On Wills And Codicils

Men make their wills on the basis of information available to them at the time. Conditions sometimes change that merit a change in the will. If the changes are extensive, the will is usually re-written. However, if only a brief statement of alteration is required, one may do this by affixing a handwritten note (i.e., a “codicil”), which then becomes a part of the original will.

The Son of God, Jesus Christ, has a will. It is called “The New Testament” to distinguish it from God’s Will as previously expressed in The Old Testament. Jesus’ Will went into effect when He died on the cross (Heb. 9:16–17). Since He could foresee all possible future exigencies, His Will, as written, will stand with no need of alteration. It is “the faith once for all delivered” (Jude 3). The Divine Will includes most severe warnings to any and all who would dare tamper with it, whether to augment or diminish its terms (Gal. 1:6–9; Rev. 22:18–19; et. al). The Lord’s inspired, immutable New Testament will be the standard of our Judgment at last (John 12:48). In other words, codicils are neither needed nor allowed for the Lord’s Will.

In spite of the clarity (and frequency) of warnings on this subject, many have presumptuously affixed (and continue to affix) codicils to the Will of Christ. Consider some examples:

1) Jesus’ Will states, “Except one be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God!” (John 3:5). Men have added the codicil of praying “the sinner’s (mythical) prayer” to be saved/enter God’s kingdom.
2) Jesus’ Will states, “Whosoever shall put away his wife, except for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and he that marrieth her when she is put away committeth adultery” (Mat. 19:9). Men have added the codicil that one can divorce for any cause and remarry repeatedly without committing adultery.
3) Jesus’ Will states, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). Human codicils state that Jesus was mistaken, and men may “come to the Father” through many others besides the Christ.
4) Jesus’ Will states, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves” (Mat. 7:15). Man-made codicils say, “It makes no difference what you believe as long as you are sincere.”
5) Jesus’ Will states, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16a). The codicils of men say, “He that believeth and is not baptized shall be saved.”

When Jesus reads His Will at last it will have no codicils. ---Dub McClish, The Scripturecache.com

---Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets