A Testament is of Force After Men are Dead

A TESTAMENT IS OF FORCE AFTER MEN ARE DEAD

FEBUARY 15, 2012

“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

And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.  [23]  It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.  [24]  For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:  [25]  Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;  [26]  For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.  Hebrews 9:22-26 

The Hebrew writer said that a testament is of no strength at all while the testator is alive.   This is why the disciples sometimes appeared to be so weak.  After Pentecost these same men were mighty men for Christ Jesus our Lord.  (Matthew 26:40; Mark 9:18) 

Paul told Titus: “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,”  Titus 2:11

Therefore a mere technicality for our God, for the great Apostle said: “God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.”  Romans 4:17

The LORD told us where 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.”  Hebrews 4:3   

And again the LORD said: “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.  Revelation 13:8 

And the great I AM said of His own ability: “I have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I shewed them; I did them suddenly, and they came to pass.”  Isaiah 48:3

How great is that!

GOD reckoned the redemptive work of JESUS CHRIST was in full force from the foundation of the world, else God would not have 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.”  Hebrews 4:3

The Apostle said:  “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.”  Hebrews 4:13

And the all knowing, all seeing Almighty GOD saw Calvary eons before the Jews and Gentiles got together to crucified and killed our LORD JESUS CHRIST.  

Thus far we have explored Scriptures which leave no room for doubt that the shed blood of JESUS CHRIST redeemed souls from our first parents to the end of the world.   While at the same time it appeased the ordinance that decreed: “For a testament is of force after men are dead; otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.” Amen and Amen!

In Psalm twenty two (22) the, Spirit of CHRIST that was in David encourage him to record the prayer  He would pray while on the Cross. While on the cross JESUS verbalized the beginning of that prayer , that  said, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” while  praying the  rest in silence.

Here is that prayer, David begin;

“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
[2] O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.
[3] But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
[4] Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.
[5] They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.
[6] But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
[7] All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head saying,
[8] He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.
[9] But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts.
[10] I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly
[11] Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.
[12] Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.
[13] They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.
[14] I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.
[15] My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.
[16] For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
[17] I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.
[18] They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
[19] But be not thou far from me, O Lord: O my strength, haste thee to help me.
[20] Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.” Psalm 22:1-20  

Isaiah recorded the life and death of JESUS as though it was history, hundreds of years before Calvary.    

And because GOD reckoned JESUS CHRIST to have been slain before the foundation of the world the HOLY SPIRIT moved on Isaiah to record the following as History.  Here’s what he wrote:

“He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

[4] Surely he hath borne our grief’s, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
[5] But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
[6] All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
[7] He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
[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.
[9] And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
[10] 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 53:3-10

May the FATHER and GOD of our LORD be blessed forever and ever.   Amen!