Attaining Holiness
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Text: Hebrews 12:18-29
For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:) But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire.
The book of Hebrews is written to the born again Jewish Christians most likely in the city of Rome. They are a small sect of the Hebrews in a largely Roman culture. These Jews have undergone persecution because of their faith. They are cut off from friends, careers, livelihoods, savings, and culture. In many cases they are stranded as islands in a sea of humanity for daring to claim the name of Jesus as their own.
The text before us is a text of HOPE. This is a passage meant to move the believer to greater trust in God and his Son Jesus Christ. These believers are not going through the random predations of man but are under the care and love of God and the author of Hebrews has brought us to this point so that we might understand God’s hand in trials.
The author begins with a tale of two mountains. These two mountains are mentioned in our text:
The first mountain: Sinai
This mountain is described in Hebrews 12:18-21
For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)
YE ARE NOT COME… We are reminded that we approach a different mountain than the Jews of the OT.
The author describes the events of Exodus 19-20. These events are of the Children of Israel meeting with God. They approach the mountain where Moses just some months before encountered a burning bush. But this time the burning bush has taken over the mountain. This fire was a reminder of the holy nature of God’s judgement and character.
Consider what was going on this mountain…
No Trespassing - “And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:”
No Light. (smoke of many furnaces)
No Peace (Tempest)
Sound of a Trumpet
Voices hear in the smoke
Wow wouldn’t that Be great? To hear God’s voice and see his power on display? Well no it wasn’t as a matter of fact you wouldn’t want to stay here for very long the Bible says the people‘s response was they wanted it to end.
Hebrews 12:19b–20 (KJV 1900)
“… which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: (For they could not endure that which was commanded,…”
Even Moses was taken back by such a sight.
And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)
I would think that this was an amazing sight to behold and that something amazing must have happened in the life of the Israelites after this. They would have followed God completely convinced of God’s power and judgment.
Sadly, All of this amazing stuff happens in chapter 19 just remember in a couple chapters they will erect an altar to a calf and declare these are the gods that got us out of Egypt.
Please let me remind you that the subject at hand is Holiness.
RECAP: It is the beginning of chapter 12 where the heavy burden of laying aside every weight and sin is placed on the shoulders of the Hebrews who are trying to endure the trials they face. The warning is that they will be unable to stand if they try to run the race of Faith with the burden of sin and weight holding them down.
The reason I call this a heavy burden is that if we could just lay aside sin and distraction I know that many would. But alas we are saddled with such a pull to the things of the flesh.
Here is the issue Holiness is not accomplished by:
1. We do not attain holiness through dramatic experiences
There are some Christians that think that they will defeat the sin in their life if they have a dramatic or traumatic experience. But that is not what played out at Sinai. There may be some stories of Scared Straight Christians but those are far and few between if they ever happen.
2. We do not attain holiness through fear.
Fear is not what produces the fruit of GOd in your life. Actually it is love that produces this and perfect love casteth out fear.
3. We do not attain holiness through ordinances.
We cannot rule book our way into Holiness. We can rule book our way into uniformity and conformity. Sadly, there are some Christians that would rather conform to the order of things than allow God to do a work in their heart that leads to transformation.
The writer points out this is not the mountain you approached.
The second mountain: Zion
It is vs. 22-24 that we find our mountain.
But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
It is here that we find our mountain. A mountain full of life and promise. Notice that this mount Zion is in the city of Zion. This is the mountain on which Jesus died and the mountain on which he will Return to take us all to a city whose builder and maker is God.
This mountain represents a different Covenant. A covenant built not on the obedience to a law but a Covenant built on Jesus Christ and his work of Calvary.
Notice the character of this covenant.
This is a City of the Living God - not a dead burned spot on a Mountain. A heavenly Jerusalem.
An innumerable company of Angels. - Remember a few Angels were present for the giving of the law. But this is an innumerable company. The Covenant of Christ secures all that Christ brings to the furtherance of his Gospel.
General assembly of the Church when Gathered together in heaven.
Jesus is the mediator.
