"The Will of God"

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God…..” (2Timothy 3:16).  The Bible is a compilation of 66 inspired books written over the course of several hundred years by many writers from different walks of life – including a shepherd, kings, fishermen, a tax collector, a physician, and others.  Although there are several writers of the Bible, there is but one Author:  God.  This inspired (literally, “God-breathed”) Book is divided into two parts – The Old “Testament” and the New “Testament.”

What is a “testament”?  What comes to mind when you think of the word “testament”?  One of the most familiar uses of this word is found in the following statement:

I, [name of testator], residing at [city, state of testator], being of sound mind, do hereby declare this instrument to be my last will and testament …..

The usage of the word “testament” here is identical to the Old & New “testaments” of the Bible.

A “testament” simply put is a “will.” 

Consider the words of Jesus: “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matthew 26:28).

The Hebrew writer says it this way: “For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives” (Hebrews 9:16-17).

When does a “will” go into effect?  When a person dies!  The Last Will and Testament of Christ -- The New Testament – went into effect after Christ died.  
His “will” has been ratified by His precious blood. We now have a will that is in full effect - an " active"  will.

A will lists beneficiaries- those who receive the inheritance of the deceased.  All of us will certainly want to be included in Christ’s last will and testament!  For IF we have received the “adoption as sons” into the family of God, we are the children of God (see Galatians  4:4-5) – and IF children, then we are also joint heirs with Christ, the Son of God, to an eternal kingdom (see Romans 8:15-17).

It is when we obey the gospel that we are “born” into this relationship – related to God and to one another through the blood of His Son. 

We come in contact with the cleansing blood of Christ when we believe in Christ (Acts 16:31), repent of our sin and begin to follow Christ (Acts 17:30), confess Christ (Romans 10:9-10) and are baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of our sins (Acts 2:38).  When we obey the gospel in this manner, the blood of Jesus cleanses us from our sin (Acts 22:16) and we are born of the water and of the Spirit into the family of God (John 3:3,5).  Then as Christians, "if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin" (1 John 1:7).

We need to be very careful to meet the terms for inclusion into His Will so that we will have our names recorded in the Book of Life (see Revelation 20:11-15).

Are you in the Will of God?

God bless you!

David A. Sargent / M. Eddlemon  

Church of Christ at Creekwood 
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama  36695

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