The Testament Is in Force

Christ established a testament, a will. He has died, so this testament is now in effect. “For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives.” Heb. 9:17.

There are tremendous riches hidden in this testament—treasures that are of immense, eternal value.

We who are Gentiles according to the flesh have become children of Abraham. Rom. 2:28-29. As such, we have become partakers of the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, the promises, and the fathers. Rom. 9:4-5.

If the shadow cast by “the body” before death could be so glorious, then how much more glorious is the content within that which cast the shadow?

By the death of Christ, we are placed in the body that cast such a blessed shadow. The testament grants us access to all the heavenly treasures that were revealed to Moses on the mountain as a pattern. However, we carry about these glorious things “in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.” Through the resurrection of Christ from the dead, we have a hope of also being raised with Him and receiving a glorified body. The radiance and power of this body will correspond directly to our inner glory. Then the earthen vessel will be gone, and we will be at home with the Lord forever.

To attain this glorious goal, we are exhorted to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. Although outwardly we (our body) may appear to be unaffected by a frivolous life and way of living, the spirit within us suffers as a result; our glory in eternity will be less—we can even lose our soul.

The glories of Christ’s testament are imparted by the Holy Spirit and are only revealed in the spirit. But this also gives hope for our body, that it will be conformed to His glorious body.

The testament requires faithfulness and self-control, so those who possess it may draw from the full riches of its glorious treasures.

Are you one who is drawing from the contents of the testament? Do you love your soul enough to do that? He who entrusted the testament to us longs for us to make use of it.