Hebrews 12:18-29

Introduction:

What’s up guys

Long time no see- If we don’t know each other, my name is Zach Wells and I’m the media coordinator here at FBC Bryan

I’m super excited to be before you and continue this Hebrews Series

Special things happening here, thank you John

Before we jump in, let’s go to the Lord in prayer

Prayer in general, for God’s Word to be magnified, if you would pray for me, and lastly go ahead and pray for yourself

—————-

Ask Question: How many of you guys have been to a National Park?

Share about my experience last summer at Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park

This isn’t just a meh experience, but pushes me and would push you into a place of awe-inspiring fear

Your awe of God or your fear of God should position you in a place of love for God ( and might I add a full and correct understanding of yoursefl)

The realization of just how small and incapable you are should drive you into a place of dependence on the One who made ALL things

When you see God’s holiness, it puts you in your right place

You are CREATED, bent on evil, selfish, in need of saving

And what we have seen over and over again all throughout the book of Hebrews and throughout the narrative of Scripture is that God’s arm is not too short to save, but He is able to rescue/save/ and set us from from our captivity and does so through the person and work of Jesus Christ

Before we jump into v.18, we must know the thrust of Chapter 12 is an encouragement to endure and to not grow weary of the Christian life knowing it is a spiritual marathon (and a lot us in the room who have been believers for even a little while say “amen” to that)

We have also over the last 2 years in this book that those who endure, are simply those who are Christians since Jesus is their fuel for endurance

Today we are going to see in verses 18 through 29 a comparison between two different mountains (one marked as a physical mountain and the other that is marked as a spiritual mountain) that are pinned to the Old and New Covenant respectively and then we are going to land simply in a response to what to do with this information

Let’s Read Hebrews 12:18-29 and I want you to see the whole passage here, and then we will go section by section…

Hebrews 12:18–29 ESV

18 For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest 19 and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. 20 For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” 21 Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.” 22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. 25 See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.

V18-21: Sinai (The Old Covenant)

To kick us off, we need to see that verse 18 through 21 is a speaking of a prior sense of self for Christians because the passage starts off with, “For you have not come to…”

So you have not come to a place that may be touched, you have not come to a place of blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest IF YOU ARE A BELIEVER OR ONE WHO ENDURES

These verses are signaling Mount Sinai if you are familiar with the OT (read more about this in Exodus and Deuteronomy)

Hebrews: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Mount Sinai—The Fear of the Law

The Old Covenant was associated with Mount Sinai because that is where God spoke to Moses when that covenant was instituted. It was a covenant of law, and it was also a covenant of judgment and of fear. It said, “Do this, or do not do that, or you will be judged.” In some cases it said, “Do not do this, or you will die.” That is not the place to which the New Covenant brings us. To that mountain you have not come.

Hebrews: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Mount Sinai—The Fear of the Law

Understandably, those in the OT only facing Mt. Sinai were terrified; they were gripped with fear. “They trembled and stood at a distance,” and pleaded with Moses, “let not God speak to us, lest we die” (

Hebrews: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Mount Sinai—The Fear of the Law

The writer of Hebrews is saying to his readers, “If you go back to Judaism, you are going back to a covenant of law, fear, judgment, and death.

Hebrews: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Mount Sinai—The Fear of the Law

To stand at the foot of Sinai, even without touching it, is to stand under judgment and doom. It demands and it punishes. Since no one by themselves can fulfill its demands, no person can escape its punishment. At Sinai, sinful and unforgiven man stands before an infinitely holy and perfectly just God. Guilty, vile, and undeserving of forgiveness, we have nothing to expect from Sinai but God’s condemnation. The symbols of Sinai are darkness, fire, trembling, and trumpets of judgment. For an unforgiven sinner, “It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (

Hebrews: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Mount Sinai—The Fear of the Law

God gave Israel the covenant of law in the middle of the wilderness, away from all distractions, all interference, and all hiding places. They had nothing to focus on but God, and in doing so became terribly aware of their own sinfulness. The first thing that leads a person to repentance and dependence on God for deliverance is the awareness of their own sinfulness. Apart from seeing their own sinfulness, a person has no reason to seek salvation. Only seeing our sin can make us see our need for salvation from sin and from the judgment it brings. This was the purpose of Sinai, to bring the people face to face with their own sinfulness, with no place to hide

Hebrews: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Mount Sinai—The Fear of the Law

