The Testator
Hebrews 9:15 – 18
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. (Hebrews 9:15)
For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. (Hebrews 9:16)
For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. (Hebrews 9:17)
Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood. (Hebrews 9:18)
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A Divine Testament and WILL
The legalities of the Testator are enforced upon the death of the Testator. In the world of Adam, man’s will or testament becomes enforced upon man’s death. All that is determined is placed in the hands of an executor and if necessary an arbitrator. All that is determined in the will or testament is dependant on the character of both the executor and the arbitrator. In the world of Adam, a will or testament can be contested, meaning, that there are those who want to change the will of the testator. This would bring this contested will to the court of man, and man would then decide what the true will of the testator was, which in our modern world, the testator’s will is changed many times.
The DIVINE testament or WILL is determined by a DIVINE Testator. In the history of man, the Divine Testator has considered all that man is, and when the Testator wrote His WILL, He decided how it would be distributed and to whom it would be distributed, and unlike man in Adam, this DIVINE Testator signed His testament IN HIS OWN BLOOD. He told His disciples (in the upper room) that in this cup is the New Testament IN MY BLOOD.
And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; (Matthew 26:27) For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. (Matthew 26:28)
And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it. (Mark 14:23) And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many. (Mark 14:24)
The force of that blood is seen throughout the ninth Chapter of the book of Hebrews for the Testator of this testament has divine authority and all power in heaven and earth which is executed by the power of His endless life. Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. (Hebrews 7:16) In any testament the testator names those who will receive of the testament. They become the inheritors of the testament, and thereby they are predetermined by the testator in his will. However, in his decision before his death, he has the record of those who have been loyal to him, and he determines his testament and what he wants to be fulfilled by that loyalty. If we were to enter into the mind of the testator, he would present a legal argument for all men.
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The Divine Supreme Court of God
Moving from an earthly setting to a righteous holy setting, the divine Testator would only approve us according to the legal argument found in the book of Romans. The book of Romans is not a court of man, it is The Divine Supreme Court of God. He is the Judge who sits upon His throne of righteousness, and the defendant is Adam, and all of Adam’s race, For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23) It is the Almighty, the Judge, who understands all facets of His Law. We see the Law of God in these divine ways: first, there is The Law of Sin and Death; and next we have The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus; we have The Law of Faith which in turn gives us The Perfect Law of Liberty; then, we have The Law of Moses. All these Laws determine the recipients or heirs of the Testators will. So, how does the book of Romans give qualifications for, or determine the heirs of life in the Spirit of Christ Jesus? The book of Romans presents that ALL mankind is GUILTY. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. (Romans 3:12)
There is not one who doeth good, no, not one. The Judge sees sin IN ALL OF MANKIND. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. (Romans 5:12) So the qualifications leave ALL men dead before The Divine Supreme Court. They are all dead in Adam because of Adam’s transgression. Adam lost all the privileges of heirship, and so the Court can find NONE of Adam’s race to distribute the Testators’ WILL to.
However, In the Laws found in the book of Romans, there is The Law of Faith in Romans 3:27, Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. According to the divine Judge, this Law of Faith has pleased The Divine Supreme Court, so that the Court can chose the worthy heirs of the Testator. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6) The Judge in the book of Romans is clarified in the first four verses of Chapter 1.
Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (Romans 1:1) (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) (Romans 1:2) Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; (Romans 1:3) And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. (Romans 1:4)
Although we do not see the title, God the Father, we see His presence in the text concerning His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. The word of God, whether it be by Moses, or Paul, was written by the divine Mind, so that the word of God becomes both the prosecution and the defense, however, the Testator is outside of the Law for He is the One who has written The Law and upholds The Law through the word of His power. (Hebrews 1:3) This Testator also has divine power for He is the possessor and fulfiller of all righteousness. We could say that He is the Legal of all legals. He is the Truth of all truth. And He is also as Testator, the Heir of all things. And only the divine Being can share heirship and be the Testator, all in one. In the gospel of John, Chapter 17, the Lord uses the words, I will in verse 24. It is only this one time that He refers to Himself as the Testator in the words I WILL. So, what is His declaration in verse 24? Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. This is a declaration of the Testator according to John Chapter 17, the Lord Jesus KNEW that His hour had come, and that He was about to depart out of this world. This is a Testator not like any other testator, for this Testator has full knowledge of His own life, His coming death, and His resurrection from the dead. This Testator has the power to lay down His life, and to take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. (John 10:18) This is unique to the Son of God. There will never be, nor ever has been, a Testator who would fulfill His own testament. And the proof of this fulfillment is in His own resurrection, and the power of His endless life. Did I mention that He is also the Heir of all things? His inheritance as the Son sent into the vineyard gives Him power over all things in heaven, all things in earth, and all things under the earth. It also gives Him authority over time and eternity.
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The WILL of the Divine Testator
The greatest authority of all, the delight of His heart, is His own sheep that He has called by name, and they are brought into His pasture, and He through His own WILL and testament has restored their souls.
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: (John 10:27) And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (John 10:28) 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) I and my Father are one. (John 10:30)
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. (Psalm 23:3)
These sheep of His pasture according to the Testator’s WILL are also made joint heirs with the Testator. And 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 together. (Romans 8:17) In the book of Romans, the word children give us the legal ability to be heirs of God, heirs of Jesus Christ. In Galatians Chapter 4, verses 4 -7, we are placed in the position of sons, and heirs of God which gives us the legalities of divine inheritance.
But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, (Galatians 4:4) To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. (Galatians 4:5) And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. (Galatians 4:6) Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. (Galatians 4:7)
This is just a small portion of the inheritance which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. This is just a small part of the testament SEALED in His blood. He, being the Heir of all things, cannot be denied as the Son, for He is the possessor of ALL things. He has created ALL things, and for His pleasure, ALL things have been created. Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. (Revelation 4:11) However, as He is the Testator, we have to have the death of the Testator to enforce His WILL and bring us into joint heirship with the Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 8:17) Notice that in Romans 8:17, that we are part of His WILL, which is His testament, and in this testament, we are part of His sufferings, and those sufferings will fulfill His testament because He will bring us into His glory, and we will be made like Him. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (1st John 3:2) This testament and WILL is so strong that before the Testator’s death He told God the Father, I WILL that they be where I am. This is a sphere that He is talking about that we can only enter into BY the divine WILL. And He WILLS that those who have faith in Him will be where He is at. Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. (John 17:24) The Son of God was fully cognizant of His being on earth and in heaven at the same time: full omnipresence.
In John 17:24, we have the WILL of the Testator, however, the WILL is in complete equality with the Father, as we see the mind of both are set on the heirs that will be according to the testament. And that ALL is surrounded by divine love in both the Testator, who is the Son of God, and God the Father. When you read John Chapter 17, the Spirit of God has only recorded the voice of the Lord Jesus Christ. However, the equality of the Son with the Father leads us to a mind of equality. I only suggest this: although we only read the words of the Lord Jesus Christ, the entire Chapter seems to bring out a response from God the Father, although we do not hear His voice, it is quite evident that this is a two-way conversation. And the very fact of the importance of this Chapter not only brings out the WILL of the Son of God, but also the will of the Father. Here is the Testator in the process of writing His testament before His death.
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The Divine Testator’s Death Satisfied the Law of Sin and Death
In the book of Hebrews, Chapter 9, we have the result of what was written before, that His WILL would be fulfilled upon His death. And in His resurrection, He would have full power to bring in effect His own testament. The Lord Jesus was fully aware that it would take His death to affect His testament. For as long as He was alive the testament could not be opened. It would be by means of death that the Law of the Testator would be fulfilled. And of course, this brings us back to Romans 8:2, For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. The Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus was fulfilled in His death, and resurrection. In His death, the Law of Sin and Death was satisfied. In His resurrection, the Law of the Spirit of Life was satisfied. This is why we are joined to Christ on the cross of His death because of our own sin and penalty of death. However, because of His death and resurrection we are joined to the Man Christ Jesus in heaven because His life is our life in Him.
The book of Romans sees ALL men guilty at birth. (Romans 5:12) This is ALL mankind in Adam. However, the testament of the Testator is from the Man who came FROM heaven. It becomes a heavenly testament because of His divine life which has more power than any earthly testament. His heavenly testament comes under The Law of Faith. For the Bible tells us that the just shall live by faith, and faith leads to both the mercy and grace of The Divine Supreme Court above. In the Divine Supreme Court, Abel is justified by The Law of Faith, and by The Law of Faith he received the righteousness of God. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. (Romans 3:27) By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. (Hebrews 11:4) God in His divine authority gave faith as a divine law, so that the just, those who are justified will live by the faith that brought them to justification.
