Jesus' Testament

By means of a “last will and testament,” men indicate the desired disposition of their property at death. The title page of the latter section of our Bibles reads, “The New Testament of Jesus Christ.” While uninspired publishers supplied this title page, the inspired text refers to itself as the will or testament of the Lord:

For where a testament is, there must of necessity be the death of him that made it. For a testament is of force where there hath been death: for it doth never avail while he that made it liveth (Hebrews 9:16–17, ASV).

The immediate context (vv. 11–15) makes it clear that the will/testament of the Christ is in view in the quoted verses.

 Several parallels exist between the making and execution of human wills and the making and execution of Jesus’ last will and testament:

• While living, one may dispose of his property as he desires. However, when he dies, if he has a will, his estate will be dispersed only to those named in the will and according to its conditions, if any. Jesus gave many blessings, including forgiveness of sins, on various conditions during His earthly life, but since He died, His written will prevails.
•  A will takes effect only when its maker dies. This fact is no less true of the Divine will of Jesus than of human wills (Heb. 9:16–17). Jesus referred to the blood He shed on Calvary as “my blood of the new testament” (Matthew 26:28, KJV), signaling that it would go into effect at His death. This fact coincides with Paul’s statement that at Jesus’ death on the cross, he took the Old Testament “out of the way, nailing it to the cross” (Col. 2:14). It will be in effect as long as the world stands (Matthew 28:18–20).
• A person must be qualified to write a will. Human testators must have attained majority, be of sound mind, and not be influenced by coercion or by a mind-altering chemical substance. Jesus was qualified in every respect, possessing Divine wisdom and knowledge (John 12:49). He was not subject to coercion (John 10:17–18). None can invalidate His will. He declared, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my word shall not pass away” (Matthew 24:35).
• A new will voids all previous wills. While living, one may replace or revise a will several times, but at death, only the last one he made has legal standing. God gave a testament/covenant through Moses to Israel fifteen centuries before Jesus was born. However, God made a new covenant/testament for all mankind through His Son. He “took away” the first one in His death (Hebrews 10:8–9). Thus Jesus “nailed to the cross” the first testament’s authority (Colossians 2: 14). One finds true religion only in the New Testament, not in the old (Hebrews 1:1–3). Only the last will of the Lord is in force.
• One must meet the conditions of the will to be an heir. One does not inherit merely on the basis of desire, feelings, or belief that he should, but upon meeting the will’s provisions (Matthew 7:21–23). Only God’s children are heirs (Romans 8:17) of the inheritance that is “incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away” (I Peter 1:4). These are named in the “book of life” that will be opened at the “reading” of Jesus’ will, otherwise known as The Judgment (John 12:48; Revelation 20:11–15).

 The principal aim of each one of us should be to so submit to the will of the Christ that He will inscribe—and keep—our names in the book of life as beneficiaries of His Testament.

Dub McClish

“IF, AND ONLY IF…”

The title above expresses a formula in logic and mathematics regarding compound statements (i.e., “biconditionals”). The formula (IFF, abbrev.) applies if, and only if both statements are of exactly the same “truth value.” The IFF formula is a powerful way of expressing propositional facts and truths that are incontrovertible.  

The New Testament contains several statements that readily demonstrate this formula, but which men deny or ignore on a large scale to their own present and future detriment. Consider the following:  

“Except ye believe that I am he, ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:24). One will avoid dying in sin and being eternally condemned if, and only if one believes Jesus’ Deity claims. Those who deny that Jesus is the only begotten of the Father will be lost.  

“Except ye repent, ye shall all…perish” (Luke 13:3, 5). One will avoid perishing (eternally) if, and only if one repents of his sins (i.e., turns from them in purpose and in practice). Those who continue in sin will be lost eternally.  

“Except one be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). One may/can enter into God’s kingdom (either its earthly or heavenly state) if, and only if one is born of water and the Spirit. Jesus will deliver up to God in the heavenly kingdom only those who are in His kingdom here below (I Corinthians 15:24).  

“He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16a). One will be saved from the ravages, guilt, and consequence (both now and in eternity) if, and only if one believes the Gospel and is baptized according to New Testament teaching. All others will not be saved (i.e., they will be lost).  

“Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins” (Acts 2:38). One will receive remission (forgiveness) of sins if, and only if one repents of his sins and is baptized according to New Testament teaching. Those who fail to do so will arrive at The Judgment with unforgiven sins and will thus be lost.  

“He [Jesus] became unto all them that obey him the author of eternal salvation” (Hebrews 5:9). One will receive eternal salvation if, and only if one obeys Jesus Christ. It is not enough merely to believe in Him; one’s salvation depends upon obeying Him.  

“Be baptized, and wash away thy sins” (Acts 22:16). One’s sins are washed away if, and only if one is baptized according to New Testament teaching. Baptism is the God-ordained act in which one is cleansed of sin through the blood of Christ (I Peter 1:18–19; Revelation 1:5).  

These are but a few of many such statements indicating immutable Truth concerning eternal salvation damnation.

Dub McClish

Bible Preaching

Many in this generation berate and downgrade the man who preaches the Bible. This is not altogether surprising. Naturally, those who do not believe the Bible and those who under-grade its authority do not think well of preaching it. But, there are those within the church who have reached the point where they do “not endure sound doctrine” (II Timothy 4:3). Paul, with inspired prophetic insight, predicted that such would happen.

Again, men sometimes seem to feel that, considering their vast learning (whether real or imaginary, does not greatly matter), it would be an act of intolerable condescension on their part to preach the simple principle of New Testament Christianity, They want something that “sounds scholarly and philosophical.” Such were not the preachers of apostolic times!

On Pentecost, Peter, an inspired preacher, delivered a great sermon, more than a third of which was composed of quotations from the Old Testament, Paul, in his great speech in Pisidian Antioch, drew very heavily upon the same source. He even told where to find one passage he quoted in “good taste”! What a pity that Peter, Paul, and Jesus, who frequently referred to portions of the Old Testament (Luke 24:44), did not know this! They were “Bible preachers.”

Times may change; times do change, but the time will never come when the Gospel of Christ will be out of date. Methods of preaching and teaching and means of transportation may be improved and used, but man’s need for the “Truth” that makes men free will not cease. Lost men must hear the Truth that saves.
It is a crime against God and man not to deliver such Truth. Gospel preaching which does not reveal to lost men the way of salvation is not what they need. “Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread?” (Isaiah 55:2).

B. C. Goodpasture