The law is God’s great mirror. When we look into it, we see ourselves as we really are—immeasurably short of God’s standard of righteousness. There is not a single commandment that we have kept perfectly or can keep perfectly, in either act or attitude. The law makes no exceptions and no allowance for less than perfect obedience. The law overwhelms us, slays us. No sinner can endure Sinai. Every sinner who stands at the foot of Sinai is paralyzed with fear. So terrible was the sight, that Moses said, “I am full of fear and trembling

Old Covenant Transition: God is faithful, we are not

Promise keeper of salvation, deliverance, and hope

V22-24: Zion (The New Covenant)

Hebrews 12:22–24 ESV

22 But you (Christian) have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

Hebrews: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Mount Zion—The Grace of the Gospel

First thing here to mention is the mountain of the New Covenant is Mount Zion, representing the heavenly Jerusalem. The opposite of Sinai, it is not touchable, but it is approachable. Sinai symbolizes law and Zion symbolizes grace. No man can be saved by the law, but any man can be saved by grace. The law confronts us with commandments, judgment, and condemnation. Grace presents us with forgiveness, atonement, and salvation

Mount Zion was the special earthly dwelling place for God when the ark was placed there (Psalm 132:13–14 “13 For the Lord has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his dwelling place: 14 “This is my resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it.” )

When Solomon moved the ark to the temple, the name Zion was extended to that area as well

Over time, Zion became synonymous with Jerusalem in the old testament, and therefore became the city of God and the place of Sacrifice

Isaiah even says in Isaiah 46:13 that God will “grant salvation in Zion”

Here’s the comparison I want you to see between these two mountains and what they represent here in this book

Whereas Sinai was forbidding and terrifying, Zion is inviting and gracious. Sinai is closed to all, because no one is able to please God on Sinai’s terms—perfect fulfillment of the law. Zion is open to all, because Jesus Christ has met those terms and will stand in the place of anyone who will come to God through Him. Zion symbolizes the approachable God. Sinai was covered by clouds and darkness; Zion is the city of light. “Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God has shone forth” (Ps. 50:2). Sinai stands for judgment and death; Zion for forgiveness and life, “for there the LORD commanded the blessing—life forever” (Ps. 133:3). The Jews to whom Hebrews is speaking at this point are clearly believers, for they are told, you have come to Mount Zion. They were already on the gracious mountain of God, already in the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. As Christians, we are already citizens of heaven, where we now spiritually dwell (Phil. 3:20).

When someone comes to mount Zion (by becoming a Christian) - there are 7 blessings here that we see in these verses about Zion that are clear.. I will have to run through these fast as they could be their own sermons.

The first is the Heavenly City (The Heavenly Jerusalem)

This is heaven itself ~ the only way to heaven is coming to Christ

When we are saved, heaven becomes our spiritual home- where our Heavenly Father and Savior are, as well as the rest of our spiritual family

Until the Lord takes us there to be with Himself, however, we cannot enjoy its full citizenship. For now we are ambassadors on earth.

The second blessing of the New Covenant is the General Assembly (v.22)

The innumerable angels

When we come to Christ on Mount Zion, we come to a great gathering of celebrating angels, whom we join in praising God. Daniel gives us an idea of just how many angels we will be joining in heaven: “Thousands upon thousands were attending Him, and myriads upon myriads were standing before Him” (Dan. 7:10; cf. Rev. 5:11).

Contrary to what some churches teach, we are not to worship angels. We join them in worshiping God, and God alone. During his vision on Patmos, John once was so awestruck that he fell at the feet of an angel and would have worshiped him. But the angel forbid him, saying, “Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me. You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.” (Rev. 19:10). In heaven, we will not worship angels, but will worship with angels. We will join them in eternal celebration and praise of God.

The third blessing is the Church of the First-Born

This is the body of Christ (the Church)

We join in with brothers and sisters in the faith here on earth but also in heaven worshipping the same God who has granted salvation to us

The fourth blessing is God, the Judge of ALL

On Mount Zion we can come into God’s own presence, an incomprehensible concept to a Jew who knew only the God of Sinai. But at Jesus’ crucifixion, “the veil of the temple was torn in two” (Luke 23:45), and the way into God’s presence forever was made open for those who trust in the atoning work of that crucifixion. To come into God’s presence at Sinai was to die; to come into His presence at Zion is to live (cf. Ps. 73:25; Rev. 21:3).

The blessing here is that the Judge of all people and things actually offers us grace and His presence that is closer than a dearest friend

We also know that God will judge all that is unrighteous and not covered under the blood of His Son Jesus Christ

The fifth blessing is- The Spirits of righteous men made perfect.

These are OT Saints, ones who could only look forward to forgiveness, deliverance and everlasting peace

When we come to heaven we will join Abel, Abraham, Moses, David, and all the others in one great household of God (cf. Matt. 8:11).

