THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF JESUS CHRIST

Heb. 9:11-18

By David J. Riggs

Intro.
   A. There comes a time in everyone's life when they should make a
      will.
      1. A will is a document in which a person owning property
         makes a declaration of his intentions concerning the
         distribution of his property when he dies.
      2. We usually don't like to consider the thought of dying;
         thus, we put off making wills.
      3. If we would seriously contemplate death, it would do us
         much good. Eccl. 7:2; Ps. 90:12
   B. In this lesson we want to consider the last will and testament
      of Jesus Christ.
      1. We are calling it the "last" will because the N.T. annals
         and supersedes all other wills.
      2. His will has been sealed and ratified by his blood.
   C. There are several requirements for a legal will. These, of
      course, would vary a little from state to state, but most have  
      these requirements:
      1. The testator must be of proper age.
      2. Must be in one's right mind. (Sober, not mentally deranged,
         etc.)
      3. Must have something to give.
      4. The will must be plain with reference to the conditions. Ex.
         Who are the beneficiaries? What is to be given? etc.
      5. The will must be witnessed, sealed, and recorded.
      6. An executor or administrator must be chosen to probate the
         will.
      7. The testator must die before it becomes effective.
   D. All of the requirements of a proper will were possessed by
      Jesus.

I. He was of proper age. Luke 3:23.

II. He was of sound mind. 
   A. Col. 2:3
   B. His wisdom far excelled that of His enemies. Matt. 22:15-22

III. He had something to give.
   A. Manifold blessings in this life - Mark 10:29-30; Eph. 1:3
   B. In the world to come, eternal life - John 4:14

IV. The conditions or stipulations must be stated.
   A. Who are the beneficiaries? (The ones who benefit from the will)
      1. Most wills of men leave everything to the family, but
         sometimes to some person who has rendered some kind of
         service.
      2. Ill. A man had a rich Aunt who had died. One's name had to
         be on the will to receive anything. He said that he hardly
         knew her, but his name was on the will simply because he
         was a nephew.
      3. Regarding the spiritual beneficiaries of Christ's will:
         a. One must be a child - Rom. 8:17
         b. By a new birth - John 3:5
            (1) Adopted - Gal. 4:4-7
         c. Must be a faithful child - Rev. 2:10; Matt. 10:22
            (1) A testator has a right to disinherit a son or
                daughter, and this is often done.
            (2) Christ has the right to disinherit unworthy
                children. Matt. 7:21-27; 25:41-46.
               (a) One can become an accursed child. 2 Pet. 2:14
   B. What is being given away in the will?
      1. One's will usually says, "I, being of sound mind, do hereby
         bequeath all my earthly goods..."
      2. Some receive a portion now and the rest later. Mr. Burgin
         gave half to his children when he died, and stated that they
         would receive the other half when his wife died.
         a. See Prov. 19:14; 13:22; 2 Cor. 12:14.
      3. What are the benefits for the child of God?
         a. There are blessings obtainable now - Matt. 7:11; Luke
            6:38; I John 3:22
         b. There are blessings that will come later.
            (1) "Heirs" - Eph. 3:6; Titus 3:7; James 2:5; 1 Pet.
                3:7
            (2) "Inherit" - Heb. 6:11-19; Matt. 25:34; Rev. 21:7
            (3) "Inheritance" - 1 Pet. 1:4; Col. 1:12; 3:24; Acts
                20:32; 26:18

V. A will must be witnessed, sealed, and recorded.
   A. Witnessed.
      1. John the baptist - John 5:32-35
      2. His works - John 5:36
      3. The Father - John 5:37
      4. The Scriptures - John 5:39-40; Acts 10:43
      5. The Holy Spirit - Heb. 10:15
      6. The apostles - John 15:26-27; Acts 10:39-42
   B. Sealed. (Ex. properly notarized or written by a lawyer).
      1. The first will was sealed with the blood of animals. Heb.
         9:18-21
      2. The second was sealed with the blood of Christ. Heb.
         9:11-17
         a. The things in the N.T. are sacred because they are
            sealed with His blood. Matt. 26:28
         b. The priest of the O.T. made no distinction between the
            sacred and the common. Ezek. 22:26.
   C. Recorded.
      1. 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 1 Cor. 14:37; see the beginning page of the
         N.T.; Mark 1:14-15.

VI. A will must be probated.
   A. The word "probate" means "to prove, official establishing of
      the genuineness or validity of a will left by some person
      deceased." (Webster)
      1. This was cone on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit
         appeared as cloven tongues and sat upon each of the
         apostles, and, as Jesus had promised in John 14:26, brought
         to their remembrance all things he had said to them.

VII. The executors or administrators of a will must be chosen.
   A. The word "executor" means "a person appointed to carry out the
      provisions of another's will." (Webster).
   B. The apostles and prophets were his executors.
      1. They were appointed. Matt. 18:18; 2 Cor. 5:20
      2. Their work as executors was begun on the day of Pentecost
         when "they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to
         speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them
         utterance." Acts 2:4
      3. They were inspired so they could not make a mistake. John
         16:13; 1 Cor. 2:12-13
      4. They would deliver unto all the world His last will and
         testament. Mark 16:15-16
      5. The conditions were expressly mentioned. 
      6. The whole will was carried out; e.g., Paul said, "I have not
         shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God." Acts
         20:27
   C. Christ's will could be altered by Christ Himself prior to His
      death. Mark 2:5; Luke 23:43
      1. After His will was ratified by His death, it can never be
         changed.
         a. Ill. After the death of Howard Hughes, some tried to
            tamper with his will. That is forgery and a various
            serious crime.

VIII. There must be the death of the testator. 
   A. Christ's will did not become effective until after His death.
      Heb. 9:16-17
   B. Before one's death, a will can be changed if desired.
      1. While living, one can give any portion of His estate to whom
         he may choose.
      2. Christ could forgive sins (he could save the thief on the
         cross), even though that one may not have obeyed the basic
         steps of the gospel.
      3. Once Christ's will went into effect, one could obtain the
         blessings through no other means. 

Concl.
   A. It would be nice to receive some fabulous inheritance. I
      wouldn't mind inheriting a few million myself.
   B. Many would try to meet the conditions, if there were any, to
      inherit some vast fortune.
      1. Everyone who wishes may become an heir of eternal life.
      2. There are better and greater riches to be inherited by those
         who are faithful to God.
      3. All earthly possessions will mean nothing in the great
         judgment day.
      4. If you are not a child of God, you are not an heir. You can
         become an heir by being baptized into Christ. Gal. 3:26-29
   C. Unfortunately some children have been disinherited by
      unfaithfulness.
      1. You can be reconciled by repentance and prayer. Acts 8:22