Hebrews 12:18-29 Sermon Outline

Intro

Opener

Intro (opener, MPT, MPS)

MPT

This is the last of the warning in Hebrews. Let’s remember that these warnings are out of a deep well of love in the heart of the author which is ultimately from the heart of God

Written to people who have been shaken up by life and persecution

MPS

We can persevere (remain unshakable) because of who God is and what he’s graciously given us in Jesus. (revering God, responding to His word/voiceand relishing in what he’s graciously given us) (????)

Body

Point 1: To persevere, we must relish in the gifts of God (vs. 22-24)

Explanation:

Before we leave this section of scripture on persevering, the author says come walk with me and lets see what’s on the other side of your perseverance.

What does it mean to relish?

To relish something, we must look intently at it (in all it’s glory, it’s nuances) and deeply enjoy it

The author opens up this part of scripture contrasting two realities. And one, he describes in such a way that you would be left overwhelmed (drowning in the overwhelming beauty and goodness) by what God has provided for you

You have not come vs. You have come

What is this gift?

What is this gift?

The descriptions of 22-24 culminate in what he describes in vs. 28 as an unshakable kingdom

Contrasted with vs. 18-21

Mount Sinai vs. Mount Zion

Mount Sinai

Description of Mount Sinai (what portion of scripture is it from? Exodus 19)

God provided more than a mere lecture on His holiness and power. He provided a 4-D Experience.

There’s something about experiencing something that drives the point home.

My 4D experience

Blazing fire, darkness, storm, sound of trumpet, a thunderous voice

Even Moses, whom you have nothing but the upmost respect trembled with fear

City of Law & judgement

Mount Zion (, )

Description:

Represents city of blessing and grace

The ESV Study Bible (Chapter 12): This draws on extensive OT imagery of a new heavenly Zion/Jerusalem (e.g., ; ; ; see “city” in , ; ; also, e.g., ) to say that Christian believers have access, in the invisible, spiritual realm, into the heavenly Jerusalem, and therefore participate in worship with innumerable angels (cf. ; also ; ) and the great “assembly” () of those who have died in faith and are already in God’s presence. living God. See note on 9:14

This draws on extensive OT imagery of a new heavenly Zion/Jerusalem (e.g., ; ; ; see “city” in , ; ; also, e.g., ) to say that Christian believers have access, in the invisible, spiritual realm, into the heavenly Jerusalem, and therefore participate in worship with innumerable angels (cf. ; also ; ) and the great “assembly” () of those who have died in faith and are already in God’s presence. living God. See note on 9:14

Spiritual holds more weight and has more value than physical?

Warning from heaven (vs. 25)

Spiritual is more foundational and forming than what may be more familiar

Spiritual Kingdom CANNOT be shaken

The spiritual and eternal realities of Mt Zion far outweigh the physical realities of Mt Sinai

Having come to Mount Zion is as real as coming to Mount Sinai

They have come spiritually. Thru Christ, you have been placed “in Christ Jesus” and seated in heavenly places with him. () This city is real NOW.

The Gift is the unshakable reality you receive when Jesus is your king

We forsake eternal bliss for momentary comfort/short-term pleasure (Esau sold his birthright for single meal)

Underneath so much of why we do what we do

Snap at kids because we want the short-term pleasure of control, comfort and a peaceful house

Adultery

Cheat on Taxes

Manipulate employees

Abuse spouse

Lie to mom

Cheat on Final

There’s coming a time when all that you’ve given yourself to for short-term pleasure will be removed.

Relish in it until it becomes the realest thing to you

Relish in it until it becomes the realest thing to you

Relish it until your very soul becomes unshakable

Application

In our fast moving society, thinking deeply is novel and uncommon. But, we must! We must sit and ponder on what’s been promised and provided for us

Do not exalt or over identify with what’s most familiar and most felt over that which is eternal yet foundational

We are promised an unshakable kingdom in the gospel

We are promised that all that isn’t eternal will be removed

something for the seasoned saints…don’t grow weary or stale of the gift

Don’t let your failing body and wrinkled convince you that you are

Everything sacrificed for and invested in God is unshakable

Called to order our lives to that which is unshakable

HOW DO YOU RELISH SOMETHING?

Why live on mission?

Because what you’re doing is eternal and unshakable. Is no small thing.

Illustration: Hacksaw Ridge (not sure if applicable??)

We are called to be unshakable…raising kids, going to work, in our marriage, etc

What will life look like if we believe that we already have this unshakable kingdom? If we were convinced that we’re not living a life that will be unshakable, it is unshakable? If we didn’t live for the daily grind of just trying to make it? If we didn’t raise kids as something merely to get thru, but knew that they are gifts from God and we our time and investment with them is eternal? If we went to college not simply to get a degree to get a job, but knew every moment spent in Pre-med praying for other students, studying in a way that exalted jesus is unshakable?

