I.     Intorduction
       A.  ”And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened.”
            1.  Does this make you wonder what is in these books?
            2.  They must be important!
       B.  It is evident from the passage that books are central in our relationship to God.
            1.  God uses books to accomplish His purposes.
            2.  What books should we know about?
       C.  This message was a sermon of Alexander Campbell’s, recorded in Coffman’s commentary.
II.    The Book of Nature.
       A.  God has left a record of his power, brilliance through creation itself.
            (Psalm 19:1; Romans 1:20; Acts 14:17)
       B.  Although it points us to God, the book of nature does not reveal His redemptive plan.
III.   The Book of Remembrance.
       A.  God will remember “those who feared the Lord and esteemed His name.” (Malachi 3:16)
       B.  God also remembers those who disobey, unwilling to listen to HIm. (Isiah 30:8,9)
       C.  God will call forth even the things that dwell in our hearts. (I Corinithians 4:5; Luke 8:17; Romans 2:16)
       D.  However, there are some things that God will not remember (Jeremiah 31:31-35).
IV.   The Old Testament.
       A.  ”The Old Testament continues to be the most impressive witness of the deity and Godhead of Christ”
            1.  ”It establishes his credentials historically for ages prior to the Incarnation.”
            2.  It showed God had a plan, and that Christ is the central part of His plan. (John 5:39;
                 Luke 24:44; Luke 24:25)
       B.  It will stand as a witness to righteousness, faith, and God’s redemptive plan.
V.    The New Testament
       A.  This book will most certainly be opened on that day, because it contains the message of Jesus.
            1.  Jesus plainly stated that His words matter enormously. (Matthew 7:24, 26; 28:18-20)
            2.  They are the basis of judgment (John 12:48)
       B.  We know this also is an eternally relevant book. (I Peter 1:35; Matthew 24:35; John 6:68).
VI.   The Record of Every Man’s Works.
       A.  All people, both “great and small” shall be judged according to their works.
       B.  This is taught by a number of New Testament authorities.
            1.  Jesus (John 5:29).
            2.  Paul (Romans 2:6-8; II Corinthians 5:10).
            3.  Peter (Acts 10:35)
            4.  James (James 2:14, 24, 26, etc.).
            5.  John (I John 2:4-5; 3:7-8).
            6.  Revelation (Revelation 3:15; 14:13; 20:12b-13).
VII.  The Book of Life.
       A.  This is the pivotal book at judgement concerning our eternal destiny. (Revelation 20:12, 15; 21:27)
       B.  Paul reminds those at Philippi that they are in that book already. (Philippians 4:3)
VIII. Conclusion
       A.  Some of these books are changeless; others can be changed by you.
       B.  What do these books say about you?

Glenn Record
June 14, 2009