ONE TESTAMENT, TWO COVENANTS

1. A TESTAMENT is the PROMISE of a TESTATOR to share His ESTATE to specified BENEFICIARIES after his DEATH. In this case, the TESTATOR is God and man is the BENEFICIARY, “What is man, ...  THOU HAST PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET. … HE LEFT NOTHING THAT IS NOT PUT UNDER HIM But now we see not yet all things put under him” [Hebrews 2:6-8] God’s TESTAMENT was not an AGREEMENT made with any man but the sovereign WILL of the FATHER to reveal Himself in the SON, “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] The SON is FULNESS of God revealed in Jesus Christ, henceforth the TESTATOR; God became like us, that we being in conformity with the SON might inherit His ESTATE, “Beware lest any man spoil you through PHILOSOPHY and vain DECEIT, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For IN HIM DWELLETH ALL THE FULNESS OF THE GODHEAD bodily” [Colossians 2:8-9] God’s TESTAMENT is addressed to all men, as many as shall receive the FATHER in the SON; irrespective of race and gender, “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] 

2. God must DIE to have His TESTAMENT enforced, “For where a TESTAMENT is, there must also of necessity be the DEATH OF THE TESTATOR” [Hebrews 9:16] As soon as man fell into SIN, we lost all legitimacy to the PROMISE: the TESTATOR was required to DIE to enforce the TESTAMENT of our REDEMPTION. God presented Himself in Jesus Christ, “… as of a LAMB without blemish and without spot: Who verily was FOREORDAINED BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD, but was MANIFEST IN THESE LAST TIMES for you” [1 Peter 1:18-19] For the time being, He slew lambs in place of the TESTATOR, the LAMB of God, “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD GOD MAKE COATS OF SKINS, and CLOTHED THEM” [Genesis 3:21] The TESTAMENT was secured with a COVENANT brokered with BLOOD of animals; AGREEMENT was reached to attenuate SIN with “COVERING’” of animal sacrifice. This first COVENANT restored many generations to the TESTAMENT and by it Abel had witness that he PLEASED God, “And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD HAD RESPECT UNTO ABEL and to his offering” [Genesis 4:4] This COVENANT was at best a temporary reprieve till Jesus should come, “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but A BODY HAST THOU PREPARED” [Hebrews 10:4-5] 

3. The first COVENANT was not the TESTAMENT or ‘OLD TESTAMENT” as often referred, it was an AGREEMENT between God and man to settle DISAGREEMENTS till Jesus Christ should come, “Wherefore the LAW WAS OUR SCHOOLMASTER TO BRING US UNTO CHRIST, that we might be JUSTIFIED BY FAITH. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster” [Galatians 3:24-25] This AGREEMENT and the framework of LAW that formalized it were not FAULTLESS, by reason of weakness of BLOOD of animals to make FULL PAYMENT for SIN, “For if that FIRST COVENANT had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the SECOND. … In that he saith, A NEW COVENANT, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away” [Hebrews 8:7-13] Jesus Christ, by His DEATH on the Cross made full PAYMENT for SIN, FULFILLING all TERMS and CONDITIONS of the LAW, as it is written: “Think not that I am come to destroy the LAW, or the PROPHETS: I AM NOT COME TO DESTROY, BUT TO FULFIL” [Matthew 5:17] In FULFILLING the OLD COVENANT, He made it redundant and initiated the NEW with His own BLOOD. The NEW COVENANT is likewise not the TESTAMENT per se but a new and better WAY to return to God as CHILDREN and HEIRS of His INHERITANCE through Jesus Christ, “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]

4. God’s TESTAMENT is a sure PROMISE, “And this is the PROMISE that he hath PROMISED US, even ETERNAL LIFE” [1 John2:24-25] SEAL of His TESTAMENT is the PROMISE of ETERNAL LIFE, secured with BLOOD COVENANTS. The men of old, in spite of the weakness of the BLOOD of animals obtained a good report of FAITH in the PROMISE of ETERNAL LIFE, “And these all, having OBTAINED A GOOD REPORT through FAITH, received not the PROMISE: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be MADE PERFECT” [Hebrews 11:39-40] We have a better COVENANT who trust in Jesus Christ, having in us the EARNEST of our INHERITANCE, “… SEALED with that HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE, Which is the EARNEST OF OUR INHERITANCE until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory” [Ephesians 1:13-14] We are troubled without by present instabilities like all men, we are emboldened within in HOPE of the INHERITANCE awaiting us at the sudden appearance of Jesus Christ; not ourselves alone but as many as shall receive the FATHER in the name of the SON, for “… Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him” [1 Corinthians 2:9] Will you secure your name in His TESTAMENT today? Accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, amen