The laws found in the book of Romans that are not contained in The Law of Moses are given by God. God Himself has to abide by the Laws that He has given because ALL the Laws of God are surrounded by His righteousness, and His righteousness cannot be broken. So, God in His divine authority gave faith as a divine law, so that the just, those who are justified will live by the faith that brought them to justification.
Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith. (Habakkuk 2:4)
For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. (Romans 1:17)
But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, [it is] evident: for, The just shall live by faith. (Galatians 3:11)
Now the just shall live by faith: but if [any man] draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. (Hebrews 10:38)
This Law of Faith is under the divine power of God for in its strength, one cannot be justified without it, for without faith it is impossible to please God. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. The Author of such a Law is the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:21) So, a man without faith cannot please God, then where does faith come from? In the book of the Thessalonians we read, And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith. (2nd Thessalonians 3:2) Faith has to be acquired. It is a gift of God, it comes from above, from the Author of faith. Faith is imparted as a gift. Grace cannot come without faith. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. (Ephesians 2:8) It seems as if many read over the words through faith. It is faith in Ephesians 2:8 that is the gift, and one cannot receive grace unless they have the gift of God, which is faith from its Author, the Lord Jesus Christ. It is faith that justifies man, not grace. Grace is the outpouring of God to man because of faith.
It is faith that justifies man, not grace. Grace is the outpouring of God to man because of faith, and the Center of all faith is in its Author and its Finisher of faith. I could say that this brings in the life and death of the Testator because we see that Jesus Christ is the Gift of God. (John 4)
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The Divine Testator is the Righteousness of God
It is the Testator who has written His own Will, and it was by faith IN the Testator that Abel acquired the righteousness of God. Abel was justified through The Law of Faith whose Author is the Lord Jesus Christ, and He is also the Finisher of faith and by Abel having faith he was open to The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:2) This gave Abel liberty from The Law of Sin and Death for now Abel was within The Perfect Law of Liberty. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth [therein], he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. (James 1:25) So, The Law of Faith overcomes The Law of Sin and Death through The Law of the Spirit of Life which is in Christ Jesus. This Law of Faith also sets us free from Adam because of our new birth, and our new birth is the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus for at our new birth, we receive the Spirit of the Son of God into our hearts. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. (Galatians 4:6) It is amazing how many people recite Romans 8:1 without a clue of Romans 8:2. Romans 8:1 is not in effect without Romans 8:2. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:1) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:2)
The Law of Moses was given to expose man for what mankind really is. It was to bring out the failures of man and it was added to The Law of Sin and Death. The Law of Moses had no means of justification because it was given to expose man in his sin. Although man was under The Law of Sin and Death, he refused to see his own condition before the Almighty God. So, the Law of Moses was added to convince mankind of his true condition and position in Adam because Adam possessed within him The Law of Sin and Death. However, Abel possessed the Law of Faith, and the Law of the Spirit of Life which is in Christ Jesus.
The fullness of time is the dividing line in God’s determinate counsels. It is not based on days, nor centuries, nor years; it is based on a certain time in history when God would send forth His Son. All that was written before the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ was to bring man to the fullness of time. This included The Law of Moses. And the fullness of time was not just an hour, nor just a day, or just a year. The fullness of time contained the birth, the life, the death, and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. This was God’s time to fulfill the testament of the Testator in the Person of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ is the crimson thread of faith. He is The Law of Faith from Abel to the cross, and from the cross and beyond. And the Testator, being the Heir of all things is able to forgive and satisfy ALL debt. For there is no debt that He cannot forgive, and all that is forgiven is written in His testament. Let’s consider a very small part of His testament, yet it is very important.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: (Ephesians 1:3) 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: (Ephesians 1:4) Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will. (Ephesians 1:5)
So that we will not have a controversy with Ephesians Chapter 1, the only WILL that we see in this entire Chapter is the divine and perfect will of God. In Ephesians Chapter 1, there is no mention of the will of man. However, in John Chapter 1, God shows us the inapt will of man. 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: (John 1:12) Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:13) We have a contrast between the will of man and the will of God.