Illustration

Point 2: To persevere, we must revere the character of God

Explanation

God making himself known

Desire to reveal himself to you and be known by you

He has not left us without an understanding of who he is and how he works in our lives

To revere God, includes listening to and heeding God and his ways

Listening, Gratitude, Worship

How do we now hear the voice of God?

Thru his word

God is a God of judgement and he’s poured out his judgement on Christ. This allows us to call him “Our God”. This “Consuming Fire” God of judgement (“judge of all”) has now come near for us to know him and be known by him…for us to be brought into the most eternally delightful friendship. A friendship that will remain and not be shaken.

The way to this intimacy is found in vs. 24…the sprinkling of blood

Gratitude leads to service (??)

let us be grateful…thus let us offer…acceptable worship

Gratitude and worship are due in light of salvation. Acceptable worship takes into account (in reverence and awe) God’s holiness and his position as a judge to whom alone worship is due (see the context of , quoted here). Some say that this “acceptable worship” is depicted in the conduct described in (cf. ).

God may be shaking your world up so that you would see him and revere him

Application

To revere is to respond to Him

Be grateful, Worship acceptably (with reverence and awe), Please God

Must think rightly about God (most important thing about you…Tozer)

Must remember that God judges

Offer Acceptable Worship

We long to offer ourselves to someone and/or something

NOT refuse or reject the one who speaks

We are building our lives on the eternal, unchanging spiritual realities that we have in Christ. Therefore, let us serve God with reverence. Let us heed His Word and not refuse to listen, for in His Word is the grace and life that we need. The admonition of v. 25 does not regard our eternal destiny. As with the other exhortations of Hebrews, it deals with God’s chastening in this life, and not judgment in the next.

Illustration

Illustration

Point 3: To persevere, we must rejoice in the grace of God

Point 3: To persevere, we must rejoice in the grace of God

Explanation

God Speaking - Theme thru Hebrews

God reveals and communicates with us (i.e. humanity) (such a loving gesture…no secrets with God)

Thru Experience (vs. 18-21)

Thru Word (vs. 25-27)

Sermons from John Piper (1990–1999) You Have Come to Mount Zion

The most explicit contrast between these two experiences is that at Mount Sinai (verses 19–20) the speaking of God was such that they said, “No more. No more” (verse 19). But in the Christian experience the voice we hear (see verse 24) is the voice of the sprinkled blood of a Mediator. We come to Jesus, “the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks …” And what it says is: “I love. I forgive you. I purchase you. I cleanse you. I protect you. I keep you. I will always be there for you.”

God is speaking thru Jesus

Jesus is the mediator thru which we receive spiritual blessings

Because of Christ, we can say that we “have come”...

To Mount Zion, To the City of the Living God, etc

Jesus turns the God of wrath & judgement (consuming fire) into our Embracing Father and Faithful Friend

God’s wrath was poured out on Jesus. Jesus satisfied God’s wrath, he didn’t remove it.

Jesus makes us perfect before God (imputed righteousness)

Thru Jesus, we are transferred to this eternal, spiritual kingdom that will NEVER be shaken

It’s thru Jesus, that we become the “firstborn” ones who are enrolled in heaven (i.e. have names written in the book)

Jesus’ sacrifice and shed blood shouts a better outcome than the blood of Abel

Not a blood of vengeance but one of grace, mercy

Jesus warns and pleads with us to respond to Him in faith

Jesus makes our worship acceptable

Only gospel-centered, grace-motivated worship will be accepted. Nothing else.

Jesus turns the God who descended onto Mount Sinai with fire and spoke with thunder into “our” God who warmly embraces, joyfully sings over , and happily accepts us.

Grace that makes all of this real

He is speaking grace...

Grace that makes all of this real

Grace that makes all of this real

Jesus, mediator

Mediated with his shed blood…a better blood than Abel

NLT “to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel”

AMP: “and to the sprinkled blood which speaks [of mercy], a better and nobler and more gracious message than the blood of Abel [which cried out for vengeance].” [.]

Our God

Grateful for what hasn’t happened? (i.e. not being destroyed?

How do we now hear the voice of God?

Gratitude exists on the backdrop of what could happen (vs. 18-21)

Thru his word

Grateful for what has happened? (i.e. receiving an unshakable kingdom)

we want permanence and legacy. Want our lives to count and be remembered. It appears that only things associated with and found in this eternal kingdom will remain.

Application

Illustration

Grace that makes the judge your friend

DUI Story?

My mom being both judge and mom?

Conclusion (recap of the body)

Response (invitation to act)