Dwelling on the Mount of Life: Hebrews 12:18-29

Introduction:

In John Bunyan’s “The Pilgrim’s Progress” Christian, the main character of the book, has heard Evangelist’s message to flee the City of Destruction. While on this journey, we find him seeking to rid himself of the burden on his back and this brings him to meet Mr. Worldly Wiseman who instructs him to ascend Mt. Sinai to reach Mr. Legality for help. The story says, “Christian turned out of the narrow way, to go to Mr. Legality's house for help. But, behold, when he got near the hill—it was so high, and it so hung over him—that Christian was afraid to venture further, lest the hill should fall on his head! Flashes of fire also came out of the hill, which made Christian afraid that he should be burned alive! (Ex. 19:16-18) Therefore he stood still—and did not know what to do. His burden now seemed even heavier to him—than when he was in the narrow way. He was so frightened that he trembled with fear! (Hebrews 12:21.) He now began to be very sorry that he had taken Worldly-wiseman's counsel.

Bunyan adds a poem which says:

When Christians unto carnal men give ear,

Out of their way they go, and pay for ’t dear;

For Master Worldly Wiseman can but show

A saint the way to bondage and to woe.

With this in mind, it is my desire that as we look in the Scriptures together today, we will first bring to light the burden that rests upon those who still remain in the shadow of Mt. Sinai, also, I pray that we might lift the eyes of Saints looking back at that long forsaken Mountain to look to Christ, and lastly, I hope to encourage those who so sweetly rest in Zion’s mount to fight to remain in that peace with all their might. I hope to do this as we will break down Hebrews 12:18-24 into two points and then we will look at the remaining 5 verses for application.

So, if you are here today and are resting in the goodness of your conduct, I implore you to listen to what God has to say on the matter. And if you are a believer who is ever condemned in your heart as you look to yourself as the grounds for your assurance, this message is for you. Lastly, to all of us that are in Christ, I pray that we might leave here tonight being full of gratitude for the grace of God in Christ our Lord.

It is in this text that the writer of Hebrews is encouraging these Hebrew believers not to return to the bondage under the Law, but to look to Mt. Zion wherein Christ has come, completed what we could not do on our own, and called us unto Himself. Today, he will draw a distinction for us. Bondage or freedom, law or grace, Sinai and Zion.

The Terrible Dread of Mt. Sinai

As we direct our attention to the first paragraph in our selected text for this evening, we might find ourselves in the shoes of an average jewish man or woman to behold the terror encapsulated in this event at Mt. Sinai so long ago. Because it is there that we find God’s presence being manifested atop of the mount, not presenting a welcoming warmth, but communicating the vast distance between Holy God and sinful man.

Now, we need to understand that the writer of Hebrews carefully lays out that this was a real, physical mountain that this took place on; we will see why later. But for now, let us understand that this was a real event that took place at a real location known as Mt. Sinai. And what we are told is that it is there that fire, darkness, gloom, storms, trumpet blasts, and the terrifying voice of God are present. This scene was so dark, so terrifying, so intense that there is not a person recorded to have been nonchalantly standing in the place, but that even their leader, Moses himself, was trembling.

Notice with me, if you will, the recording of the trumpet blast. As I read Exodus 19:19, which Hebrews 12 is alluding to, it says that the trumpet blast grew louder and louder during this event. As I looked at that text, it called me back to high school as back then I played the baritone in the marching band. Now, as I read this text I couldn’t help but to recall the final show of my senior year; we are performing the show, we’re almost to the end and you have been marching as cleanly and properly as you could. Your lungs are tired, your calves are on fire, and you know the last note for this show is a wonderful concert of instruments performing a crescendo, meaning we all went from playing softer to gradually louder. As I look back on that, I could remember the emotion as all of the years of my music career would be coming to a close with that final note and so I took a deep breath and built that soft piano note up to a loud fortissimo and in it was all of the intensity that you could imagine as you realized something you loved was coming to a conclusion. That’s what comes to my mind as I read this text because what we read of is a trumpet blast that increases in volume. This communicates the intensity of this scene, the emotion, the power, the greatness of the One who is coming down upon the mountain and it would seem this correlation between the trumpet and dreadful terror is a recurring theme as throughout the Bible it will be connected to eschatological texts in places such Matthew, 1 Thessalonians and Revelation.