In the will of man we see no power. In the will of God we see the power to be born again. In verse 13, it tells us that we are not born of blood, so the blood of man has no power. And we are not born again by the will of the flesh. This shows us that the flesh has no power. And we are not born again by the will of man, this shows us the inability of man to put on the righteousness of God. We must be born of the will of God, and if we use the Holy Spirit’s understanding, we will see that the will of man cannot acquire grace through faith because it is a gift of God according to God’s own perfect will. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:2) This also dovetails with Ephesians 1:11, 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. This also brings in the determinate counsels and foreknowledge of God. Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain. (Acts 2:23)
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The Divine Testator’s WILL Determines
As created beings, we are under the divine authority of God. We are not in a position to confront God with conditions of our salvation. He has determined through His own counsels and His determinate counsels to bring before Him the children of God through the redeeming power of His beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. The clay has no decision in what it will become in the Potters’ hands. It is up to the Potter to make a vessel of honor or dishonor. Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? (Romans 9:21) The clay does not direct the Potter. It is the Potter’s will to show forth His desire and will through the clay that He is preparing to be conformed to His own likeness. We, as the children of God, are being molded so that we will be like Him.
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. (1st John 3:1)
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (1st John 3:2)
And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. (1st John 3:3)
Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. (1st John 3:4) We should function in our salvation in a path where the ultimate goal is to be conformed to the image of Christ.
Many do not see the continual actions of the Potter molding the clay. I have heard people say to me, I’m saved and that good enough for me. This is a delusion of salvation. God saves us and puts us in a process to be conformed to the image of His beloved Son, and this process cannot be deterred by our own will. For it is His will, as Peter stated, as newborn babes we WILL desire the sincere milk of the word that we may grow thereby. This is a fact for all who are born again. Another fact: in Chapter 2 of Philippians, the Spirit of God tells the child of God. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. This is obtained by being born again, and we should function in our salvation in a path where the ultimate goal is to be conformed to the image of Christ. As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: (1st Peter 2:2) Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 2:5)
This is the WILL and right of the Testator. It is not ‘maybe’ we will be conformed to His image; it is a definite WILL BE conformed to His image. There will be no one in heaven and in eternity that will still bear the image of Adam. We will ALL be in His likeness for this is the Testator’s WILL. And we are not the only ones who will benefit from the Testator. His divine heirship covers heaven with ALL the saints in both Revelation Chapter 4 and Chapter 5. It covers all things on earth in regard to the creation, and the nations of the world.
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The Divine Testator’s WILL in Prophecy
Christ Jesus is not only the Testator, but He is the Spirit of prophecy that everything that has been written by the prophets has been manifested by the Spirit of Christ. And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. (Revelation 19:10)
Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: (1st Peter 1:10) Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. (1st Peter 1:11) Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. (1st Peter 1:12)
(Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) (Romans 1:2)
The testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy. That which was from the beginning, that which was with God, that which was part of the divine determinate counsels of God in the Spirit of prophecy is the Lord Jesus with the divine prophetic Word. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1) The same was in the beginning with God. (John 1:2)
The Spirit of prophecy was in the Lord Jesus Christ before the beginning of creation. His testimony and testament began with His own Word before the world was. And we, today, see this in the fulfillment of the New Testament. He has completed His testament as the Testator. What the prophets wrote of old has been fulfilled in the life, and in the death, and in the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are watching the legalities of distribution that are being fulfilled each and every day in the new birth and new creation of every child of God who are part of the Testator’s WILL or testament.
It is written in His testament that He is the reconciler of all things. He has reconciled things in heaven and things on earth for God was IN the Lord Jesus Christ reconciling the world unto Himself. To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. (2nd Corinthians 5:19) The New Testament is brought into place on the foundation and the prophecies of the Old Testament. The New Testament, however, is sealed or was sealed by the Testator’s blood. He sealed His testament and then it was opened by His resurrection. For He, Himself, has the power of life and the power of death, and this power is determined by His scepter of righteousness. Notice that nowhere in the Holy Scriptures righteousness is called a law. Righteousness is part of the Testator. He is righteous in life, He was righteous in death, and He is righteous in His resurrection, for on the cross at Calvary He removed ALL that was against His righteousness. He came to earth from heaven. He took on the form or likeness of a man. He was the manifest image of the invisible God, and He came to claim His tainted creation that was under sin. We have to realize that in Adam all the creation around us was affected by Adam’s sin. Through Romans 8:18-23 we see the divine work of the Testator in His whole creation.