We will not be inferior to Abraham or Moses or Elijah, because we will all be equal in righteousness, because our only righteousness will be our Savior’s righteousness.

Sixth, we have the ultimate blessing of Jesus…

Supremely we come to Jesus, in the fullness of His beauty and glory as the mediator of a new covenant. When we come to Mount Zion, we come to our Savior, our Redeemer, our one and only Mediator with the Father.

The last blessing we see here of coming to Mt. Zion (receiving salvation is a coming to the sprinkled blood)

We come to the blood that atones for our sins in which we have redemption

Ephesians 1:7 “7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,”

The sprinkled blood of Jesus far surpasses the sacrifice of Abel and speaks better than the blood of Abel. Abel’s sacrifice was acceptable to God because it was offered in faith, but it had no atoning power—not even for Abel, much less for anyone else. Jesus’ blood, however, was sufficient to cleanse the sins of all men for all time, to make peace with God for whoever trusts in that blood sacrifice (Col. 1:20).

V25-29: Right Response to the Gospel & Endure

So here is the invitation… v.25, don’t refuse Him who is speaking

The offer to enjoy the blessing of Zion are here

Let’s read these last few verses.

Hebrews 12:25–29 ESV

25 See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.

V 25-27: We have to know and acknowledge that a time is coming (at just the right time) that this earth will pass away and only the eternal things will remain.

The New Heaven and the New Earth are around the corner, so do NOT hesitate in accepting Jesus and following Him for the rest of your life

The response there is found in v.28:

Be grateful in receiving a Kingdom that cannot be shaken

Thus offer God acceptable worship (Romans 12:1 “1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” )

Do it with reverence and awe (Proverbs 9:10 “10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” )

And please know that God is a consuming fire (2 Thessalonians 1:8 “8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.”

I want us to see the full picture of this passage here…

Hebrews —An Anchor for the Soul (2 vols.) From Sinai’s Law (Vv. 18–21)

To understand that God is holy and that one is a sinner is to stand at the threshold of grace (we need Mt. Sinai to see our need) (Unbelievers only experience Sinai, but Christians see both mountains and the need for both)

For the believers here in the room ~ We may think we are safe and secure and this passage doesn’t really apply to us, but we have so many tendencies to drift back to Sinai

It’s our steps of legalism that make us think we earn more of God’s favor by doing X,Y, or Z

Can I tell you that God doesn’t love you anymore or any less by how much you attend church, read your bible, or even pray to Him… this is because His love for you is solely based on His love for the Son that you have now been grafted into

Now don’t get me wrong, we do those things still but why? What’s the motivation? We do those things because He loves us, and not to earn more of His love

This is the drift that can happen often times in our walk with God on this marathon called walking with Jesus…

What offers are you making to God? ~ What do you think you bring to Him that is going to add to His riches?

Maybe you have slowly begun to put things above God in your life without even realizing it because you are still attending church, reading your Bible, and finding yourself in community… but that relationship has become an idol, the need for clarity has maybe become an idol, or maybe even a position to serve within this ministry has become an idol above your relationship with Jesus

Please know that your destination is secure as a Christian (those 7 blessing are secure because of Jesus)

But there is continual sanctification as you wrestle with the pull and temptation of Mt. Sinai

Because I think if we are all honest it’s often so easy to return to Sinai because it is comfortable internally

Christians often say “trust in God” ~ But man o man is that difficult

For us, it’s often much easier to trust in ourselves/ it’s comfortable/ we know ourselves so well (and the concept of someone knowing us better is sometimes unthinkable) - but God knows you more than you know yourself (He has existed for an eternity before you and He is the One who formed you it’s not a cosmic accident)

Dion’t you know that you let yourself down more than anyone else ever

Explain… waking up for class, getting that thing done by the deadline, asking her out, reading your bible later in the day, etc etc.

God doesn’t fall short on His promises

- It’s what we have been talking about… the Gospel is rest for your soul.

The Gospel is what is going to allow you to endure

If you aren’t reminding yourself or others around you of the Gospel this drift back to self justification is inevitable

As the band comes back up and leads us in worship once again the invitation is really clear… and I want to do things a little bit differently than what we are used to…

Take time to put your stuff away; close your eyes; and just focus on what the Spirit of God is doing

1st Hand Raise: You are standing under the weight and judgment of Sinai trusting in your own righteousness to justify yourself

2nd Hand Raise: You’ve slowly began to drift back to Mt. Sinai

Maybe without really knowing it… the idol of clarity, relationship, school, “doing ministry”

Have people pray for each other during response time