So, what I want us to realize is, as Beale puts it, the terrible inapproachability of God is presented here. This is so clearly and so magnificently communicated that the writer of Hebrews makes sure to include, in verse 21, “if so much as a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned or shot with an arrow.” I want us to imagine ourselves there. Feel your legs trembling as you lift your eyes to see the fire and clouds, feel your fingers plugging your ears to the intensifying trumpet blast, feel your heart pitter pattering as the condemnation of the law settles in on your conscience as it seems as though it were all directed towards you alone.

Beloved, this is not merely some experience we have to reflect upon as though it were an isolated reality thousands of years ago, but for those of you outside of Christ, this is your present reality. The Law of God condemns you and you are so far separated from God that His presence is not one of warmth and welcoming, but of terrifying judgment as an all consuming fire. Have you loved God with every fiber of your being perfectly, always placing Him above all else with unfailing devotion? Have you always sacrificially loved your neighbor with unwavering commitment? No, of course not! And since that is the case, we too should be shaking in our boots.

This is the dread of Mt. Sinai and this is where all who refuse Zion reside.

The Delightful Beauty of Mt. Zion

But this is not the case for us all. As the writer of Hebrews heightens the remembrance of the condemnation wherein we all once lived, he reminds these troubled Hebrews that they no longer sit under the dark shadow of the intouchable Mt. Sinai, but have now been brought into the City of God! You may recall earlier that I made sure to mention the physical nature of Mt. Sinai. Well, it is here that the writer contrasts that terrifying physical place, with the glories of Heavenly Zion. Now, Jerusalem and Mt. Zion are real places, but that is not where he is referring. He is referring to the spiritual, heavenly Zion, that city of God and he is not referring to that dreadful mount in which we could not touch, but he points us to the mount to which we have already arrived. We have come, he says, “to the company of innumerable angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in Heaven…” The terrible unapproachability of God has rescinded and now we dwell in “the mountain of joyful celebration, community, and relational closeness with God Himself.” (Beale 988)

There are two observations I believe are warranted here. One being the blessing of corporate worship. You see, we have already come to this mount, though we remain on the Earth. Yet, it is there we dwell as we live in Christ. As we gather every Lord’s Day, like we are now, we gather in the chorus of believers both living and dead, and with the innumerable angels to praise the God of matchless grace. With that in mind, I would like to say what we do in our worship on the Lord’s day matters.

Second, notice that phrase, “of the firstborn who are registered in heaven…” In the Old Testament we become familiar with the concept of the blessing of the firstborn, in that they were entitled to a double portion of the inheritance of their father’s possessions upon his death and that they were given certain privileges and responsibilities. Well, in the New Testament, specifically in Romans 8:29 and Colossians 1:15, we are told that Jesus is the firstborn of God, not meaning Jesus is a created being, but that He is the one with whom the richest inheritance belongs. And, since Jesus is our covenant representative, meaning we belong in Him, we all receive the blessings and benefits as though we are the firstborn! But I don’t think it ends there. In Ex. 20:24 God tells Moses, “An altar of earth you shall make for Me, and you shall sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen. In every place where I RECORD My name, I will come to you and I will bless you.” Well, here in our text, we learn that our names are registered, or recorded in Heaven, but we might also be reminded that for the baptized believer, we have been stamped with God’s triune name. What I am pulling together here is that we no longer dwell beneath the condemnation of Mt. Sinai, but we lavish in the heavenly blessings of Mt. Zion. But why? How? How could this be the reality for those who bore the responsibility of breaking the Law from Zion?

The text continues, “We have come to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.” Here we find a few things that are the basis of our blessed assurance in the City of God. First, we need to notice that phrase, “we are the spirits of just men made perfect.” This phrase is a perfect, passive, participle and how we understand this is that it looks back. Back to what? It looks back to God who is the Judge. So, what we see here is that God, the Judge, that same God who we see in Mt. Sinai, has now looked at you and said, “He’s perfectly righteous.” What! How can this be? It is not by the efforts of our hands or our obedience to the Law, but it is because we have come to Jesus who is the Mediator of the New Covenant and we have been sprinkled with His own blood.

