Recently I wrote a blog on Rev 3:5 and the question of whether non-overcoming believers will be blotted out of the Book of Life. See here.
I received this excellent question about that blog from John:
I’m going to add in red what I think Rev 3:5 means:
He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name (but I will blot out the name of the non-overcomers) from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
Non-overcomers, non-believers, will be blotted out from the roll call of the living [those who have eternal life] ….
John’s view is that of many Evangelicals: All believers are overcomers; those who fail to overcome are unbelievers.
I’ve written on this before. See here. But it is such an important question that it deserves to be answered again.
That view might possibly apply to 1 John 5:4-5, though I don’t think so. I think 1 John 5 is saying that when we walk by faith, we are overcomers. I don’t think John is saying that all believers are overcomers.
However, it is possible to understand overcomers in 1 John 5 as referring to all believers, and overcomers in Revelation 2-3 as referring to faithful, persevering believers.
Why do we say that in Revelation 2-3, non-overcomers are believers? I have seven reasons:
- The Lord is addressing seven churches. No unbeliever is part of the Body of Christ. Unbelievers may have visited some of these churches. But they were not a part of any of them.
- All seven letters say, “I know your works.” The issue is faithful vs. unfaithful service for Christ. Faithful service is not the condition of everlasting life.
- Not one of the seven letters calls for the readers to believe in Jesus for everlasting life.
- The word overcomer (Greek nikao) means winner or victor, not believer.
- There are many warning passages in the NT about the possibility of falling away. In fact, most of the seven letters in Revelation 2-3 warn the readers about that possibility.
- Jesus does not promise everlasting life to those who overcome. Instead, He promises overcomers: 1) the privilege of ruling with Him and 2) various perseverance prizes that go along with that (hidden manna, right to the tree of life, special white garments, etc.).
- The entire NT distinguishes between eternal rewards that are earned by work done (1 Cor 9:24-27; 2 Cor 5:9-10; Gal 6:7-9; 2 Tim 2:12; 4:6-8; Rev 3:21), versus everlasting life, which is the gift of God (John 4:10; 6:28-29; Rom 4:4-5; Gal 2:16; Eph 2:8-9; Rev 22:17).
Strive to be an overcomer? Absolutely. See 1 Cor 9:27. But not so that you can get into the kingdom. The goal is to gain the Lord’s approval, praise, and commendation.
Keep grace in focus.
