15 And for this cause he is the
mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of
the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called
might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. 16 For where a testament is, there
must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17 For a testament is of force
after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator
liveth. 18 Whereupon neither the first
testament was dedicated without blood. 19 For when Moses had spoken every
precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and
of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the
book, and all the people, 20 Saying, This is the blood of the
testament which God hath enjoined unto you. 21 Moreover he sprinkled with blood
both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. 22 And almost all things are by the
law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. (Heb
9:15-22)
We are considering today the benefits accrued to the believer by the
sacrificial death of our Lord, Savior, Redeemer, and King – Jesus Christ. There
is, in legal parlance, a Living Will, and a Final Will and Testament. The
Living Will was ordered by God the Father for the work and death of His only
Begotten Son, Jesus Christ. It provided for His coming to earth in the form of
a Man, and suffering and dying in a designated way, time, and place as a
redemption for our sins. But there exists also a Final Will and Testament of
the Lord for those who are His beneficiaries – those elect of God who have been
called and chosen as disciples of Jesus Christ.
Your attention is invited to the Parable of the Prodigal Son who demanded his
full inheritance from an aged father long before it would normally be granted –
at the death of the father. Because the grant of inheritance was not made
according to law, the prodigal profited in no way from it, but was, instead,
ruined in his living and lifestyle. The benefits of a Final Will and Testament
do not accrue until the death of the Testator. If we rest our claim on any
resource other than the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus
Christ, we will profit nothing. We may believe every facet of the Gospel EXCEPT
the Cross and remain as lost and damned as ever before. It is the Cross that
certifies the Final Will and Testament of Christ. It is His official Stamp and
Seal of our Salvation.
A Final Will and Testament is not in effect until after the
death of the Testator – in this case, Jesus Christ. For where a testament
is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
Let us examine thirteen characteristics of a Testator:
First, the Testator must be solvent
to grant an inheritance to His successors. Christ our Lord has all of the riches
of Heaven and Earth to grant, and spiritual blessings untold.
Second, those beneficiaries must be
able to provide proof of their blood-relationship to the Testator. They do this
by making their calling and election in Christ sure: Wherefore the rather,
brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do
these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto
you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ. (2 Peter 1:10-11 (KJV) Those whom Christ has received
into covenant relation with Himself are entitled, as family of God, to an
inheritance eternal.
Third, the Testator (Christ) must
publish His intentions prior to His death, and that is precisely what Christ
has done for us. Not only in the Gospel has He spelled out the terms of our
Salvation, but also in the law, prophets, and Epistles.
Fourth, the Testator must have full
power to dispose of the goods He bequeaths. Christ is fully able and willing to
meet this requirement. I read of a multi-millionaire who recently died and
whose friend asked another, “How much did Fred leave behind?” “He left it
all,” was the answer. While it is true that we take nothing with us, Christ
left the Way, the Truth, and the Life for us to follow. He was the only One
able, qualified, and willing to purchase our Salvation – and He did it! He
defeated death and Hell in the process. He has bequeathed us power to become the
sons and daughters of God. But as many as received him, to them gave he
power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which
were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man,
but of God. (John
1:12-13) At death,
our only treasure will be in heaven.
Fifth, the Testator sets down in His
Testament the persons to whom His Testament is applicable. Those are all
that the Father has given Him, all of His sheep that hear His Voice and follow,
and all who truly believe and repent. 11 I am the
good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 12 But he that is an
hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf
coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and
scattereth the sheep. 13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an
hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 14 I am the good
shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15 As the Father
knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. (John
10:10-15) Only those whom He has purchased will know of their calling
and election. They follow the Good Shepherd without question or hesitation.
Sixth, the Testator must have a
witness to the veracity of His Will and Intent for purposes of notarization.
The witnesses which Christ called to the bar were God the Father, God the Holy
Ghost, the Voice of John the Baptist crying in the wilderness, His miraculous
works, the whole of Scripture from Genesis to Revelations, and, finally, His
apostles. No Last Will and Testament has ever produced such an array of
witnesses.
Seventh, it was the custom of the
eastern nations, and still is in many others, to seal every Will and Testament
with the blood of the Testator. This Christ did with abundance. 16 For where a testament is,
there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17 For a testament is of force
after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator
liveth. (Heb 9:16-17) As our Lord has proclaimed, For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed
for many for the remission of sins. (Matt 26:28)
Eighth, by making a Last Will and
Testament, the Testator disannuls the provisions of previous testaments. This
may be a presumed disannulment only, for the laws and commandments were never
able to save. Only the looking forward in faith to the coming Redeemer were men
saved from Abraham until Christ. Men today are saved by the lesser faith of
looking back on the historic and actual event.
Ninth, in making a Last Will and
Testament, the Testator makes His Testament unalterable either by Himself or
others. Unfortunately, we see many Laodicean-style churches of our day
attempting to alter that will and testament to their own ruin. They even medal
with the very Word of God in their new, error-filled Bible versions. My
covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.
(Psalm 89:34)
Tenth, the Testator takes measures to
have His Will and Testament widely published after His death so that all who
share in His Blood-Relationship may be assured of their legacy and inheritance.
Our Lord clearly did so in His last Counsel just before His Ascension. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of
the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to
observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you
alway, even unto the end of the world. (Matt
28:19-20)
Eleventh, the Testator conveys clear
title to the beneficiaries of His Will. In old England, the hereditary
conveyance of royal title redounds to the blood-line descendents of the
deceased royal. Though we may claim salvation, grace, mercy, and redemption in
Christ; we may also claim the royal title of Christian. Beyond that, being sons
and daughters of the Lord of Lords, and King of Kings, we are justly called
princes and princesses.
Twelfth, the Testator assigns executors
and legal instruments whereby His Will is expeditiously and thoroughly
executed. This our Lord has left to the Father,
29 My Father, which gave
them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my
Father's hand. (John
10:29) Holy Father,
keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be
one, as we are. (John
17:11) and to the
Holy Ghost: 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter,
that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of
truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth
him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. (John
14:16-17)
Thirteenth and final, only can the
beneficiaries lay claim to the riches made available by a Testator when that
Testator dies as did Christ in laying down His life at Calvary. And for this
cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the
redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they
which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a
testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a
testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all
while the testator liveth.
I am certain there additional similarities between the Last
Will and Testament of Christ with those of mankind; let it be sufficient for us
to know we are the inheritors of untold riches in Christ and doubt it not.
