when does our name go into the book of life?

The Biblical answer is BOTH! In Psalm 139:13-16, the psalmist described conception as, "When I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth" (verse 15). He said, "Thou has covered me" and also mentioned "my reins" (verse 13). The "me" and "my" he was referring to was "my soul" (verse 14). 

Ezekiel 18:4 informs us that God said, "All souls are mine." A soul is placed within at the time of conception. Therefore, there is spiritual life. Psalm 139:16 says, "Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, ... when as yet there was none of them." 

At conception, when the soul is placed within, the new life is written in the Book of Life. The Apostle Paul substantiated this in Romans 7:9, stating, "For I was alive without the law once." This refers to the time prior to his reaching the age of accountability. Romans 4:15 tells us, "For where no law is, there is no transgression."

Prior to the age of accountability, there is therefore no sin. If Paul was "alive," he was in the Book of Life. However, he said in Romans 7:9, "But when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died." The "commandment" was the Mosaic Law, which was given on Mount Sinai in 1491 B.C. Yet, Paul was writing this around 1500 or more years later. What did he mean? When "the commandment came" to Paul was when he became aware of it. That is when accountability arrived. 
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When Paul became aware of right and wrong, he became accountable. Then, he did as Isaiah 53:6 says, "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way." When this occurs, the Apostle penned, "Sin revived [one rendering says, 'sin sprang into life'], and I died" (Romans 7:9). When "sin" enters in and spiritual death occurs, the Lord says, "Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book" (Exodus 32:33). 

When we are "born again" (John 3:7), and have as Romans 6:4 describes "newness of life," our names are "written in the book of life" (Revelation 20:15). Of all things, we must make sure that our "names are written in heaven" (Luke 10:20) and that they stay in that blessed "book of life."

​Earl R. Borders

From the  June 2024 issue of The Gospel Trumpeter