Episode 92-Our Inheritance Under the New Covenant
From time to time we read or hear stories about a wealthy father leaving a huge inheritance to his children and dependants in his last Will and Testament.
The thought of inheriting wealth and properties through a father’s Will obviously captures one’s imagination and is an exciting way of acquiring wealth. Imagine suddenly coming into an inheritance and having access to wealth you probably never knew existed! Imagine the joy and fulfillment of not having to bother how to provide for your needs? Imagine finally being able to do all the things you had been dreaming of doing? Who would not want to receive such an inheritance?
Now can you imagine that you are an heir of God and a joint heir with Jesus Christ, and how incredibly wealthy this makes you? Have you ever really really thought of the fact that the whole earth belongs to God and that He has said that you are His heir and a joint heir with Jesus Christ.
Like we know, the word covenant means a binding agreement between two or more persons. But in the Bible, the covenant is more than an ordinary contract. It is a sacred relationship established by God involving promises and obligations and a sign that represents that relationship. The sign that represents God’s covenant with His people is the shedding of blood.
Our key passage for exploring this series of the New Covenant as the last Will and Testament of Jesus Christ would be Hebrews 9:15-17
Hebrews 9:15-17 NLT
📜[15] That is why he is the one who mediates a new covenant between God and people, so that all who are called can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. For Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under that first covenant.
[16] Now when someone leaves a will, it is necessary to prove that the person who made it is dead.
[17] The will goes into effect only after the person’s death. While the person who made it is still alive, the will cannot be put into effect.
This scripture declares to us that Jesus is the mediator of the New Covenant. He paid for our sins by His death on the Cross and as a result those of us who accept Him receive the inheritance God promises His children.
Jesus had to die for the new covenant to take effect. Before His crucifixion, Jesus announced that His blood would establish the New Covenant. Luke 22:20
“This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.”
The New Covenant is a Covenant between God and Jesus, the mediator for the benefit of those who accept Him. By the shedding of His blood, He forgave us our sins, set us free from the punishment for our sins and established a special relationship with us.
This scripture also declares that Jesus made a Will before His death! It declares that a person has to die before his Will goes into effect. The writer of a Will is a Testator.
Interestingly, I understand that in the original bible, one Greek word- diathēkē is used to refer to the two words-Covenant and Testament.
A covenant is an agreement established by God.
A testament is a legal document declaring how a person’s estate is distributed after death.
A Will is activated Only by Death. Imagine a wealthy father who leaves his children an inheritance. No matter how valuable the inheritance is, the children cannot legally possess it until the father dies.
Hebrews 9:22 says, “Without shedding of blood there is no remission.” Christ’s blood and death accomplished three things: It paid the debt for our sin, it established the New Covenant; it was the signature that activated our inheritance.
So Jesus is the mediator of the New Covenant as well as the Testator of a last Testament and Will. Jesus played two major roles in His death. He is the mediator between God and man because He purchased our forgiveness through His blood; and He is the Testator of the Will that provided an inheritance for us through His death. Because Jesus shed His blood for you, you are completely forgiven of all your sins. Because Jesus died for you, you are an heir of God, you have a vast inheritance.
Jesus is both the Testator and Mediator. Jesus is the Testator. The New Testament is His last Testament and Will made for the benefit of all those who believe in Him and are called His Children.
The Cross was more than an act of sacrifice—it was also the moment the New Covenant came into force. Jesus Christ, the Testator, died so that His people could receive the inheritance He promised. The death of Jesus Christ activated the New Covenant and released the inheritance God promised to His children.
The New Covenant is God’s covenant of grace, established through the blood of Jesus. Like a last will and testament, it became effective through the death of the Testator. Through faith in Christ, believers become heirs of God’s promises and receive the eternal inheritance secured by His death and guaranteed by His resurrection.
So when you read about God’s Grace, love and promises in the New Testament, do not read them as the Words of a distant God. It’s important that you receive the revelation that you are qualified for this special relationship with God because Jesus shed His blood for you. You need to understand that all the blessings and promises of the New Testament are Jesus Christ’s last Will and Testament which He made for your benefit. It is your inheritance. Jesus is the Testator. All Believers, are the Beneficiaries! The New Testament is the Estate.
At the beginning, I refrerred to the joy and excitement of acquriring wealth through the Will of an earthly father. Like I said, imagine suddenly coming into an inheritance and having access to wealth you probably never knew existed! What do people do when such an event happens? What do people do when their late father’s lawyer informs them they have been left an inheritance in their father’s Will? Do they fold their hands and continue leaving a life of lack and drudgery?
What are you doing with your vast inheritance? Romans 8:17 says-And since we are His children, we are His heirs.
1 Peter 2”9 says-But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation…
Our goal in this series is to discover the contents of our inheritance and to receive and posses the contents of our inheritance.
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father, we are so grateful that Jesus Christ paid the debt for our sin, established the New Covenant and activated our inheritance by His blood. Lord open the eyes of our understanding to discover the contents of our inheritance and the power to receive and possess them in Jesus Name.