Turnaround

Introduction

Who here likes being rejected? We can think of examples in our past where we wanted to do something or go somewhere or be around someone only to be rejected and told that we couldn’t do something that we wanted to do. Rejection can be painful at times, but, at other times, it can also provide some lighthearted humor down the road. Imagine a family that has both a Sam’s Club card and a COSTCO card because both places had different deals depending on the time of the year and the thing that you were looking for. The husband preferred Sam’s Club and the wife preferred COSTCO. The family had 2 different cards and they kept their card in their car for the store they liked and all was well in the world. When mom wanted to take the kids to COSTCO after school, she could. When dad wanted to run by Sam’s Club on the way back from work, he could. One day, the husband took his car in for some maintenance work and he was left with his wife’s car the rest of the day… there just so happened to be a Sam’s Club on the way back to his office and he figured he’d stop in and grab some food and see if there were any deals as it was almost Christmas time. He parked the car, opened the sun glasses compartment, grabbed the card that was inside, and began to walk toward the door. He smiled at the greeter, whom he saw weekly, flashed his card, and heard something he had never heard before, “You can’t come in here with that thing!” He looks at his hand and to his horror, instead of seeing the iconic green Sam’s Club card, he see’s a red and white COSTCO card. It finally dawned on him that he had the wrong car, which had the wrong card, which meant that he couldn’t go into the place he wanted to go.

There are times where we try to go to the right place, but we don’t meet the requirements to get inside. This was true in the Old Testament as there was a veil that separated the people from the presence of God… because of their sin, the people could not come in. There are other times in the Bible where the people have everything necessary to glorify God, but they go to the wrong place. What we have to make sure of today is that we are not only saved by the blood of Jesus, but also that we are going in the right direction. Just as Springfield and other cities have both COSTCO and Sam’s Club, we see in God’s Word that there are 2 options: The way of the world and the Way of the Word. There are 2 paths that lead to 2 different destinations. As we continue walking through Hebrews 12 this morning, the preacher of Hebrews signifies this by sharing that there are 2 different covenants and 2 different mountains, and the results couldn’t more different. Let’s read from God’s Word and make sure that we have the right entry card and that we are going to the right store as well!

Hebrews 12:18–24 CSB

18 For you have not come to what could be touched, to a blazing fire, to darkness, gloom, and storm, 19 to the blast of a trumpet, and the sound of words. Those who heard it begged that not another word be spoken to them, 20 for they could not bear what was commanded: If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned. 21 The appearance was so terrifying that Moses said, I am trembling with fear. 22 Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God (the heavenly Jerusalem), to myriads of angels, a festive gathering, 23 to the assembly of the firstborn whose names have been written in heaven, to a Judge, who is God of all, to the spirits of righteous people made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which says better things than the blood of Abel.

This is quite a contrast in our text as the preacher of Hebrews paints a picture of doom and gloom on one hand, and joy and celebration on the other. How do we come to Mount Zion, this city of the living God? By repenting of the sin that separates us from God and placing our faith in Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Jesus is the only way for us to have this hope. Have you repented of your sins and are you following Jesus today?

Our Sin Creates a Chasm that Restricts Us (18-21)

Every human is a little bit different, it would be boring if we were all the same, but most people, when they see a problem, try to solve it. If you have ever been told that you aren’t good enough for something, that usually stirs something inside of us that makes us want to try to prove that person wrong. In many ways we can do this, can’t we? Someone says that you don’t know how to do something (problem), so we determine that we’re going to learn how to do that thing and to do it well (solution). It doesn’t matter if it’s related to a sport, job, relationship, size, or school, many people like to prove others wrong and come up with a solution to what they see as the problem. Often times in this life, that works. If you really want to become good at something and you devote time and effort to becoming good at something, you can solve many problems that you put your mind to. Think back to the great inventor Thomas Edison. He famously invented many things, but arguably none more famous than the light bulb… if you know anything about his background, though, you know that he struck out far more than he hit a home run. He said this after the success of the light bulb, “I have not failed 10,000 times… I successfully found 10,000 ways that will not work.” This persistence is a good thing most of the time - and as believers we need this persistence as we seek to live out Hebrews 12 and run our race well. However, this persistence and striving to find personal solutions to life’s problems have led many people down the path of no return and the reason why is simply this: Our Sin Separates Us From God.

