Hebrews 12:18-29

Contrasting Then vs Now

Theme - Better Than

Then:

Exodus 19:10-25

Exodus 20:18-21

Contrasts between Mount Sinai and Mount Zion

Mount Sinai was marked by fear and terror.

Mount Zion is a place of love and forgiveness.

Mount Sinai is in the desert. Mount Zion is the city of the Living God.

Mount Sinai spoke of earthly things. Mount Zion speaks of heavenly things.

At Mount Sinai, only Moses was allowed to draw near to God. At Mount Zion, an innumerable company, US, we are invited to draw near.

Mount Sinai was characterized by guilty men in fear. Mount Zion features just men made perfect.

At Mount Sinai, Moses was the mediator. At Mount Zion, Jesus is the mediator.

Mount Sinai brings an Old Covenant, which was ratified by the blood of animals. Mount Zion brings a New Covenant, which is ratified by the blood of God's precious Son.

Mount Sinai was all about exclusion, keeping people away from the mountain. Mount Zion is all about invitation.

Mount Sinai is all about Law. Mount Zion is all about grace.

In Matthew 5:17 Jesus says, “Do not presume that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill.

IT IS TIME TO GET BOLD!!

Our Hebrews’ author is constantly balancing exhorting true believers to stand firm in faith and live confidently... with warning pretenders that they must personally listen and obey the call of faith.

Indicatives tell us what is true, imperatives tell us to go and do the only reasonable things in light of this truth!

V25 Truth simply understood is never acceptable in and of itself; it is truth done that counts!

V25 Those who reject His voice as it now speaks from heaven in the gospel are more responsible than those who broke the law. Escape is impossible.

V26 Quoting Haggai 2:6 “For this is what the Lord of armies says: ‘Once more in a little while, I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea also and the dry land.”

V27 “What can be shaken” is said to be “created things,” referring to the material universe. What is left is the spiritual world.

V27 God’s kingdom is immutable and possesses eternal stability.

The warning – are you going to listen or refuse Him who is speaking? There is a stable and immutable kingdom that is to be had for eternity for all those who remain steadfast.

V28 Our Response

*Gratitude

*Service

*Worship

V29 “for our God is a consuming fire.”