Sermon for 8/21/22 "Kingdom That Cannot Be Shaken"

Hebrews 12:18-29

This morning I'll be reading Hebrews chapter 12 verses 18 through 29. And I'll be reading from the Holman Christian Standard Bible. Hebrews 12:18-29 In these verses that we will look at this morning,,, Paul makes one last appeal to show that the New Covenant is superior to the Old Covenant. Hebrews 12:18–29 (HCSB) 18 For you have not come to what could be touched, to a blazing fire, to darkness, gloom, and storm, 19 to the blast of a trumpet, and the sound of words. (Those who heard it begged that not another word be spoken to them, 20 for they could not bear what was commanded: And if even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned! 21 The appearance was so terrifying that Moses said, I am terrified and trembling. ) 22 Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God (the heavenly Jerusalem), to myriads of angels in festive gathering, 23 to the assembly of the firstborn whose names have been written in heaven, to God who is the Judge of all, to the spirits of righteous people made perfect, 24 to Jesus (mediator of a new covenant ), and to the sprinkled blood, which says better things than the blood of Abel. 25 Make sure that you do not reject the One who speaks. For if they did not escape when they rejected Him who warned them on earth, even less will we if we turn away from Him who warns us from heaven. 26 His voice shook the earth at that time, but now He has promised, Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also heaven. 27 This expression, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of what can be shaken —that is, created things—so that what is not shaken might remain. 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us hold on to grace. By it, we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire. God bless the reading and the hearing of your word this morning. Let us pray: Dear Lord,,, as we begin this morning,,, with everyone here today and all that are listening and watching by video,,, we ask that you open our ears to hear and our hearts and minds to receive the message that you have for us today,,, In Jesus' name I pray,,, Amen. ----------------------------------------------------------- Last Sunday we looked at Luke 12:49-56 and we seen where we need to be aware that we are in “A Dividing Time”,,, a time when we should be different than the people of the world,,, we should stand out from them,,, still loving them and helping them,,, but without living as they do,,, we can live with them,,, without being like them,,, and as we love them and help them,,, they will strive to understand what makes us this way!

Because it’s this type of love that can change the world,,, and those around us,,, if we,,, the people of the churches everywhere,,, will just realize that we are different,,, live like Jesus has shown us,,, different,,, but loving,,, as we go through,,, this “Dividing Time” today!

This morning we will look at these verses in Hebrews 12:18-29 and see how they will help us in our walk with God this week.

----------------------------------------------------------- Verses 18 through 21 say: 18 For you have not come to what could be touched, to a blazing fire, to darkness, gloom, and storm, 19 to the blast of a trumpet, and the sound of words. (Those who heard it begged that not another word be spoken to them, 20 for they could not bear what was commanded: And if even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned! 21 The appearance was so terrifying that Moses said, I am terrified and trembling. )

Paul is reminding them of the terror that their ancestors felt when they encountered God on Mount Sinai.

He’s talking to those who are tempted to return to the law,,, reminding them that they should remember the terrifying circumstances that they went through,,, and the fact that they should be able to draw spiritual lessons from them.

Mount Sinai,,, was a literal,,, tangible mountain,,, that was all on fire.

It was covered in a great cloud that made everything seem indistinct,,, and obscure.

A violent storm raged around it.

In addition to these natural disorders,,, there were terrible supernatural events going on.

A trumpet blasted away,,, and the voice of God thundered out so loud and terrifying that the people begged for it to stop.

They were completely overwhelmed by the words from Exodus 19 verse 13 that said,,, “If so much as a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned to death.”

They knew that if it meant death to an animal that couldn’t understand the warning,,, then how much more surely would it mean death to those who understood the warning.

This scene was so terrifying and forbidding,,, it says that Moses himself was trembling.

All of this tends to draw a vivid picture of the nature and ministry of the law.

It helps us to see that it is a revelation of God’s righteous requirements and of His wrath against sin.

The purpose of the law was not to provide the knowledge of salvation but to produce the knowledge of sin.

It helps us to see the distance between God and man because of sin.

It is a ministry of condemnation,,, darkness,,, and gloom.

----------------------------------------------------------- Verses 22 through 24 say: 22 Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God (the heavenly Jerusalem), to myriads of angels in festive gathering, 23 to the assembly of the firstborn whose names have been written in heaven, to God who is the Judge of all, to the spirits of righteous people made perfect, 24 to Jesus (mediator of a new covenant ), and to the sprinkled blood, which says better things than the blood of Abel.

We do not come to a tangible mountain on earth.

Our privilege is to enter the sanctuary in heaven.

By faith,,, we approach God in confession,,, praise,,, and prayer.

We are also not limited to one day of the year,,, but may enter the holiest at any time with the knowledge that we are always welcome.

God no longer says, “Stay at a distance”; He says, “Come near with confidence.”

