41) Our God is a Consuming Fire
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Before we address the text today I want to go back and spend a couple minutes reviewing what we have gone over so far because today seems to me to be wrapping up much of the author’s teachings so far. As an engineer I very much appreciate the author’s approach of the book of Hebrews. It is systematic, well organized, refers to much of the old testament for support of the teaching and is rich in depth.
It answers the question who is Jesus?
Jesus is how God speaks today.
Jesus has been appointed the heir of all things.
Through Jesus the universe was made.
Jesus is the radiance of God’s Glory and the exact expression of his nature.
Jesus is sustaining all things by his powerful word.
Jesus was the one who made purification for sins
Jesus sat down and is seated at the right hand of the Majesty on High
Jesus is superior to the angels
Jesus is the Son of God.
That there is a world to come that we do not see but now we see Jesus 2:9
Jesus was made lower than the angels for a short time so that by God’s grace he might taste death for everyone, crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death.
Jesus, the pioneer of salvation was made perfect through suffering
Jesus is the sanctifier
Jesus is not ashamed to call the sanctified brother and sister as the sanctifier and sanctified have the same father.
Jesus shared in flesh and blood so that he might destroy the one holding power over death. so that he could free those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death.
Jesus reached out to help Abraham’s offspring
Jesus is like men in every way, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest, to make atonement for peoples sins.
Jesus suffered when he was tempted, so he is able to help those who are tempted.
Jesus is the apostle and high priest of our confession.
Jesus is faithful
Jesus is our great high priest that has passed through the heavens
Jesus sympathizes with all of our weaknesses, as he was tempted in every way yet without sin.
Jesus was appointed to high priest by God
Jesus offered prayer and appeals to God and he was heard because of his reverence
Jesus was completely obedient to the father in all things.
Jesus became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him
Jesus entered the the inner sanctuary behind the curtain as a forerunner on our behalf
Jesus is the grantee of a better covenant
Jesus remains forever, he holds his priesthood permanently
Jesus saves completely those who come to God through him since he always lives to intercede for them.
For he is holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens
Jesus performed one sacrifice for all time when he offered him self.
Jesus has obtained a superior ministry and he is a mediator of a better covenant that is established on better promises.
He has entered the most holy place, not of this world but in the heavens
It is by his blood and willing offering of himself that our consciences are cleansed from dead works so that we can serve a living God.
Jesus is the mediator of the new covenant so that those that are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance
He died a the death for the redemption from the transgressions commited under the first covenant.
He appeared one time for the removal of sin by the sacrifice of himself.
This list is not inclusive of all that was taught, but after all of this the author exhorts them with the following
19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus—20 he has inaugurated for us a new and living way through the curtain (that is, through his flesh)—21 and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. 23 Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful.
In this exhortation, he calls them to love each other and to watch our for those that may be struggling with faith or possibly have not come to believe in Jesus as savior.
He warns them from deliberate sin. and that
31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
He calls them to remember when they endured suffering in joy and reminds them to focus on the reward and to have confidence and boldness in their hope. To trust that their faith saves, not works of the law but true faith
1 Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.
6 Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
He showed them from the history of Isreal how it was by faith and not by the works of the law that they were saved.
He calls them to endure, and uses this image of a runner who is solely fixed on Jesus. Who by doing so is removing hindrances and repenting of sin. Who sees Jesus as the perfect example of faith. Who endured the worst man had to offer and for the glory of God endured the cross.
This runner sees suffering as discipline from God. It is growing and maturing them in the race of faith. Though it is not enjoyable at the time it yield the peaceful fruit of righteousness. This discipline keeps the runner on the narrow straight path.
The path of wisdom. It removes stumbling blocks and is strengthened by believing that God is at work in all things.
The racer is to pursue peace with everyone and holiness so that others will see the Lord. The light that shines from a racer that is fixed there eyes on Jesus, the sources of our faith will be a beacon of light in the darkness.
Then we came to the commands to make sure or see to it, that no one falls short of the grace of God.
We now come to the end the author’s call to be confident and bold, holding onto their confidence, by drawing near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, because of what Jesus has accomplished. So to conclude his argument he turns to a contrast between the Mountains of Sinai and Zion or more specifically what they represent. This is a final comparison of the mosaic covenant that was established at mount Sinai and the new covenant that is established in Jesus who sits in the heavenly place.
Contrast of Mountains
Contrast of Mountains
He starts with Mount Sinai.
Mount Sinai
Mount Sinai
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.
The author brings there mind back to the delivering of the Mosaic covenant. After they left Egypt they came to the wilderness of Sinai. They set up camp before the mountain. Moses goes up the mountain and speaks with God. He relays messages between the people and God. God tells Moses that he will come to the people.
9 The Lord said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear when I speak with you and will always believe you.” Moses reported the people’s words to the Lord, 10 and the Lord told Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. They must wash their clothes 11 and be prepared by the third day, for on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. 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. 13 No hand may touch him; instead he will be stoned or shot with arrows and not live, whether animal or human. When the trumpet sounds a long blast, they may go up the mountain.”
They were to consecrate themselves and come to the base of the mountain but they were not to touch it. They were to be clean and ready for the presence of the Lord to appear. In 3 days God came.
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.
They would come to the base of the Mountain in fear and trembling. God would deliver the 10 commandment amongst this great display of his power. The response of the people was:
18 All the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain surrounded by smoke. When the people saw it they trembled and stood at a distance. 19 “You speak to us, and we will listen,” they said to Moses, “but don’t let God speak to us, or we will die.”
God’s display of power was for a purpose
20 Moses responded to the people, “Don’t be afraid, for God has come to test you, so that you will fear him and will not sin.”
With lightning, the earth shaking, trumpets blaring, and smoke over the mountain, God Glory and power was demonstrated before the people as he gave the Law. The Holiness of God was displayed and the Israelites believed that if God just kept speaking that they would die. Their sin would have been a full reality under the words of the commandments given. As the great display of power was unfolding before their eyes and ears, each and every one of them would have seen their inability to meet all of those commands.
The Lord has come to test them, so they would fear him and not sin. God shows him his might so that it would lead to obedience. Like our country today we have rules in place that keep all men from living out their true selfish desires. As we see consequences for crimes being removed we see more and more willing to partake in them. When there is no consequence against evil then evil will reign. God showed them his might for their benefit.
The people had come to what could not be touched. There was the opportunity but the consequence was death. They begged that God speak to them no more. Not in rebellion but in fear.
Even Moses states he was fearful
19 I was afraid of the fierce anger the Lord had directed against you, because he was about to destroy you. But again the Lord listened to me on that occasion.
They would were given a preemptive warning against what we read in chapter 10
31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Mount Zion
Mount Zion
Then comes the contrast of Mount Zion
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.
Mount Zion here represents the new covenant in Jesus.
16 This is the covenant I will make with them after those days, the Lord says, I will put my laws on their hearts and write them on their minds, 17 and I will never again remember their sins and their lawless acts. 18 Now where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.
Zion had come to represent the heavenly Jerusalem the city of the living God. The place where God’s presence dwells.
13 For the Lord has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his home: 14 “This is my resting place forever; I will make my home here because I have desired it.
2 From Zion, the perfection of beauty, God appears in radiance.
1 Then I looked, and there was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him were 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.
Believers are promised that we are citizens at the moment of salvation in heaven.
20 Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.
The heavenly city is described to have the following blessings for those who have saving faith.
They will come to myriads of angels.
The first item listed is that they will enter into the company of a myriad of angels.
11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels around the throne, and also of the living creatures and of the elders. Their number was countless thousands, plus thousands of thousands. 12 They said with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing! 13 I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them say, Blessing and honor and glory and power be to the one seated on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!
Angels were present at the giving of the law but they played a different role.
19 Why, then, was the law given? It was added for the sake of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise was made would come. The law was put into effect through angels by means of a mediator.
Angels at Sinai blew the trumpets in warning of judgement were as in Zion that angels rejoice and worship in eternal celebration.
Firstborn
The second is that those saved will join the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven. Isreal was called God’s firstborn
22 And you will say to Pharaoh: This is what the Lord says: Israel is my firstborn son.
But the firstborn will extend to all that are saved.
11 I tell you that many will come from east and west to share the banquet with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.
28 Now you too, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise.
29 For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
5 So then, does God give you the Spirit and work miracles among you by your doing the works of the law? Or is it by believing what you heard—6 just like Abraham who believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness? 7 You know, then, that those who have faith, these are Abraham’s sons. 8 Now the Scripture saw in advance that God would justify the Gentiles by faith and proclaimed the gospel ahead of time to Abraham, saying, All the nations will be blessed through you. 9 Consequently, those who have faith are blessed with Abraham, who had faith.
At Zion they come into the assembly of the firstborn, all who are saved by faith. Those whose names are written in the book of life.