Now, that’s not language that we hear a lot, so what does it mean to be sprinkled with His blood? Well, in the Old Testament, Moses would have taken the blood of animals after this Mosaic Covenant was given, and in Exodus 24:8 we read, “And Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said, ‘This is the blood of the covenant which the LORD has made with you according to all these words.’” And what did Christ say at the Last Supper? Matthew 26:28 reads, “For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” So, what we see here is Christ, the better Moses and the Great High Priest coming forward and not simply taking the blood of some animal, but shedding His own precious blood and by His wonderful kindness has sprinkled it on us to seal us in this marvelous covenant of grace wherein He Himself alone has met all of the qualifications and where He Himself alone has born all of the condemnation belonging to us and it is by this act that we are made just and it is by this act that we have come to Mt. Zion. It was Abel’s blood that cried for justice, but it is Christ’s blood that calls for grace and for those of us who run to Christ, that is what we will undoubtedly receive.

There is an old hymn which says,

1 Glory be to Jesus,

who, in bitter pains,

poured for me the life-blood

from his sacred veins.

2 Grace and life eternal

in that blood I find;

blest be his compassion

infinitely kind.

3 Blest through endless ages

be the precious stream,

which from endless torments

did the world redeem.

4 Abel's blood for vengeance

pleaded to the skies;

but the blood of Jesus

for our pardon cries.

6 Oft as earth exulting

wafts its praise on high,

angel-hosts rejoicing

make their glad reply.

7 Lift we then our voices;

swell the mighty flood;

louder still and louder

praise the precious blood.

Beloved, where the trumpet of Sinai sounded forth the unapproachable holiness of God, the ever growing choir of Saints on Zion shall forever sound forth the praises of God’s matchless grace.

The Conclusion

Well, it is this message of grace that the writer uses to encourage these tempted Hebrews to press on in verses 25-29 and in that text you will find that he reminds them, and us, that this message is grander than that of Sinai, for while Sinai was spoken on Earth, this message is from Heaven. He then goes on, in verse 26, to reference Haggai 2:6 and it is there that God is promising the Jews returning from exile a miracle wherein He will shake the nations of the world that funds would be provided for the glorious new temple as a means for their encouragement. But here in Hebrews, the writer teaches us that God will judge the world and in the presence of wrath, there will be grace and blessing for His people who rest on Mount Zion. Beloved, the judgment of God will fall upon this world, in some manner we see foretastes of it already. Where will our peace come from? From the mount of life.

In Conclusion, I want to give us a few points to walk away with:

First, If you are outside of Christ, meaning if you have not come to Jesus for the saving of your soul, the terrible dread of Sinai is still upon you. Look to Christ and live.

Second, to the doubting believer. Why are you looking to the Law for your assurance as though it was by the Law you were saved to begin with? Though Christian in the Pilgrim’s Progress was saved in the gate, the relief of his burdens rolled away when he considered the imputed righteousness of Christ. Look to Christ today, it is by His works that you are saved and it is a life lived in light of this that gratitude reaps a reward of fruit in your Christian life.

Well, what even happened to Christian’s burden in the Pilgrim's Progress? According to our friend Jim Orrick, “When we meet him, Christian has an enormous burden on his back, and Christian’s burden represents not sin per se, but it represents the shame and doubt that he feels because of his sin. Christian’s sins get forgiven, and he was justified when he received Christ, which is represented by his entering the Wicket Gate. But Christian does not yet understand the basis of his forgiveness, so his conscience continues to bother or burden him… Therefore, what Christian loses at the cross is his shame and doubt caused by sin, because his sins had already been forgiven when he entered the Wicket Gate. Also, at the cross Christian receives a scroll, which he later calls his assurance. When Christian entered the Wicket Gate, he received Christ. When Christian gazed at the cross, he understood substitutionary atonement and imputed righteousness, and this gave him assurance that his sins were forgiven.”

Third, for the believer who feels as though their world is falling apart. Look to Christ, who, by His own sovereign grace, brought you into His kingdom, because it is His Kingdom that will stand after all the affairs of this world fade away. .