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18) For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. (Romans 8:19) For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, (Romans 8:20) Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. (Romans 8:21) For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. (Romans 8:22) And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. (Romans 8:23)
Here we see that the creation under bondage will be delivered when we, as the children of God, are delivered and put on the glories of Christ. By this we see the direct relationship of the sons of God and the creation according to the Testator’s WILL.
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The Divine Testator is the Creator and Heir
The immensity of the Testators’ WILL is far reaching in both time and eternity; everything is under the power of the Testator because He is not only the Creator but the Heir of all things. Hath 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. (Hebrews 1:2) This is enforced by the Testator being the first begotten from the dead. He is not only the first begotten of the Father, (For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? Hebrews 1:5), but He is the first begotten from the dead, and in both these He has the right to be the Heir of all things, seen and unseen.
And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. (Colossians 1:18) He is the only Testator in the history of the world who has the power of an endless life. Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. (Hebrews 7:16) Through the power of His endless life, He has brought the children of God into His heirship and into His endless life where they are joint heirs with Jesus Christ in that same power of an endless life. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: (Romans 8:16) And 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 together. (Romans 8:17)
This is all fulfilled by the testament that was sealed in His death but opened by His resurrection within that endless life. The testament, the New Testament was sealed by His death and by His blood, and it was opened by the One who is the resurrection and the life. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: (John 11:25) And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? (John 11:26)
And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. (Revelation 5:1)
And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? (Revelation 5:2)
And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. (Revelation 5:3)
And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. (Revelation 5:4)
And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. (Revelation 5:5)
And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. (Revelation 5:6)
And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. (Revelation 5:7)
And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. (Revelation 5:8)
And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; (Revelation 5:9)
And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. (Revelation 5:10)
Although this scene is in heaven, that is right where the Lord Jesus is. There is only ONE worthy to open the book which contains the Will and Testament of the Testator of Revelation 1:17-19.
And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: (Revelation 1:17)
I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. (Revelation 1:18)
Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter; (Revelation 1:19)
The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches. (Revelation 1:20)
In verse 19, we get the whole scope of the Testament, past, present and future from the voice of the Testator who reveals Himself as the First and the Last. In His testament He must be the first born from the dead, as an act and as a title. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. (Colossians 1:18) By acquiring this title of The First Born From the Dead, He has the right of the first born to open the seal thereof; for now, the force of reconciliation can be acted upon by the Testator Himself being the first born from the dead. Which brings us to Colossians 1:19 and 20. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; (Colossians 1:19) And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. (Colossians 1:20) Here we see that reconciliation came by the blood of the cross. By this the Testator reconciled all things unto Himself. This again, gives us the One, the only One who can open the book, that can open the testament by right of the first born from the dead. And the power of His own blood both seen in Colossians Chapter 1:19 and 20, and Revelation 5:1-10. This thought reconciliation through His blood is also seen in Isaiah Chapter 53, verses 11 and 12.
He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. (Isaiah 53:11)
Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. (Isaiah 53:12)
Here we see God’s righteous Servant dividing the spoil with the strong. However, notice it is after He is cut off from the land of the living in verse 8, He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. (Isaiah 53:8) Although the word resurrection is not used, you see from verses 11 and 12, that the one who was cut off in verse 8 now is alive and has power to divide the spoils. In the old world, the testament, or will was sealed by a judge or magistrate, and this seal could not be broken until the testator was dead. However, in the Lord’s case, He is both the Testator and the Judge or Magistrate. In Revelation Chapter 5 He has the right and the authority to open the book, and the power to fulfilled what is written therein. The One who has that power is the Lamb that was led to the slaughter. He is the Lamb who shed His blood. He is the Lamb who went through the door of death. And He is the Lamb who has opened life’s door for us through His accomplishment on the cross of Calvary. In His right as first born from the dead He has acquired all power in heaven and earth. And this He has fulfilled as the Son of man. As Adam was given paradise and dominion over the things of the earth, and lost all rights because of sin, and all rights to paradise and creation was taken from Adam and all his descendants; so, now all that was lost to Adam is in the hands of the second man from heaven, the Lord of glory for He has redeemed all things unto Himself by giving His life on the cross of Calvary, and taking life again in His resurrection. As sin destroyed, so righteousness was renewed in Jesus Christ. The second man was not of the earth, He was the Lord from heaven, and He is now the Man at God’s right hand. This was not seen before His resurrection and ascension. When He returned with the very words, It is I. He was relating to His disciples that this was the same Jesus who was crucified. But now with full power of both heaven and earth as the Son of man. Truly, I would never try to go beyond my limitations but there are things that the Spirit of God wants His children to know and embrace. We have such a wonderful Savior in Jesus of Nazareth, the Man from heaven, who was tempted in all parts like as we are, yet without sin. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15) In this portion of Scripture of Hebrews 4:15, we have the words yet without sin. In Hebrews 7:26 we have the words separate from sinners. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens. In both these verses we see a divine quality within the Son of God and the fulfillment of the WILL of the Testator. For He was the spotless Lamb of God who was set aside from the foundations of the world to bear the sins of many from a position of purity in body, blood, soul, and Spirit.
