What did God “bequeath” to us when His Son died?
Jan 7, 2011
The Base for Grace - part twenty-four in a study of the book of Hebrews
By Mike Gaudet
God has a “last will and testament.”
What did God “bequeath” to us when His Son died?
“For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance — now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living.” Hebrews 9:15-17
God has written us into His will.
His “estate” is eternal. We don’t find currency, stocks, or deeds listed among His assets. His beneficiaries aren’t just “set for life” either. When it comes to the disposition of God’s estate, “those who are called” are set for eternity.
Earthly wills don’t go into effect until the person who makes the will dies. Heavenly wills are no different. “In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living.”
Jesus died publicly so that news of His “passing” might get our attention . . . so that we might inquire about His will.
Covenants are legal agreements. They come in different forms. Some are conditional. Others are unconditional. The “first covenant” from Mount Sinai was a conditional agreement promising to bless those who fulfilled the covenant demands and to curse those who didn’t. The “new covenant” is an unconditional agreement. It is more like a will. Curse clauses are gone. Eternal blessings remain.
How do we “collect”? When an inheritance is “of this world” we need only sign the necessary documents in order to claim the inheritance. How do we claim a bequest that is “not of this world”?
There is a story about a wealthy English Baron who had only one child, a son. This child was the center of his father’s affections and the center of this little family’s attentions. The son grew, but in his early teens his mother died, leaving him and his father. Tragically, the son became ill in his late teens and died as well.
Prior to his own death the Baron prepared his will with explicit instructions as to how his estate would be settled. During his life he had acquired a considerable collection of art. He directed that there was to be an auction in which his entire art collection would be sold.
When he died, a huge crowd of prospective buyers gathered for the auction. The art was displayed for viewing prior to the auction. One of the paintings received little attention. It was of poor quality and done by an unknown local artist. It happened to be a portrait of the Baron's son.
When the time came for the auction to begin, the auctioneer gaveled the crowd to attention and read first from the will. It stipulated that that the painting of "my beloved son" be the first painting auctioned. The poor quality painting didn't receive any bids . . . except one! The only bidder was the old servant who had known the son and loved him and served him. For sentimental reasons this man offered the only bid.
The auctioneer stopped the bidding and asked the attorney to read again from the will. The attorney read once more from the will: "Whoever buys the painting of my son inherits my entire art collection as well. The auction is over!"
This story is just that . . . a story. It does, however, “paint a picture” of who inherits eternal life. God gives “the promised eternal inheritance” to those who venerate His Son, Jesus Christ.
“God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” 1 John 5:11-13
You will not find eternal life in a church or denomination. It is found in a person . . . the person of Jesus Christ . . .”this life is in his Son.” Because eternal life is found in Christ, “He who has the Son has life” and “he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.”
You will not lay claim to eternal life by keeping the Ten Commandments. Only those who “believe in the name of the Son of God” receive eternal life. God “bequeaths” His inheritance to those who transfer their trust from what they do for God to what God has done for them.
Eternal life is not a reward given to those who behave.
Eternal life is a gift given to those who believe.