This is the truth that unites all of humanity - Romans 3:23

Romans 3:23 CSB

23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;

This is the problem that we face - we are separated from God due to our sin, we have fallen short of the mark, we’re in trouble! So, what’s the solution to this present problem that we face? One pastor noted that he has seen people respond to this problem in 7 different ways and we’ll look at the first 6 here because these 6 don’t lead to a positive result:

People Embrace Their Sin

People Deny Their Sin

People Fall Into Self-Hatred

People Get Mad at the Truth/Truth Teller

People Blame Others For Their Sin

People Seek out Self-Help

Sin separates us from God. People have tried to solve this problem in a variety of ways over the years. Denial of sin, trying to overcome sin with lots of good actions, trying to redefine sin, blaming others for their sin… the fact remains, friends, we are all guilty here and no amount of modernization of Scripture or self-improvement strategies will help us overcome this problem. It is a chasm that we cannot climb ourselves. This is the point in our text in Hebrews 12:18-21 as the people of God in the Old Testament knew the severity of their sin as God gave Moses the 10 commandments and demonstrated His power and holiness in Exodus 19-20. The Israelites had crossed the Red Sea, God had led them to this point and provided for them, and now He was going to reveal His law to them.

Look at this scene in the Old Testament

Exodus 19:16–19 CSB

16 On the third day, when morning came, there was thunder and lightning, a thick cloud on the mountain, and a very loud blast from a trumpet, so that all the people in the camp shuddered. 17 Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. 18 Mount Sinai was completely enveloped in smoke because the Lord came down on it in fire. Its smoke went up like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain shook violently. 19 As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him in the thunder.

Close your eyes and picture this scene. This God has provided for you each step of the way… and Moses tells you that this God is physically going to descend upon this mountain. You’re probably excited about this! Your God beat the Egyptian “gods” and He has done amazing things for you up to this point and you likely think that this is going to be incredible to see this God and His power and might. Then He descends on the mountain after many days of preparation on the part of the people and everything changes. The sky turns black. Fire comes down. Smoke covers the mountain. The earth shakes. Your heart drops - Moses, is this what was supposed to happen? To take this a step further, not only was God on this mountain, but to physically touch the mountain meant certain death as Hebrews 12:20 tells us from Exodus 19:12

Exodus 19:12 CSB

12 Put boundaries for the people all around the mountain and say: Be careful that you don’t go up on the mountain or touch its base. Anyone who touches the mountain must be put to death.

What is this epic scene all about? What does it communicate to God’s people in Exodus and throughout the generations? That God is holy - so holy in fact that God cannot be approached. We talk about the “fear of the Lord” at times in church life, this scene undoubtedly led to the fear of the Lord being instilled on these people. What happens in the next chapter, Exodus 20? God gives the Israelites the 10 commandments. Do you see what is happening here? God is unapproachable on Mt. Sinai - the people can’t touch the mountain or else they will die, they can’t see God because He is hidden through the smoke, they can’t walk up the mountain because the ground is shaking, God gives them 10 commandments that they absolutely cannot keep. What is the purpose of Mt. Sinai? God is demonstrating to His people WHO He is and WHO they are. There is a clear barrier between God and His people - even the best of them! He is unapproachable, it’s as if we keep hearing this, “Because of your sin you can’t come in.”

Some people in our world are prone to forget this message as they think that God is kind of like us. He’s just a really powerful human. He’s a nice guy. He’s a gentleman. He’s our buddy. He’s our butler. He thinks just like we do. Friend, look no further than this short text and you quickly are reminded that the God of the Bible is holy, sovereign, Creator, perfect, and all-powerful. In the Old Testament we see that God is distant from His people. The Old Testament sacrificial system was set up to remind the people of this distance - they are separated from God because of their sin and their sin requires the blood of an animal for God to “passover” this sin for a year, and then another sacrifice, and another, each year of their life! This ever-present reminder of their sin. Do you like being reminded of your shortcomings? Honestly, we need that from time to time as it’s good for us… but every year of your life? That would get convicting and that was the point. Sin is a chasm that separates us from God and we are powerless to keep God’s law perfectly. We are hopeless at Sinai before a holy and unapproachable God. The blood of these animals can’t forgive sins as Hebrews 10 reminded us of a few months ago

Hebrews 10:4 CSB

4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

There’s a song by Shane and Shane called All Sufficient Merit from an album called Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs - one of the best albums I can remember - that Kevin and Amy sang a few months ago and what a powerful message it contains:

“The law could never save us our lawlessness had won Until the pure and spotless Lamb had finally come”

Mt. Sinai fails to deal with sin. Those commandments cannot save because we cannot keep them. So, why spend so much time on this subject if the summary is that simple? Because so many people keep running back to Mt. Sinai. These Jewish converts to Christianity in Hebrews were tempted to run back to Mt. Sinai and forsake Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the cross and go back to all that they knew and were raised to know. They were tempted to go back to the other destination, the other mountain, the place where they could not approach God. And you know what? People today are tempted to do the same. Rather than come to God through Jesus, they want to solve their problem themselves through their works. Maybe you’re here this morning and this is you… you’re here and you’re trying to be the solution to your sin problem. Look no further than Hebrews 12:18-21 to see where that gets you. It leads to failure. We can’t keep God’s law perfectly. We can’t approach God on our own terms through our actions and works. Just like the father trying to get into Sam’s Club without the right card, your access to God is denied through your works. The chasm of sin is just too wide.

I don’t know about you, but that’s a whole lot of bad news and I’ve always been a glass-half-full type of person… that’s a tough one to swallow, but it’s the Bible, and before understanding the good news that follows in our text, we have to see how utterly hopeless we are left to ourselves. We have to see the severity and cost of our sin first. Thankfully this isn’t where our passage stops.

Our Savior Created a Cross that Reconciles Us (22-24)

The preacher of Hebrews is confident in the salvation of these people and he says in verse 22 that instead of going to Sinai, they have come to a different mountain, Mt. Zion. Where is this mountain and why is it so significant? Mt. Zion appears 7x in the New Testament - this isn’t a common phrase and it’s the only time it appears in Hebrews. What is this preacher talking about here? Surely there were people being addressed here (again, likely a Christian community in Rome) who physically hadn’t been to Jerusalem - literally speaking they hadn’t come to Mount Zion. So how can the preacher say, “You have” come there in the perfect tense which means the action has been completed? Not because they have physically come to the city of God but because they have spiritually. This is looking at the end of the race as Jesus rules sits with His enemies under His feet as Psalm 110 talks about and as the preacher quotes often throughout Hebrews. This is talking about our spiritual home. How are we welcomed at Mount Zion? How can we come into the city of the living God?

This has been a theme throughout the whole book of Hebrews, and more broadly the New Testament!

Hebrews 1:3 CSB

3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of his nature, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

Hebrews 4:14–16 CSB

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens—Jesus the Son of God—let us hold fast to our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.

Hebrews 6:19–20 CSB

19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain. 20 Jesus has entered there on our behalf as a forerunner, because he has become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

Hebrews 8:6 CSB

6 But Jesus has now obtained a superior ministry, and to that degree he is the mediator of a better covenant, which has been established on better promises.

Hebrews 9:15 CSB

15 Therefore, he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called might receive the promise of the eternal inheritance, because a death has taken place for redemption from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.

Hebrews 10:14 CSB

14 For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are sanctified.

Hebrews 12:2 CSB

2 keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

How are we welcomed at Mt. Zion? The God of the Bible is a just and righteous judge. So many people believe that they are good by nature and that bad things happen to them and that God is not just whenever this takes place. So many say that they want God to be fair and give them what they deserve… but we really don’t want that. Because God is just, He must punish sin. If He didn’t punish sin then He would cease to be just. What is the problem with God punishing sin? That means that He also must punish us! See, Mt. Sinai reminds us of our sin and unholiness and how we cannot approach this just Judge. But at Mt. Zion, we are welcomed with open arms because we have been made perfect and granted an alien righteousness that is not our own! It is as if we were standing in God’s courtroom with Him seated in the judge’s chair, gavel in hand and us sitting at the defendant’s table. The prosecution brings up all of our sins before God and God says, “How do you plead?” You know that you’re guilty. We all have sinned and fallen short. We know that God is holy and that left to ourselves, we are up a creek without a paddle and this is bad news bears. But then we remember what our Savior has done. Our Savior took upon Himself our guilt and shame and sin and failure and He took those sins to the cross. He paid the debt we owed in full. The wages of our sin is death - that’s what we deserve in the courtroom of divine justice, yet that is what Jesus received in order to give us what we could not earn ourselves. He created a cross to reconcile sinners like you and me to Himself. So what do we plead? Not the 5th - we plead Jesus.

Through Jesus, we are washed white as snow. Through Jesus, we are adopted into a new family. Through Jesus, we are made perfect and declared innocent. Through Jesus, there is a new covenant that is not based upon our actions and works but upon the finished work of our Savior! We looked at that new covenant back in Hebrews 8-9 an awful lot - aren’t you thankful that Jesus fulfilled the Old Covenant perfectly and brought about a New Covenant that is written in our hearts and not predicated upon our perfect obedience? Anyone else thankful for Jesus Christ this morning? Based on lots of posts I’ve seen this past week, you’d think that some Christians still thought we were living under the Old Covenant… Praise God we’re under grace and not law! Hebrews 12:24 is the crescendo of the entire book of Hebrews and the climax of the New Testament. There is one way for human beings to be saved. There is one way to approach our God. There is one way up that mountain and it’s not by being a good person or having the right past or coming to church a time or two… it’s by being washed in the blood of Jesus and being born again.

I ask you this morning, is this your story?

The title of this message is turnaround - if you look that word up in the dictionary you’ll find something along the lines of this, “An abrupt or unexpected change, especially one that results in a more favorable situation.” Do you see the abrupt change in our text between verses 21 and 22? The doom and gloom of the law and the joy and celebration of grace? Whenever you and I are born in this life, we are born with a fallen sinful heart that is bent towards disobeying God’s Will and God’s Word. We see this with our kids, you don’t have to teach them to disobey - they just do it! We’re on a path that leads to destruction as we look at the end of the road and we see an unapproachable God that we are separated from and the judgment that is awaiting us. That’s not a favorable situation, but that’s our testimony. That’s what we deserved. Are you ready for the best 2 words in Scripture? BUT GOD.

Ephesians 2:4–5 CSB

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, 5 made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!

This is only possible because of what Jesus has done. Jesus brings about a turnaround, an abrupt change for the better, in the lives of His people by turning our lives around. No longer are we walking in darkness and as a child under wrath… we have been redeemed by His blood and now we are walking in the light as a child of the King! If this is your story, what can you not do? If you have been buried with Christ and raised to walk in newness of life, what can you not do? Go back to the way things used to be. Go back to how you were living when you were dead in sins and trespasses. Go back to the law and the restrictions that God’s people faced on the first mountain where God was unapproachable. Why on earth would you go back to that!? Yet, people do. People will come to church and hear about Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and we’ll take Jesus whenever He benefits us on Sunday morning… but come Monday? Back to the old way. Back to tradition and what we used to do. We’re tempted to replace grace for law and we fall into this trap all the time. This is where these Jewish converts were at in this congregation. They had grown up going to the Jewish temple and offering sacrifices to God for their sins… but now they learned that through Jesus, there is no more need of a sacrifice for sins - JESUS PAID IT ALL! But what do we see over and over in this 2000 year old sermon? Reminders and warnings against rejecting Jesus and going back to the old paths. Why? Get this - we crave credit and at the cross of Calvary we’re reminded of this simple truth: The only thing that we bring to the table is our sin. We fight this. Of course many people want to go back to another system that allows them to boast in their works of righteousness and goodness. But the Bible says that the best of our works are like filthy rags. Friend, if Jesus has turned your life upside down and saved you from the inside out, if this is your salvation story, you cannot afford to go back. If you are here this morning and maybe this isn’t your story but you’re trying to figure out more about this Jesus and what He expects of you today and why His life matters for you today, understand that Jesus alone has the power to bring a turnaround to your life. He alone can save you. He alone can change you! He created a tree that would become the cross that He Himself was crucified upon to save sinners like you and me! Don’t reject Him and don’t put Him off another day.

With all of the conflict taking place in Israel at the moment I’m sure that many of you came here expecting a sermon on the 2nd coming or about how we as Christians need to do x, y, or z. Here’s your call to action in that vein, friend. Get ready, because He is coming. Well when is He going to come? Soon and very soon, as every good Baptist knows, we are going to see the King - amen! How do we know that? Because of 1 Peter 4:7-8

1 Peter 4:7–8 CSB

7 The end of all things is near; therefore, be alert and sober-minded for prayer. 8 Above all, maintain constant love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins.

Jesus will return. If you are still in your sins, then you will be separated from Him because that is what you deserve… but if Jesus has saved you from your sins and washed you in His blood, then you have quite the story to tell, especially as the end draws near. We are called to be alert, sober-minded, prayerful, and we’re called most of all to love one another. If you are here and you do not know this Jesus as your Lord and Savior, understand His blood still saves sinners. His blood still has power and offers forgiveness and mercy and grace to weary sinners like you and I. Luke 23:34 tells us this

Luke 23:34 CSB

34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided his clothes and cast lots.

Friend, if you need this forgiveness from Jesus, don’t go to the law. Don’t look to your works and accomplishments. Look to the rugged cross and the grace that was poured out for our salvation. Through Jesus, what was once untouchable is now touchable. What was once impossible is now possible. What was once foreign is now ours. All because our Savior created a cross and died to reconcile sinners like you and me. Morality might keep you out of jail - your works just might be able to do that… but it takes the blood of Jesus to keep you out of hell. Has Jesus turned your life around?

Again, if not, you must react to the reality of your sin. I mentioned 6 negative reactions to sin that lead to separation… there is but 1 positive reaction to sin and that is repentance. Repent of your sins and trust in Jesus today!

If Jesus has saved you, though, you are welcomed home to this festive gathering. Heaven is your hope. Heaven is where your anchor lies and that anchor holds. Your citizenship, Philippians 3:20, is in heaven and your Sam’s Club card isn’t something that you have to worry about forgetting or leaving in the other car. Your name is written down. Your account is credited with the blood of Jesus. No fear of hearing access denied - we’re marching to Zion where our sin-crushing Savior is awaiting us. Share that good news of eternal hope with others this week!