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The Divine Testator and His Qualifications
His body was prepared for one purpose, the redemption of man. Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me. (Hebrews 10:5) His blood was precious and pure. But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (1st Peter 1:19) He was a Lamb set apart to fulfill all righteousness. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats. (Exodus 12:5)
Ye shall offer at your own will a male without blemish, of the beeves, of the sheep, or of the goats. (Leviticus 22:19)
But whatsoever hath a blemish, that shall ye not offer: for it shall not be acceptable for you. (Leviticus 22:20)
And whosoever offereth a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the LORD to accomplish his vow, or a freewill offering in beeves or sheep, it shall be perfect to be accepted; there shall be no blemish therein. (Leviticus 22:21
Blind, or broken, or maimed, or having a wen, or scurvy, or scabbed, ye shall not offer these unto the LORD, nor make an offering by fire of them upon the altar unto the LORD. (Leviticus 22:22)
And ye shall offer that day when ye wave the sheaf an he lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt offering unto the LORD. (Leviticus 23:12)
And unto the children of Israel thou shalt speak, saying, Take ye a kid of the goats for a sin offering; and a calf and a lamb, both of the first year, without blemish, for a burnt offering. (Leviticus 9:3)
As the Lord Jesus was the first begotten of the Father, He qualified to be the sin offering. He also qualified by not having any sin within or committing any sin. He was pure within and pure without. He had no blemish of Adam within, or without. Being the first born gave Him the right of inheritance plus He had the right of sacrifice, and through His sacrifice He would obtain His eternal inheritance. This we understand by the Lord Jesus being called the Lamb slain from the foundation of the earth, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. (Revelation 13:8) Staying with His title of the Lamb of God, which we first see in John Chapter 1, it is carried through the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, not only is the Lamb an object, but it is a title specifically given to the Man Christ Jesus. He bears this title as right of sacrifice, for by Him being the Lamb of God He is capable of taking away the sin of the world. His purity can be seen in Revelation Chapter 5, there the result of His finished work is given unto Him glory and honor, and the worship of the saints above because as that Lamb, He has redeemed them unto God by His blood. And no matter where anyone looks in heaven, in earth or under the earth there is only One who is worthy to open the book. Through the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ we discover that He is continually reading and fulfilling that which was written of old by the prophets, and which He fulfilled and is fulfilling in His New Testament as the Testator. Revelation 5 has the glory of the Lamb, has the glory of God in the Lamb, and has the glory of God to the saints.
Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. (Revelation 5:12) And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. (Revelation 5:13)
We have seen the purity of the Body prepared before the foundation of the world. We have seen the purity of His blood, and we have seen the purity of the Lamb. Now let us look into the purity of His soul. The first man, Adam, destroyed his soul by sin. The second Man from heaven had an unblemished soul capable of restoring the soul of man. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. (Psalm 23:3) To restore the souls of others the Lord Jesus had to see His own soul being offered for sin. He had to endure the travail of His soul, and He had to see the victory of His soul being offered for sin. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. (Isaiah 53:10) In this verse, we see the soul of the Lord Jesus Christ being offered as a burnt offering for sin. And as sin was laid upon Him, He endured the travail of His own soul. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. (Isaiah 53:11) Then in verse 12 He poured out His soul unto death, Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. (Isaiah 53:12) This verse shows us that at that time period He went into death itself to vanquish it, to destroy death so that He might give life. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. (Hebrews 2:9)
Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; (Hebrews 2:14) And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. (Hebrews 2:15)
We need to realize that He accomplished this through the power of His endless life. (Hebrews 7:16) Which also reminds us of His statement in John Chapter 10, verses 17 and 18. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. (John 10:17) No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. (John 10:18)
Also, according to Isaiah Chapter 53:12, He was numbered with the transgressors. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. Not only did He have a thief on his left and on his right side, but Roman law had numbered and labeled Him with those transgressors. This is to show that He had divine power in fulfilling the righteousness of God in God offering Him for the sin of the whole world. He became a transgressor in bearing the sin of many. We cannot understand this righteous fulfillment for this was on God’s part. It was God the Father offering His own first born for the sin of the whole world which became to God the Father a sweet savor.
