THE LAST WILL & TESTAMENT OF CHRIST
A sermon delivered by Robert Sholl

(All Scripture Quotations Are From The American Standard Version Unless Otherwise Noted)

One of the most important things that a person can do, especially if he has friends and family, is to prepare a will. A will of course is the legal document by which one bequeaths all his worldly goods. The importance of a will becomes obvious when we see the great conflict between family members when a person has not properly prepared their will. Often there is vicious fighting when different family members desire something left by the deceased. It is not uncommon to hear that the deceased would have wanted them to have this or that. All of this could have been avoided if only a proper will had been made and verified. A legal will avoids these problems because it provides the standards by which the inheritance is bestowed upon the survivors. The will, simply put, determines who gets what and upon what conditions.

Interestingly enough, there is a will that exists for mankind. That will was ratified and put into force by Jesus Christ. That will or testament is spoke of in Hebrews 9:15-17:

"¹⁵And for this cause he is the mediator of a new covenant, that a death having taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant, they that have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. ¹⁶For where a testament is, there must of necessity be the death of him that made it. ¹⁷For a testament is of force where there hath been death: for it doth never avail while he that made it liveth "

In these passages the inspired writer of Hebrews describes the New Covenant as a testament. In fact the word translated as covenant and testament are the same word in the Greek. There are similarities between the New Testament and a will. Though oftentimes we hear that there is no law associated with Christianity, God discusses in these verses a legal aspect of the New Covenant. It is in fact a testament, a will. Like the wills you and I are familiar with. I would like for us to briefly take a look at some of the important aspects of the Last Will and Testament of the Lord Jesus Christ. There are four main points to cover: the testator, the inheritance, the testament and the heirs.

The passage under consideration says in Vs 15 & 16: "15And for this cause he is the mediator of a new covenant 16For where a testament is, there must of necessity be the death of him that made it." So here we have reference to one who has prepared a will. Now the question is, who prepared the will? This is not difficult to determine. In Hebrews 9:13 we read: "13For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling them that have been defiled, sanctify unto the cleanness of the flesh: 14how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish unto God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15And for this cause he is the mediator of a new covenant". Jesus Christ is the mediator of the New Covenant or Testament. Christ is described as a mediator, one who is an arbitrator. He was made the mediator because of the superiority of his sacrifice and the power of his blood.

Throughout Hebrews 9 we can see that his blood and sacrifice is superior in every way to those of the Old Law. Under the Old Law there was the tabernacle made with hands. There was the Holy place where the priests performed services continually. But then there were also the Holy of Holies where the High Priest would only go in once a year, on the tenth day of the seventh month. There he would offer the blood of the bullocks and goats (Leviticus 16). He would offer the sacrifice for both himself and the people. It should be noted that in these services there were imperfect men (men who were sinful) offering imperfect sacrifices (sacrifices that could not take sins away - Hebrews 10:4). Because of this, the conscience of the worshippers could not be made clean (Hebrew 9:9). In fact those services only pointed towards Christ. They were types (they foreshadowed) of the time of renewal, which was put into effect after the death of Christ. The blood of the testator of the New Covenant is able to cleanse us from all sin (Ephesians 1:7, 1 John 1:7), unlike the blood of the Old Covenant. It is Christ and his sacrifice that was able to ratify the New Testament (Matthew 26:27-28).

If Jesus is the testator, then just what is the inheritance that he has bequeathed? We have already discussed some aspects of it, in that through his sacrifice we can obtain the forgiveness of sins. But what exactly is the final goal of all of this? Simply put, it is to obtain the inheritance of Christ. It is important for us to understand that Christ gives us an abundant inheritance. He has a great amount to bestow, because he was given everything. In Hebrews 1:1-2 is said "¹God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, ²Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; - KJV)". Christ has much to give us. In 1 Peter 1:3-5 " ³Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy begat us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴unto an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, ⁵who by the power of God are guarded through faith unto a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. " Surely one the greatest of all blessings that we can receive from Christ, is that of eternal salvation. That salvation is reserved in heaven, for the faithful child of God. How comforting it should be for us that in this world of suffering and uncertainly, we have such a great and precious promise. In this life there are no certainties, yet people put their faith in the possessions of this world. Some put all their efforts into their savings, their property or other things. Yet with a downturn in the economy, a natural disaster or by an act of violence, all of our possessions could be take from us. That is why the Lord admonishes us not to put our faith in treasures of this earth, but to store up treasures for ourselves in heaven (Matthew 6:19-21). Not only has Christ bequeathed us eternal salvation, but he has also given us all things that we need to know in order to obtain that salvation. God tells us in Colossians 2:1-3 "1For I would have you know how greatly I strive for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; 2that their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, even Christ, 3in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden".

Sometimes we hear that "it's too bad life doesn't come with an instruction book". That is simply not the case, we do have an instruction book. Given to us by the Creator, people just need to understand that the book is the Bible, specifically the New Testament for the Christian dispensation, but most of the time people will look for wisdom and knowledge in the theories and philosophy of men, instead of Christ Jesus. Yet it is in him that true knowledge and wisdom are to be found. That point is really driven home by some of things we see on TV these days, especially the talk shows. As we compare how people live their lives according to ideas of men and then look at how the faithful children of God live their lives, it is night and day (actually darkness and light). The problems that those who are in darkness have, the turmoil in their lives and in the lives of the ones around them, is astounding. The hurt and pain inflicted is incredible. Yet, the faithful child of God lives a life of peace and satisfaction, because he has been reconciled to God (this is not to say that the Christian will not suffer pain, persecution, trials and temptation, but the Christian, however, overcomes these). What a great inheritance Jesus Christ has to given all whom accept it. Shouldn’t we, as Christians, be doing everything in our power to show others how to obtain this great and marvelous inheritance?
 
 

Now that we have looked at the testator and the inheritance, I want us to spend a few moments investigating the will itself. In certain respects, the will is like the ones that we are familiar with in that it did not go into effect until after the death of Christ. While alive, the testator distributes his goods in any manner he sees fits to do. However, once the death has occurred, the goods are distributed according to the will. That is the very purpose of the will. The inspired writer draws on the relation between the death of the testator and its affectivity. Recall in Hebrews 9:16-17 " ¹⁶For where a testament is, there must of necessity be the death of him that made it. ¹⁷For a testament is of force where there hath been death: for it doth never avail while he that made it liveth ". Often people will point out how a person was saved before Jesus died on the cross and say, "I want to be saved like that!". Likewise, many will seek to bring things into the worship of God that were used under the Old Law. But the New Testament was not in force then. It came into force after the cross. Repentance and remission of sins were not preached in the name of Christ until the day of Pentecost in Acts 2 (see also Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 16:15-16, Luke 24:44-49). But did Christ not preach the gospel before the cross? Indeed he did. He certainly did preach with reference to his coming kingdom and the terms and conditions of salvation. But that does not negate the fact that the New Testament did not come into force until the Old Law had been abrogated (by the cross - Colossians 2:13). In fact he did not tell everything to the apostles during his ministry because they could not bear it then (John 16: 12-14). Yet by the Holy Spirit which fell on them on the day of Pentecost, they were lead into all truth (John 16:13), which was already bound in heaven (Matthew 15:19). In that aspect, Christ's will is like the wills we are familiar with. But there is also an aspect in which it is different from the ones we are familiar with. Many times a will have a codicil, which is an addendum. This is not the case with the Last Will and Testament of Christ. It is settled in Heaven, it is the faith once and for all delivered unto us (Jude 3). This should not surprise us in the least. The main point of the book of Hebrews is the superiority of the New Covenant to the Old (to prevent apostasy back to the Old). In Hebrews 8:6-7 we read "⁶But now hath he obtained a ministry the more excellent, by so much as he is also the mediator of a better covenant, which hath been enacted upon better promises. ⁷For if that first covenant had been faultless, then would no place have been sought for a second." God tells us if the Old Law had been perfect (in the sense of being able to obtain for man righteousness) there would have been no other covenant sought. It's an old saying but it is true: You can't improve on perfection. But the Old Law was not perfect in that sense. God did not design it so that man could be made righteous by it. The Old Law required perfect obedience (Galatians 3:10); no man ever did that save Jesus Christ. But the New Testament is perfect. It has a perfect mediator, it reveals in perfect clarity the great spiritual truths that were typified by the Old Law, and it has the ability to achieve for man the remission of sins; hence it has the power to make one righteous before God (Romans 1:16-17). This is how the New Testament refers to itself. Consider the following passages:

James 1:25

"²⁵But he that looketh into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and so continueth, being not a hearer that forgetteth but a doer that worketh, this man shall be blessed in his doing."

2 Peter 1:2-3

"²Grace to you and peace be multiplied in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; ³seeing that his divine power hath granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that called us by his own glory and virtue; "

Because the Last Will and Testament was full revealed and preached by the apostles (the executors of the will) in the 1st Century, Jude was able to say by inspiration in Jude 3 to "contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints.". Now if the New Testament is perfect (and it is James 1:25, Hebrews 8:6-7) and if all things pertaining to life and godliness have been given to us (and it has - 1 Peter 1:3, 2 Peter 1:2-3); then it must be case that there are no changes needed. What additions or subtractions could be initiated that improve the will of Christ? There can only be one answer, none! Remember the New Testament was made possible, put into effect, by the death of the mediator. The blood of Christ purchased every aspect of the will. In an effort to trivialize some digressive practices (such as mechanical instruments of music in the worship), I will sometimes hear it said, "You know I just don't think Christ died over that!". Well I agree with that. If the New Testament does not authorize something we are doing, Christ certainly did not die for it. It is outside the blood shed in his death, and therefore is no part of the New Covenant. Whatever we do in word or deed must be done in the name of Christ, by his authority (Colossian 3:17, 1 Peter 4:11). The Last Will and Testament of Jesus Christ is perfect and complete; we need to only to conform to it and blessed thereby.

