Last Will and Testament of Christ


By Dr. Ken Matto

Hebrews 9:16 (KJV) For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.

In Hebrews 9, we read in verses 14-17, the subject of a will. A will is a legal document which allows the lawyer of the deceased or testator to divide their estate according to their wishes while they were still alive. While the testator lives, the will may be changed but once that person dies, there can be no more changes to that will because it now is in force. The testator is a person who makes or leaves a testament or will to give instruction on how to divide up their estate to those named in that will after their death and not before. This is another section of Scripture which puts the death knell to the myth of free will.

In Hebrews 9:14-17, we read about the last will and testament of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 9:14 (KJV) How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? The word “your” in this verse is a pronoun, second person plural and in the genitive case (case of possession) which means that the author is speaking to a certain group of people. If you notice that this verse is dripping with the words of salvation. It speaks about a person who is having their conscience purged from dead works to serve the living God. This means that a person has become saved because they go from dead works to serve the living God. If you notice, the verse is also stating that it was the blood of Christ, through the eternal Spirit that has done the purging. It is not done by the will of man but by the Holy Spirit in conjunction with the blood of Christ.

Hebrews 9:15 (KJV) 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. Verse 15 builds upon the teaching of verse 14. It speaks about Christ being the mediator. The mediator is one who comes between two parties, especially in a legal situation. 1 Timothy 2:5 (KJV) For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; The Bible is very clear that Christ is the mediator between God and man. John 14:6 (KJV) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. It is clear that no one comes to the Father except through Christ making Him the only mediator of salvation. The first testament was the law of Sinai which no one would be able to keep. Salvation was unattainable by means of the Law. Hebrews 9:15 then speaks about those who are called that may receive the promise of eternal inheritance. It sounds like those who are called unto salvation may not receive it. This is easily explainable by the following passage. Matthew 22:14 (KJV) For many are called, but few are chosen. Many are called by means of the Gospel proclamation but not everyone will become saved. Only those who are chosen unto salvation will receive the promise. Ephesians 1:4 (KJV) According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: According to Ephesians 1:4, only a certain group of people were chosen before the foundation of the earth and that is the Elect of God. 1 Peter 1:2 (KJV) Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. We are elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father. Notice that in this verse also the blood of Christ is working in conjunction with the Holy Spirit.

Back to Hebrews 9:15. We read that it was the death of Christ that was made for the redemption of His elect from their transgressions made under the first covenant or the Law. Every person in this world that is unsaved at the time of death will be judged according to the Law. If therefore any transgression of the law be found in an individual, it will be like they have broken the entire law and will be sentenced to eternal damnation. James 2:10 (KJV) For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. Therefore since Christ died for His Elect, they will no longer be held guilty for the transgression of the law because Christ fulfilled all the requirements of the Law by means of His sacrifice. Since the believer is in Christ, it is like they too have kept every tenet of the Law. Colossians 3:3 (KJV) For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. Since we are hidden in Christ, no accusation of the law can ever touch us.

Hebrews 9:16 (KJV) For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. Now comes the legal, binding part of the testament. The testament is changeable only while the testator lives and has no legal or binding authority but once the testator is dead, the testament now goes into force and has legal authority and cannot be changed anymore. The testament is to remain as is at the point of the death of the testator. Christ was the testator of the New Testament or Covenant and His death at Calvary sealed the contents of His Testament or will. Just as a person makes a will, it can be changed any time the person is still alive but once they are dead, the will is now sealed and no more changes are to take place.

Hebrews 9:17 (KJV) For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. A will is a dead document and carries no legal authority until the death of the testator occurs. It is not like a power of attorney which a person has over another which is a document that is in force as long as the person it is designed to protect is still alive. Once that person passes away, then the power of attorney is null and void and at that time the will or testament is activated and the final wishes of the testator are then carried out.
 
Now here is the part which puts another death knell into the myth of free will. Once the Lord Jesus Christ died, then all those who were named before the foundation of the world unto salvation were now sealed. 2 Corinthians 1:22 (KJV) Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. Then until the last one is saved, the call goes out to the world but only the elect will be chosen unto salvation. Only those whose names who were written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will become saved. Revelation 21:27 (KJV) And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. The place in Heaven was already prepared for the believer from the foundation of the world. Matthew 25:34 (KJV) Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

Now here is the boot to free will. Have you ever been to the reading of a will? If not let me make up a typical scenario.

John Jones had died and now his family has come to the Lawyer’s office for the reading of the will. Now John Jones was worth One million dollars so the reading of the will is important.

The Lawyer now reads the will which John made ten years ago and for the purpose of better understanding, we will say that his wife had predeceased him and only the children are now in the will.

“To my three children I hereby bequeath my entire estate which is to be divided up equally. My three children being Abigail, Jane, and Deborah. Now the will has been executed and the estate has been legally divided up.

BUT WAIT!

Before the session is over, a neighbor comes in and says to the Lawyer, add my name to that list and divide up the estate four ways.

The lawyer tells the man, “I am sorry but you cannot just add your name to the will because once a person dies, the will is in force and cannot be changed.”

Neighbor says, “Yes, but I choose to be part of that estate.”

Lawyer says, “I am sorry but you cannot add your name to a document which has been sealed and is now in force.”

Neighbor says, “But I will myself to be part of that estate.”

Lawyer says, “Sorry, but you cannot add your name to a will already in force and with all the named inheritors now please leave because ‘we never knew you.’”

And so it is with those who think that they can add their names to Christ’s last will and testament. He died for His people, the Elect of God, and those were named before the foundation of the world and only those who are named will become saved and because the testament is in force, no other names can be added to it. No amount of free will, will ever get anyone into Heaven, simply because no one can add their names to the will. This is why on the last day, Jesus will say to the unbelievers. Matthew 7:23 (KJV) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. This is why Jesus says to the unbelievers that He never knew them because they were not named in His will and therefore He did not die for them. So no matter who thinks or preaches that a person has free will and can “accept Christ” they are teaching a rank heresy and need to study their Bibles. Christ died for a specific group, namely His Elect.

Matthew 1:21 (KJV) And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

John 13:1 (KJV) Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.

John 17:9 (KJV) I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.


Notice in these three verses, we read that Christ is only praying for and saving His people, which are the Elect of God and not the whole world. Now just one more section and that is back to legal talk. Remember in a will the beneficiaries receive an inheritance and that is exactly the language which God uses in describing what the believers receive.

Acts 20:32 (KJV) And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

Ephesians 1:11 (KJV) In whom also we have obtained an
inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

Ephesians 1:14 (KJV) Which is the earnest of our
inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Ephesians 1:18 (KJV) The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his
inheritance in the saints,

Hebrews 9:15 (KJV) 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.

1 Peter 1:4 (KJV) To an
inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

The word “inheritance” is used 203 times in the Bible and the word “inherit” is used 61 times. These are legal terms with only specifically named people in view, just as the six verses above show us.

Summary
To summarize this article, we have learned that a will, when the testator is still alive can be changed but once the testator dies, the will is now in force and nothing can be added or changed anymore. What makes us think that the Last Will and Testament of Christ is any different? No one of their own “supposed” free will can add their name to a document which is now in force, especially since Christ was the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Revelation 13:8 (KJV) And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. This means that in principle Christ was already slain before the first man was formed and that means the last will and testament of Christ was already in force when the world was created. The mythical free will of man is an affront to God when He already has everything worked out since the dawn of time. Hebrews 4:3 (KJV) For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. Free will is the feeble attempt of man to usurp the authority of God by believing he can add his name to a finished document and then believe that God is obligated to save him. Those who are to be saved have already been named, whether the free willer accepts it or not.

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