Hebrews 9:16-20

 

Heb 9:16 (KJB)

For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.

 

Testator - The one who made the will or covenant

 

An inheritance is not passed on to those named in the will or covenant while the testator is still alive. For the inheritance to pass to the inheritors, the death of the testator must take place. We see this everyday in the legal profession when people make out wills. As long as they are alive, their possessions remain theirs but upon their demise, it is then passed on legally and bindingly to the heirs. This verse is also teaching limited atonement. A will or testament is a legal document with the heirs previously named and names cannot be added to the list of heirs once the testator has died. So only those named in the will or last testament of Christ will become saved and no more names will be or can be added to it. So on one can claim they can become saved by their free will. For a person to become saved, they must have been named in the will of Christ which was prepared before the foundation of the world.

 

(Rev 13:8 KJV) 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.

 

(Rev 17:8 KJV) The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

 

Heb 9:17 (KJB)

For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.

 

Is of force - Steadfast, firm, or sure

Strength - Able, forceful or prevail

 

A will is a dead document and carries no legal authority until the death of the testator occurs. It is not like a power of attorney which a person has over another which is a document that is in force as long as the person it is designed to protect is still alive. Once that person passes away, then the power of attorney is null and void and at that time the will or testament is activated and the final wishes of the testator are then carried out.

 

Heb 9:18 (KJB)

Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.

 

The first covenant, that is the Mosaic covenant, was also ratified with the use of blood as many animals were sacrificed. It does not matter what testament we are speaking of, they are all ratified with the use of blood, which means the death of the testator must take place before it is put into action. Blood was even sprinkled on the mercy seat in the Holy of Holies.

 

Heb 9:19 (KJB)

For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,

 

(Exo 24:6-8 KJV) And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basins; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar. {7} And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient. {8} And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words. Every aspect of the first covenant was ratified with blood and this included all the furniture in the holy place and anything which pertained to the service of the Lord in the Tabernacle.

 

Heb 9:20 (KJB)

Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.

 

Hath enjoined - Command or give orders

 

(Exo 24:8 KJV) And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words. This was the method which God gave Israel for keeping the first covenant. It was a command of God they keep it just the way they were told to, without any variation. It is the same way we are to preach the Gospel without any variation or compromise. Compromising the true Gospel is like offering strange fire before the Lord. (Num 26:61 KJV) And Nadab and Abihu died, when they offered strange fire before the LORD. Nadab and Abihu offered strange fire before the Lord and it resulted in them losing their lives. Those who bring a false Gospel give evidence of their own lost state.

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