Notice that this mountain does carry some of the same themes.
a. Where the first covenant, Sinai, was one of God’s judgement and wrath.
b. So the second covenant, Zion, is a mountain of Judgement.
To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
Wait now it makes sense that all the fire and anger of the first mountain had judgment but Christ is the judge of the second mountain.
We don’t realize this but there is judgement in both mountains. We will find out next week that Christ is the same yesterday and forever. This is to say that God is not changing. Judgement comes for both covenants.
Recognize the judgement of verse 24…
And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
Remember that the words to Cain after the death of his brother Abel were…
And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground.
As Ables blood cries out so does the blood Jesus.
Ables blood cried out for “Justice must be given. Give me Vengeance.”
Christ’s blood cries out that “Justice has been given. Give them mercy.”
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Exposition:
CIT: God expects Saints to approach him from Zion not Sinai.
The issue with Christians today is that many are approaching God the same way the OT saints approached Sinai.
Christians today are still approaching God as if it is their religious work that makes them acceptable to God. They keep the rules, they work harder, they avoid sin and God has to like them because of all they have done.
The danger is that we are not accepted by our works we are accepted by Christ’s work.
Preacher if you don’t tell Christians to keep the rules they will head directly to sinfulness. They will be lazy in the service of the king. You should probably keep them under some rules. You see there is a fear among believers that if you remove the law you will end up with Licentiousness. Is that true? Well maybe. But that is not what this text is allowing for.
In fact the issue is holiness. The reality is is that holiness is never acquired with:
1. We do not let him holiness through dramatic experiences
Some are expecting a revival, or a traumatic experience to make them change. Some are counting on a camp or youth group to formulate an understanding for their teen. They think that the death of a loved one or that an accident is what someone needs.
2. We do not gain holiness through fear.
Maybe you are hoping that God will wake you up through a life of dread and danger. You believe that God wants you to experience hardship because of all things you do. And every bad thing that happens in life is because a God is in heaven with lighting bolts just for sinners like you. The old roof falls in on the church because you walked in.
3. We do not attend holiness through ordinances.
Some are here because God told you to. That’s great but move as quickly as possible to the motivation of all that GOd has planned for his people in the fellowship of the saints. Religion kills and as long as you have to follow a rule to follow God you will limit the amount of joy that comes from it. The sooner you see yourself as his child purchased by his good Grace the quicker we can get to the joy of serving him.
Instead the writer of Hebrews is instructing saints, who are being drawn back to their old testament way of worship, to understand holiness based on their position in a new covenant
The wealth of Christ’s power
Acceptance and love of a holy father.
And their sin fully judged at Calvary
Judgement satisfied through the work of another.
Remember... Holiness comes from Grace.
The argument from the beginning of the chapter is how God produces holiness through his grace wire through difficult times. The author then encourages the congregation to dive in to that grace so they might experience his holiness.
The illustration of Esau teaches that holiness is not gained by a love for the temporary but rather for eternal things that will last. This demands an eternal vision that embraces Gods grace to experience things that will not end
The author is making an argument here but it is a continuation of what is taking place in chapter 1 to chapter 10. He was bringing it around to full closure. Christ is greater than the trappings of the Israelites. I just got Grace that implies that greater thing to our life. We don’t waste time with the Old Testament law because I got to Grace we have access to all that is in Christ.
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There is a warning…
You thought it was a bad thing when God shook the earth at Sinai.
The shaking of Zion is greater in intensity than the shaking of Sinai.
See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.
God will not just shake the earth, but heaven and earth. This is taking us back to the command to stand. So that one is called to stand through the shaking. This is possible if his standing is in person of Christ and Zion - He will make it. If he is standing in the works of Sinai it will all come crashing down.
Illustrate: The Wise man who built his house on rock from the teaching of Jesus Christ.
This shaking is meant to shake loose all of your life that is not built on the person of Christ.
I’m going through a lot of shaking in my finances.
I’m facing a lot of shaking in my career.
In my child rearing.
Make certain it is all under the grace of Christ. Or it will shake and fall so that in Grace Christ can establish it.
Note:
This passage is the joy that was set before him. This is why Christ and toured. So that you and I might have a foundation which cannot be shaken.