20 However, don’t rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
27 Nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Judge
And then they will come to God, the Judge of all. This would have been unthinkable for the Jews. God is not approachable my men as shown at Sinai, for profane men to come into the presence of a holy God would mean instant death. But now as we have been cleansed and made white. As the sins have been removed. Now man can come before the holy and just judge and stand in the presence of God because of Jesus and his perfect life that has been given to each believer.
Mediator
And this is because Jesus sits next to God as our mediator. Whose blood speaks better than the blood of Abel
4 By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was approved as a righteous man, because God approved his gifts, and even though he is dead, he still speaks through his faith.
The mediator of the new covenant. And we can approach God because his blood has sprinkled the believer clean.
19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus—20 he has inaugurated for us a new and living way through the curtain (that is, through his flesh)—21 and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water.
The author has wrapped right back to the beginning of the exhortation. The call to not turn back to the covenant at Sinai and have full confidence and hope in the new covenant. Jesus whose name is
21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
Contrasts
These two mountains contrast the two covenants.
Sinai represents the law and judgement. The condemnation of the failure of men to fulfill the law and to be saved by their works. No man was ever saved by the law. At Mount Sinai there was judgement. The Mosaic Covenant was a conditional one. God promised may blessings if they were to obey the commands and many curses and punishments if the rebelled against them. God was faithful to the entire covenant but the people were not.
Zion represents grace and faith. Those that repent and believe, have access to God directly and with all of those who have been saved before. It represents salvation by faith, atonement by Jesus, and salvation from the wrath of a just and holy God.
10 For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, because it is written, Everyone who does not do everything written in the book of the law is cursed. 11 Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous will live by faith. 12 But the law is not based on faith; instead, the one who does these things will live by them. 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, because it is written, Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree. 14 The purpose was that the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles by Christ Jesus, so that we could receive the promised Spirit through faith.
Sinai represented the bondage of sin and Zion the freedom from sin.
21 Tell me, you who want to be under the law, don’t you hear the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave and the other by a free woman. 23 But the one by the slave was born as a result of the flesh, while the one by the free woman was born through promise. 24 These things are being taken figuratively, for the women represent two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai and bears children into slavery—this is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar represents Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written, Rejoice, childless woman, unable to give birth. Burst into song and shout, you who are not in labor, for the children of the desolate woman will be many, more numerous than those of the woman who has a husband. 28 Now you too, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 But just as then the child born as a result of the flesh persecuted the one born as a result of the Spirit, so also now. 30 But what does the Scripture say? “Drive out the slave and her son, for the son of the slave will never be a coheir with the son of the free woman.” 31 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of a slave but of the free woman.
Sinai was earthly, physical and represented that was temporary. Zion is Spiritual and eternal.
At Sinai man could not approach God, sinful man could not be in the presence of God. At Zion all sinners who are saved are free to enter God’s presence by the blood of Christ.
Sinai represented God’s presence dwelling away from man in the holy of Holies and Zion represents God’s presence with man in the heavenly tabernacle.
The author is drawing clear lines between the old and the new. So he gives the final “see to it” of this section.
Do Not Refuse
Do Not Refuse
25 See to it that you do not reject the one who speaks. For if they did not escape when they rejected him who warned them on earth, even less will we if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven. 26 His voice shook the earth at that time, but now he has promised, Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens. 27 This expression, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what is not shaken might remain.
God warned them in the fiery smoking, thundering, storm with accompanying trumpets and they got the message. They were warned. How many generations it take for them to choose not to head the warning. 40 generations nope, 4 generations nope, how about 40 years, nope, 4 years, unfortunately not. how about 1 year, 4 months. Less than 40 days.
1 When the people saw that Moses delayed in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said to him, “Come, make gods for us who will go before us because this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt—we don’t know what has happened to him!”
From the mountain through all of the prophets, through the leadership of David, with the wisdom of Solomon they could not escape when they rejected the words of God. He spoke directly at the mountain, and through the prophets, and the word he inspired in the Old testament.
1 Long ago God spoke to our ancestors by the prophets at different times and in different ways.
He has promised that “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” He expounds on it with the Heb 12:27
27 This expression, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what is not shaken might remain.
This is a quote of the prophet Haggai
6 For the Lord of Armies says this: “Once more, in a little while, I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land.
All that which has been created will be shaken and will in the end pass away.
The author quotes Psalm 102 in
10 And: In the beginning, Lord, you established the earth, and the heavens are the works of your hands; 11 they will perish, but you remain. They will all wear out like clothing; 12 you will roll them up like a cloak, and they will be changed like clothing. But you are the same, and your years will never end.
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief; on that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed.
There will be a time when all that all will pass except that which cannot be shaken.
Response
Response
28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful. By it, we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe,
Because of all that has been revealed and that the kingdom that we are receiving is unshakable.
6 But Christ was faithful as a Son over his household. And we are that household if we hold on to our confidence and the hope in which we boast.
4 As you come to him, a living stone—rejected by people but chosen and honored by God—5 you yourselves, as living stones, a spiritual house, are being built to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture: See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and honored cornerstone, and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.
We are a part of the unshakable kingdom and are being build into at spiritual house. To be a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God. And we are to give praise as a spiritual sacrifice.
15 Therefore, through him let us continually offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name.
The reality of the believer. Of a true believer who has faith has recieved that which cannot be shaken. We stand on the only solid ground in the universe, faith and hope in Jesus Christ. All other ground is sinking sand.
28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful. By it, we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe,
Let us be thankful and let us serve God acceptably with reverence and awe.
Reason
Reason
29 for our God is a consuming fire.
This is one of the most dire warnings in scripture. God is Love and loving. God is a righteous God. His justice is the only justice. And no matter how creative or how hard man tries to convince themselves that this is not who God is, they will find that this verse is true.
5 It is clear evidence of God’s righteous judgment that you will be counted worthy of God’s kingdom, for which you also are suffering, 6 since it is just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you 7 and to give relief to you who are afflicted, along with us. This will take place at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with his powerful angels, 8 when he takes vengeance with flaming fire on those who don’t know God and on those who don’t obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
Whether you are a believer or not does not change who God is. He is worthy of all praise, all affection. all glory. and it would do us well to remember this. He does not change his justice for anyone. He will invoke his justice for every sin that has ever been commited. The difference to the person is whether they will stand alone separated from God and if you think the the scene at mount Sinai brought fear and trembling to the Israelites, it will be greater in the end.
11 Then I saw a great white throne and one seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from his presence, and no place was found for them. 12 I also saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged according to their works by what was written in the books. 13 Then the sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them; each one was judged according to their works. 14 Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
Conclusion
Conclusion
The God of Sinai and the God of Zion are the same God. He has not changed and will not change. God’s Glory came at the first mountain but pales in comparison to the second mountain.
7 Now if the ministry that brought death, chiseled in letters on stones, came with glory, so that the Israelites were not able to gaze steadily at Moses’s face because of its glory, which was set aside, 8 how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? 9 For if the ministry that brought condemnation had glory, the ministry that brings righteousness overflows with even more glory. 10 In fact, what had been glorious is not glorious now by comparison because of the glory that surpasses it. 11 For if what was set aside was glorious, what endures will be even more glorious. 12 Since, then, we have such a hope, we act with great boldness. 13 We are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from gazing steadily until the end of the glory of what was being set aside, 14 but their minds were hardened. For to this day, at the reading of the old covenant, the same veil remains; it is not lifted, because it is set aside only in Christ. 15 Yet still today, whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their hearts, 16 but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.
We are to live in the hope and confidence of those who stand boldly on the truth and assurance that we come to the presence of God into the heavens, free, safe, and secured through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
That the Most High God is a consuming fire to those who do not come to believe in his son as Lord and savior. The first covenant showed that all men will fail to achieve salvation by their work. That all men deserve to be consumed.
But God in his mercy and grace established a new covenant through the blood of Jesus Christ once for all time. For all who will hear and believe in the message. The message that is near.
8 On the contrary, what does it say? The message is near you, in your mouth and in your heart. This is the message of faith that we proclaim: 9 If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.
What I ask today is that if you have made this confession that live in it fully. Live in the full reality of the life you have in Jesus.
If you are here today and you know in your heart today or are questioning if you are one who would stand before God and attempt to appease his wrath by your works. And you know that you are in need of a savior I ask you today to stay after church and lets talk. Do not leave here today with the question unanswered. No longer live as one who tries to be good. To be the best person you can be and hope you will be saved. Live in the absolutely free grace of God. And see him transform your heart, mind, soul, and strength are you learn to love him with all your being because of his work.
Let us pray.
Let us pray.
Prayer
Communion
Warning
Children, Lost, Sin
19 And he took bread, gave thanks, broke it, gave it to them, and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 In the same way he also took the cup after supper and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
27 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks, he gave it to them and said, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Prayer
Song
Closing
Blessing/Benediction
20 Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus—the great Shepherd of the sheep—through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 equip you with everything good to do his will, working in us what is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.