Finally I want us to take a look at who are heirs to this great inheritance. God tells us in Romans 8 who the heirs of these vast and unfathomable riches of Christ are. In Romans 8:12-17: "¹²So then, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh: ¹³for if ye live after the flesh, ye must die; but if by the Spirit ye put to death the deeds of the body, ye shall live. ¹⁴For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. ¹⁵For ye received not the spirit of bondage again unto fear; but ye received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. ¹⁶The Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are children of God: ¹⁷and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified with him."

Verse 17 tells us that those who are his children are his heirs, joint-heirs with Christ. Only those who are in God's family have an inheritance in God's scheme of redemption. We see the same idea presented to us in Galatians 3:26-29: " ²⁶For ye are all sons of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus. ²⁷For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ. ²⁸There can be neither Jew nor Greek, there can be neither bond nor free, there can be no male and female; for ye all are one man in Christ Jesus. ²⁹And if ye are Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, heirs according to promise." So both in Romans 8 and Galatians 3 we find that those who are lead by the Spirit of God (by means of the inspired Word - Ephesians 6:17, 2 Timothy 2:16 - 17) have an inheritance. To put it another way, those who are in Christ have the inheritance. This has always been God's plan of the ages, that those in Christ (Christians) would be adopted as sons, through Christ. In Ephesians 1:5-8 we can see this very thing. "5having foreordained us unto adoption as sons through Jesus Christ unto himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, .... 11in whom also we were made a heritage, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his will". God had predetermined that those who come to him in order to walk by faith, which is to say by His Word (Romans 10:17), would obtain that adoption. That promise of eternal inheritance is unlike our situation in the world. Many times a faithful child will, through no fault of his own, get cut out of a will. Sometimes the parents become broke and therefore there is no money or goods left to pass down to the children. Such is not the case with reference to the inheritance that Christ gives us. The faithful child of God (please note I said faithful - Revelation 2:10, 3:5, Galatians 5:4, Romans 8:12, 1 John 1:7) has no basis to fear the loss of his inheritance. This is a promise from God, who cannot lie (Titus 1:2). Therefore, we need to focus on that inheritance reserved for us in Heaven. It is when we lose sight of our goal that we begin to stumble. But if maintain tunnel vision, keep focusing on God, Christ and the eternal life with them, then we are going to be able to live the Christian life. I think that is what Paul was emphasizing in Philippians 3:13-14, where he said " ¹³Brethren, I could not myself yet to have laid hold: but one thing I do, forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before, ¹⁴I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. ". Just think of that marvelous thought, that those in Christ, are joint heirs with Christ, joint partakers of him in heavenly glory.

When we view the Last Will and Testament of Jesus Christ, one cannot fail to see the great love that God has for us (1 John 3:1). When we think of all the provisions that God has made for us. Jesus Christ through his own death is the testator of his Will. Eternal life is the greatest of the many blessings he bestows as an inheritance. That will is perfect in every aspect and is sufficient for our needs. The question for you today is have you complied with the conditions of his will? Many assert that if there are conditions, then you are saying that one must earn his salvation. Such a position is incorrect. No one asserts that because a person must meet certain conditions in a will, that one earns the inheritance. It was out of good graces of the individual that an inheritance was made available. God's grace made salvation possible, by providing his Son to live a perfect sinless life, to die on the cross for the atonement of sins and raising him up from the dead. It was God's grace that revealed the Testament to men, through His inspired apostles and prophets. It is that same word of grace that Paul says in Acts 20:32 " is able to build you up, and to give you the inheritance among all them that are sanctified". God has done his part, we must accept His free gift by complying with His conditions (Hebrews 5:9). God's word tells us that in order to be saved we must hear gospel, the word of Christ (Romans 10:17). Having heard the gospel we must then believe it (Mark 16:16). We must repent of our sins (Acts 17:30) and confess the name of Christ (Romans 10:10). We must then be buried with Christ in the watery grave of baptism unto the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38, Romans 6:1-4, Galatians 3:26-27). Then having our sins forgiven, we must be faithful unto death (Revelation 2:10) and then we will receive that glorious crown of righteousness.