, Heartland Church of Christ, 1693 West Main Street, Greenwood, Indiana 46142
By
Shelby G. Floyd
It is good to see all of you today. We are thankful for our visitors. It is wonderful to worship God. On a first day of the week Jesus rose from the dead, appeared to his apostles, and now reigns at the right hand of God in heaven.
Today is the Lord’s Day, the first day of the week. The apostle John from the Isle of Patmos wrote, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day” (Revelation 1:10). I think we all are “in the spirit” by the way we sung those beautiful hymns.
Have you ever thought about the days in the week? Today is the first day of the week and Saturday was the seventh day of the week. And one of the first arguments that I present to you today is the seven-day week.
The children of Israel came out of Egypt and in about 50 days they came to Mount Sinai. God gave them his law and that law said, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it” (Exodus 20:8,11). That is the day they came out of Egypt, out of slavery, and were marching to the promised land. And that is what we all are doing now. We are marching to the heavenly promised land! But we do not worship on Saturday, the seventh day of the week. We worship on Sunday, the first day of the week.
Where did the week come from? Why not a week of eight, or 10 days? It all goes back to the creation week. God created the heavens and the earth in six days and he rested on the seventh day. And so everywhere we have a seven-day week. And that makes me believe that the world was created in six regular 24-hour days. And that gave us the week as we know it. For 1500 years the Jewish people worshiped on Saturday – the Sabbath – the seventh day of the week.
In Acts two the church was established, and Christians worshipped on the first day of the week. Why was that the case? The first Christians were Jewish people, because 3000 worshipers in Jerusalem were converted on the day of Pentecost which is always on Sunday.
And so we believe one of the strongest arguments for the resurrection of Christ is the fact that 3000 people started worshiping on the first day of the week instead of the seventh day of the week. Why? Now if Christ had not been raised from the dead on the first in the week, we believe it would have been impossible to change the worship day from the seventh day to the first day of the week. The Sabbath day worship was deeply embedded in the history of Israel and the Jewish people. They would not have changed the day of worship unless there was a powerful reason for doing so. And that powerful reason was and is the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ! Continue reading “THE RESURRECTED CHRIST”
By
Shelby G. Floyd
“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John” (Revelation 1:1 NKJV). This “Revelation of Jesus Christ” came to us through several steps.
1. God gave the Revelation to Jesus Christ;
2. Jesus sent and signified it by his angel;
3. The angel gave it to his servant John; and,
4. John gave it to the servants of Christ. Continue reading “THE GLORIOUS SON OF MAN”
By
Shelby G. Floyd
Our time on this earth is tentative. No one knows the day they will die. But we do know by divine revelation that Jesus went to prepare a place for his people (John 14:1-4). He described it as a mansion with many rooms!
This heavenly home is for those who are now in Christ and who live like Christ lived while he was on the earth. How did Christ live?
Jesus was always aware of what was going on around him. He took the time to reach out and help the poor and needy people he contacted.
In the story of Lazarus, the rich man was lost and in torment, because he was mean and cruel to the beggar. All he asked for was the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. He was hungry, full of sores, and suffering. And all he wanted was what the little dogs would eat that fell from the table (Luke 16:21; Mark 7:27-28).
The rich man fared sumptuously at a banquet every day. Evidently he was a Pharisee. And they loved money (Luke 16:14-15). And God said no one can serve God and money (1 Timothy 6:9-10).
In the course of time the beggar Lazarus died. He was tenderly carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. And this is a place of spiritual bliss! Of course, later the rich man also died. His emphasis in life was outward and material. So it was in death—he was buried. He took care of the outward man sumptuously in his life and the emphasis now is on the outward man in death.
But in the afterlife he was in torments in Hades. This means that he was lost forever. He could not go over across the great gulf to be with Lazarus. And Lazarus could send no one across the great divide to help him. He who showed no mercy while living on the earth received no mercy in the afterlife.
Now the rich man is wonderfully interested in his five brothers who live back on the earth. He wants Lazarus to warn them so they will not go to “this place of torment!”
Abraham states that this cannot be done. At this time the law of Moses and the prophets was in effect. They have Moses and the prophets to guide them and that is all they need. They evidently do not believe Moses and the prophets. But Abraham says, “If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead” (Luke 16:31).
Today, we all have Christ, the gospel, and the teaching of the apostles. And that is enough. The faith has be once delivered (Jude 3). No one is coming back to warn us! So let us all “Trust and Obey!”
Therefore remember the words of Jesus when he said,
In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare
a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also (John 14:1-3).
This epitaph was found written upon a tombstone:
Remember, friend, as you pass by,
As you are now, so once was I.
As I am now, soon you shall be,
Prepare for death, and follow me.
Someone comedian wrote,
To follow you, I’m not content,
Until I know which way you went!
Copyright © 2023 Shelby G. Floyd, All Rights Reserved
Shelby G. Floyd, Minister, Heartland Church of Christ, 1693 West Main Street, Greenwood, Indiana. Email: shelby@thefloyds.net
By
Shelby G. Floyd
Long ago when God’s people rebuilt the temple, the prophet Zechariah asked this question,
“The hands of Zerubbabel
Have laid the foundation of this temple;
His hands shall also finish it.
Then you will know
That the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you.
10 For who has despised the day of small things?
For these seven rejoice to see
The plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel.
They are the eyes of the Lord,
Which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth” (Zechariah 4: 9-10 NKJV). Continue reading “THE DAY OF SMALL BEGINNINGS”
By
Shelby G. Floyd
We rejoice in this good audience. Our topic is “The Conversion of a Government Official.” I have just read the book “So Help Me God” by Mike Pence. I am glad to live in Indiana, because Mike Pence was our governor and Vice President. He is a godly man who I believe does the right thing. Why do I mention this? Because our study today is about a government official – the Ethiopian eunuch.
Jesus Christ commanded us to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every person (Matthew 28:18-20). The gospel is the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16-17). The preaching of the gospel is considered foolish by some people. We believe it is the wisdom and power of God unto salvation.
The book of Acts is a book of conversions to Jesus Christ. To be saved one does not go to Genesis, Psalms, or the Prophets. But we go to the Acts of the Apostles which is a book of sinners converted to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Our lesson today is about the conversion of a distinguished citizen from Ethiopia. Ethiopia was located southeast of Egypt on the continent of Africa. Continue reading “A GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL CONVERTED”
Jesus determined to go to Jerusalem to face the suffering, humiliation, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension back to his heavenly Father. The biblical writer Luke described it like this: “Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51 NKJV). Two verses later he described his proposed journey in similar words: “…His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem” (Luke 9:53). Continue reading “HE SET HIS FACE”