Law has its Mount Sinai,,, but faith has its Mount Zion.

This heavenly mountain symbolizes the combined blessings of grace—all that is ours through the redeeming work of Jesus Christ.

Law has its earthly Jerusalem,,, but faith has its heavenly capital above.

The city of the living God is in heaven,,, the city which has the foundations,,, whose Architect and Builder is God.

As we enter the presence of God,,, we are surrounded by myriads of angels,,, then we are with the assembly of the firstborn whose names have been written in heaven.

According to my Bible Knowledge Commentary,,, these are members of the church,,, the Body and Bride of Christ,,, who have died since Pentecost and are now consciously enjoying the Lord’s presence.

They await the Day when their bodies will be raised from the grave in glorified form and reunited with their spirits.

By faith today,,, we see God the Judge of all.

No longer does darkness and gloom hide Him!

The OT saints are there,,, the spirits of just men made perfect.

Justified by faith,,, they stand in spotless purity because the value of Christ’s work has been imputed to their account.

They too await the time,,, when the grave will yield up its ancient charges and they will receive glorified bodies.

Jesus is there,,, the Mediator of the new covenant.

There is a difference between Moses as mediator of the Old Covenant and Jesus as Mediator of the new.

Moses served as a mediator simply by receiving the law from God and delivering it to the people of Israel.

He was the go-between,,, or the people’s representative,,, offering the sacrifices by which the covenant was ratified.

Jesus is Mediator of the new covenant in a far higher sense.

Before God could righteously make this covenant,,, Jesus had to die.

He had to seal the covenant with His own blood and give Himself as a ransom for all (1 Tim. 2:6).

He secured the blessings of the New Covenant for His people by His death.

He insures these blessings for them by His endless life.

And He preserves His people to enjoy the blessings in a hostile world by His present ministry at God’s right hand.

And the last part of these verses that says: and to the sprinkled blood, which says better things than the blood of Abel.

Whether we understand this as meaning the blood of Abel’s sacrifice or Abel’s own blood which was shed by Cain,,, it is still true that Christ’s blood speaks more graciously.

The blood of Abel’s sacrifice said, “Covered temporarily”; Christ’s blood says, “Forgiven forever.”

Abel’s own blood cried, “Vengeance”; Christ’s blood cries, “Mercy, pardon, and peace.”

----------------------------------------------------------- Verse 25 says: 25 Make sure that you do not reject the One who speaks. For if they did not escape when they rejected Him who warned them on earth, even less will we if we turn away from Him who warns us from heaven.

This verse is warning them,,, and us today,,, not to reject the One who speaks,,, and it will be worse for us today than it was for them.

We have the chance of a personal relationship with God because of Jesus’ death,,, but we also have a greater responsibility as well.

Because of Christ,,, God has given His best and final revelation.

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.

----------------------------------------------------------- Verses 26 and 27 say: 26 His voice shook the earth at that time, but now He has promised, Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also heaven. 27 This expression, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of what can be shaken —that is, created things—so that what is not shaken might remain.

At Mount Sinai,,, God’s voice caused an earthquake.

But when He speaks in the future,,, His voice will also produce a “heavenquake.”

This was predicted by the prophet Haggai 2:6 : “Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land.”

According to my Bible Knowledge Commentary,,, the reference to Haggai 2:6 was understood by the author as speaking of the ultimate remaking of the heavens and earth which will follow the millennial kingdom (cf. Heb. 1:10–12).

What remains after this disastrous event,,, will be eternal.

----------------------------------------------------------- Verses 28 and 29 say: 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us hold on to grace. By it, we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.

The phrase,,, let us hold on to grace.,,, is likely a reference by Paul to the resources of grace available from our,,, great High Priest,,, Jesus Christ.

And,,, as it says: By it,,,, we know that this grace is required in order to worship,,, or serve God acceptably!

Anything short of this attitude is unacceptable,,, and very dangerous because,,, our God is a consuming fire.

We forget this about God so many times today!

----------------------------------------------------------- So,,, while we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken,,,, we must remember that the God we are dealing with,,, is a God that is a consuming fire.

.

Like I told you last Sunday,,, once we accept Christ as our Savior,,, there must be a change,,, we don’t stay the same!

We can’t,,, because we were living a life without Christ and living the way of the world,,, but now,,, we follow Christ,,, not through our own power,,, but through the relationship we have with God that is available because of the life,,, death,,, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,,, all with the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit!

But if we listen and obey God the way that we should,,, as we’ve seen through these verses,,, we will receive the “Kingdom That Cannot Be Shaken”,,, the eternal prize that awaits all of us,,, to share with our Savior forever,,, all because,,, of God’s love for us!

----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- Hymn: 337 - Oakdale Hymn: 337 - Seminary Benediction -----------------------------------------------------------