Can't Know Your Name Is In The Book of Life?

"Primitive Baptists" say that none can know that they are saved. They even speak against those who say that they know that they are saved. It is a common practice for the Hardshells to say "I hope I am saved," or to say "I love Jesus if not deceived." One of the arguments they use to uphold their idea that no one can know for sure that he or she is saved is to say that no one knows what names are written in the "book of life." Recently I had a Hardshell Baptist ask me - "can you know that your name, or anyone else's name, is in the book of life?" I immediately said "yes." That answer perplexed the Hardshell. I cited these words of the apostle Paul:

"And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life." (Phil. 4: 3 nkjv)

So, it is possible to know that someone's name is written in the book of life. Said Jesus to his disciples:

"Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10: 20 nkjv)

If we cannot know that our names are written in heaven, in the book of life, then we certainly can't rejoice in that fact. So many Christians sing this wonderful song (one that brother Mann introduced me to several years ago and which I love to hear sung):

1 My name is in the Book of Life,
O bless the name of Jesus!
I rise above all doubt and strife,
And read my title clear.

Chorus:
I know, I know my name is there;
I know, I know My name is written there.

2 My name once stood with sinners, lost,
And bore a painful record;
But by His blood the Savior cross'd,
And placed it on His roll. [Chorus]

3 Yet inward trouble often cast
A shadow o’er my title;
But now with full salvation blest,
Praise God! it’s ever clear. [Chorus]

4 While others climb thro' worldly strife,
To carve a name of honor,
High up in heaven’s Book of Life,
My name is written there. [Chorus]

If you know that you are saved, then you can know that your name is written in the book of life. How can you know that you are saved? Simply by examining yourself and asking yourself whether you truly love and adore the Lord Jesus Christ and have put your trust in him. If you can know that you love another person, whether it be your spouse, or your child, etc., then you ought to know whether you love the Lord or not. So many Christians sing, including Hardshells, 

1 My Jesus, I love thee, I know thou art mine;
for thee all the follies of sin I resign;
my gracious Redeemer, my Savior art thou;
if ever I loved thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.

The apostle Paul said: "I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day." (II Tim. 1: 12 nkjv) The following hymn describes the kind of self examination that many believers do in order to find assurance of salvation. 

1 Do not I love Thee, O my Lord?
Behold my heart, and see,
And turn each cursed idol out,
That dares to rival Thee.

2 Do not I love Thee from my soul?
Then let me nothing love;
Dead be my heart to ev’ry joy
When Jesus cannot move.

3 Thou know’st I love Thee, dearest Lord,
But O I long to soar
Far from the sphere of mortal joys,
And learn to love Thee more.

Another hymn that describes this self examination is the following:

1 'Tis a point I long to know,
Oft it causes anxious thought;
Do I love the Lord, or no?
Am I his, or am I not?

2 Could my heart so hard remain,
Prayer a task and burden prove,
Every trifle give me pain,
If I knew a Saviour's love?

3 Yet I mourn my stubborn will,
Find my sin a grief and thrall;
Should I grieve for what I feel,
If I did not love at all?

4 Could I joy with saints to meet,
Choose the ways I once abhorred,
Find at times the promise sweet,
If I did not love the Lord?

5 Lord, decide the doubtful case,
Thou who art thy people's Sun;
Shine upon thy work of grace,
If it be indeed begun.

These self examinations should lead a believer to say "yes, thank God, I'm saved." They should also lead false believers to confess that they need to be saved, and to call upon the Lord for it. Wrote the apostle John: 

"These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God." (I John 5: 13 nkjv)

John wanted believers to know that they had eternal life. How does he say that one can know that he or she is saved? By discerning whether they truly believe in Jesus. He said in the first verse of this chapter: "whoever is believing that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God." If you doubt whether your faith is real, then you must look at your life to see if you have a "living faith" rather than a "dead faith," for a living faith produces good works. (James 2: 14-25) True faith is known by its fruits. 

Jesus said that saved people "know" him. (John 10: 14) Jesus will say to unbelievers in the day of judgment - "depart from me for I never knew you." (Matt. 7: 23) Paul said that in that same day that those who "know not God" will be "punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord." (II Thess. 1: 9)

Surely if you know the Lord then you will know that you know.