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; (Ephesians 5:1) And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. (Ephesians 5:2)
Christ gave Himself up as a Lamb led to the slaughter. However, on God’s part, He was offering Himself for the sin of the whole world. John Chapter 17 adds to this as well as Isaiah Chapter 53, for in these Chapters we see God taking the offering and offering it on the fires of judgment for the sin of many. In Ephesians the offering is seen by God the Father as a sweet-smelling savour. But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall burn all on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD. (Leviticus 1:9)
Leviticus 1:9 confirms the fires of judgment against the sin of mankind. The fires consumed the whole, whether it was a bullock or a lamb, all had to be consumed in the fires of judgment. Why? Because all the sin of Israel was laid upon that sacrifice on the day of atonement to show the finality of sin and the end thereof. All sin had to be consumed in the representation of the future Lamb of God which took away the sin of the world. And before the sin of the nation could be put away the whole Lamb had to be consumed. We see this in the sufferings of Christ in Psalm 22 where His sufferings are so graphically revealed to us, and how He suffered in bearing our sin. So, we have covered the Body, and the blood, and the soul and lastly let us look at the Spirit that was within Him. For God is Spirit, and the Spirit of God cannot be separated from itself. This is why the Lord Jesus on the cross, BEFORE He gave up the Ghost, commended His Spirit, the Spirit of God, into His Father’s hands. And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. (Luke 23:46) In the functions of the Spirit of God, we have to see that the Spirit of God ties the Father to the Son; and ties the Son to the Father in all equality. The Spirit of God is the thread and power that binds them both together and fulfills the fullness of the Godhead bodily in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Lord Jesus in John Chapter 4 declared that God is Spirit. So, here we understand that in the Spirit of God we have the very powers that we see in both the Son and in the Father. We also see that the Spirit of God is divinely connected to both the Father and the Son, we see this in Revelation 5 in the seven (7) Spirit or fullness of the Spirit in the eyes of the Lamb before the throne showing the unity of the Spirit with the Lamb or as we know, the Son of the living God. And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. (Revelation 5:6)
The Spirit works in complete unity with both the Father and the Son and is full of the same attributes that make up the Godhead. We see in Revelation Chapter 5 that the fullness of the divine Spirit in the number seven was in the Lamb or within Christ. And these seven Spirits are the eyes of God that go to and fro throughout the whole earth. This is the same Spirit that hovered over the darkness of the deep and was within the Lord Jesus Christ when darkness came over Him on the cross of Calvary. He committed His Spirit unto God the Father, that He might take it again on the day of resurrection when He came forth from the tomb. This was the same Spirit within Christ that created all things for Himself and for His pleasure. Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. (Revelation 4:11)
So, what have we seen through this winding road over these many hills, and through these deep valleys? We have seen the complete divine power and glory of the Testator of Hebrews Chapter 9. No other could have the right to such a document of divine reconciliation as the One who has the power of reconciliation for, He sealed it in His death, and broke the seal in His resurrection to give life to them who believe on Him.
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: (John 11:25) And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? (John 11:26)
This is a divine statement with all deity and power behind it. In the power of His endless life, we know Him in this life, in the power of His resurrection, we know Him for all eternity. The seal has been opened by the Lamb. He was crucified in weakness but was raised in the power of an endless life. And when we were dead in sin, He called us and gave us life in the very power of His endless life. No greater authority could give power to the everlasting testament of this great Testator. I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. (Revelation 1:18)
Amen and Amen.
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? (Hebrews 9:14)
© Copyright 2022, Michael Haigh
This article may be used, but not for gain. Freely ye have received, freely give.
All Scripture references are from the King James Bible. (KJV)