Come to Zion

Introduction: In addition to the pressures of neglect, unbelief, tradition, and impatience, which kept many Jews from fully trusting in Christ, was the pressure of fear - fear of persecution. Some had already experienced persecution just from being associated with church. All of them could see first hand the suffering that many true believers were facing. It had become evident that being godly in a godless society was costly.

This passage gives a warning of something that is far more fear in spiring that what any human persecution can inflict - God’s judgment. Every man will be judged on one of two bases - law or grace. He will either be judged by his own work or by the works of Christ. He will either be found in Adam or in Christ. Those who have trusted in Christ will be judged by what Christ has done on their behalf. Because they are joined to Christ by faith, they will be measured and judged by His righteousness instead of their own. Those who have not trusted Him will be judged by their own righteousness.

The fear of those who have not yet accepted Christ should not be of persecution they might receive for believing in Him, but rather for the judgment they will receive for rejecting Him.

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 which brought fear. “Do this or do not do that, or you will be judged.” In some instances it was, “do not do this, or you will die.” That is not the place that the new covenant brings us.

As God was preparing to establish that covenant, the people were forbidden to touch the mountain. The phrase here “the mountain that may be touched” does not refer to permission to touch the mountain but to the possibility of touching the mountain because it had a physical reality that could be touched. The mountain symbolizes the earthliness of the covenant. The Old Covenant was the foundational covenant. It was the kindergarten covenant which gave the elementary teachings of God and principles of His nature. It was to be obeyed in more physical and tangible ways.

Principle of vv. 18-21: “If you go back to Judaism, you are going back to the covenant of law, fear, judgment, and death.

2 Corinthians 3:7 NKJV

But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away,

The Grace of the Gospel

The mountain of the New Covenant is Mount Zion, representing the heavenly Jerusalem. The opposite of Sinai, it is not touchable now, but it is approachable. 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, but grace presents us with forgiveness, atonement, and salvation.

History: How Jerusalem came to be known as Zion. (David: Zion. Solomon: Moriah)

Sinai was forbidding and terrifying but Zion is inviting and gracious. Sinai is closed because no one is righteousness, but Zion is open to all because Jesus has met the terms of the law and stands in the place of anyone who will come to God through Him. Sinai was covered in clouds and darkness while Zion is the city of light.Sinai stands for judgment and death while Zion stands for forgiveness and life.

Those who come to Mount Zion are believers. In coming to Zion we join the company of:

To an innumerable company of angels

To the general assembly

To the church of the first-born

To the God and Judge of all

To the spirits of just men made perfect

To Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant

To the blood of sprinkling

Conclusion: