What is a Testator and/or Who is a Testator?
Welcome to this Bible Testament Testator study of the term "testator". Within this study, we
will look into finding out answers to these questions; what is a
testator, and why is it important to know what this term means?
Before understanding what a testator is, first let's look at the word
"testament." See the similarity? Testator - Testament. A testator is a person who leaves a will or testament in force at
his/her death, and what is the Testator meaning? Here are two definitions.
test'ament, n. [L. testamentum,
from testor, to make a will.]
- A solemn authentic instrument in writing, by which a person
declares his will as to the disposal of his estate and effects
after his death. This is otherwise called a will. A testament, to
be valid, must be made when the testator is of sound mind, and it
must be subscribed, witnessed and published in such manner as the law
prescribes. A man in certain cases may make a valid will by words
only, and such will is called nuncupative.
- The name of each general division of the canonical books of the
sacred Scriptures; as the Old Testament; the New Testament. The name
is equivalent to covenant, and in our use of it, we apply it to the
books which contain the old and new dispensations; that of Moses, and
that of Jesus Christ.
Bible Testament Testator Blessing
To explain this Bible Testament Testator issue simply ... A "testator" is a person who leaves a "testament"
of his or her wishes. His or her will (If you will) to be carried out upon his or her death.
Hebrews 9:17
For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no
strength at all while the testator liveth.
So, let's go back to the beginning and look at the Testator meaning origin;
In
Revelation 13:8, Jesus is called the Lamb slain from the
foundation of the world.
That is not to say that He was actually
slain at the beginning of the world, but rather, from the foundation
of the world it was known that He would be a sacrifice for our
salvation.
Sin entered the world soon after it was created and the everlasting
life that was intended for us from the beginning, was turned to ruin
when man's free will chose sin instead of obedience in the Garden of
Eden with Adam and Eve.
How about a quick, Who is a Testator in the Bible field trip ... As you may know, as long as a testator is alive, he may change his
will and testament at any given time. Whatever a testator wishes to grant, or not grant
to his heirs, can be changed at any time as long as he lives ... And
our God is infinite! He lives forever! Sooo, He can add, subtract,
revoke, adjust, or improve (for our sakes) His will at any time He
chooses.
Simpler ...
Eternal life was an inherent privilege that God granted man when he
was created, but when man (Adam and Eve) sinned, that was kind of a
deal breaker, and God changed the way we receive our inheritance.Now,
in order to inherit eternal life (which, remember, in order for
something to be inherited, the testator must die) atonement must be
made for sin. That's fair. And our Father is not only fair, but
generous!
Bible Testament Testator Gift
In the beginning ages, God presented His chosen people with the Old
Testament, in which sacrifices were used for atoning for sin. The
blood of sacrifices stood in place of the blood of a testator, which,
as we learned earlier, Jesus, from the foundation of the world was to
become our salvation.
You may wonder, why an Old and a New Testament? Why didn't God just
implement the New Testament from the beginning? Friend, in His
infinite wisdom, God knows best, and like so many mysteries of God,
we haven't the capacity to understand these Spiritual things fully,
but if we could only fathom sacrificing our own perfect and precious son
for the sins of others, we may get a tiny glimpse of why God chose to
give people a chance with the Old Testament first. In addition, the
Old Testament also was a shadow (pattern) of Heavenly things.
Hebrews 9:22-23
22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood;
and without shedding of blood is no remission.
23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things
in the Heavens should be purified with these; but the Heavenly things
themselves with better sacrifices than these.
Also, see our study of Feast
Shadows to learn more about Holy Feasts in the Bible that were
shadows of things to come. In short they were ... Prophecy of coming
events.
This excerpt from our Grace study
also explains beautifully why God gave us a New Testament:
It is very simple ... Because God loves us so very much and mankind
had done so much bad, that all the sacrificing in the world would not
cleanse away the sin. See, long ago, sacrifices were needed to
cleanse away the sins that mankind had committed against God.
But now ... Jesus is the eternal Sacrifice. Believing in Jesus,
cleanses away our past sins. God loved us so much, that even knowing
the only sacrifice that would suffice, was His own Son ... He decided
to do it anyway as to save His children.
Bible Testament Testator of New Covenant
What is a Testator Meaning - Who is a Testator Gift
And the Apostle Paul explains in detail:
Hebrews, Chapter 9
1 Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of
divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.
2 For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was
the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called
the sanctuary.
3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is
called the Holiest of all;
4 Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant
overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had
manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;
5 And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the
mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.
6 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests
went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of
God.
7 But into the second went the high priest alone once
every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for
the errors of the people:
8 The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the
holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first
tabernacle was yet standing:
9 Which was a figure for the time then present, in which
were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that
did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;
10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers
washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of
reformation.
11 But Christ being come an High Priest of good things to
come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands,
that is to say, not of this building;
12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His
own blood He entered in once into the Holy place, having obtained
eternal redemption for us.
13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes
of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of
the flesh:
14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through
the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your
conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
15 And for this cause He is the mediator of the New
Testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the
transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are
called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity
be the death of the testator.
17 For a testament is of force after men are dead:
otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.
18 Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated
without blood.
19 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,
20 Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God
hath enjoined unto you.
21 Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle,
and all the vessels of the ministry.
22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood;
and without shedding of blood is no remission.
23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things
in the Heavens should be purified with these; but the Heavenly things
themselves with better sacrifices than these.
24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made
with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into Heaven
itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
25 Nor yet that He should offer himself often, as the high
priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;
26 For then must He often have suffered since the
foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath He
appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after
this the judgment:
28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many;
and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time
without sin unto salvation.
Bible Testament Testator Summary
In simple terms, since Jesus is the Lamb slain from the foundation of
the world (our Testator and Savior), all of the atonements
(sacrifices) made in the Old Testament were merely a representation of the true sacrifice to come and
would only become effectual by the Blood of
Jesus.
Jeremiah 31:31-34
31 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make
a New Covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their
fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of
the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an
husband unto them, saith the Lord:
33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with
the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my
law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be
their God, and they shall be my people.
34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour,
and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all
know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the
Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their
sin no more.
Jesus gave His life to cleanse us of our sins, that is why it is said
we are washed in His blood. All we have to do is believe ...
Romans 10:9
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt
believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou
shalt be saved.
Our Bible Testament Testator research has solved the "What is a Testator and Who is a Testator" mystery for us. Knowing that Christ died for our sins, it is important that we do all we can to live more like Jesus.