Hebrews 12:18-29 Obey the Voice from the Mountain – audio

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Text: Hebrews 12:18-29

Introduction

1. In encouraging Christians to run the race that is set before them

a. Lay aside things that would hinder them – Hebrews 12:1

b. Run with endurance – Hebrews 12:1

c. Keep their focus on Jesus – Hebrews 12:2-3

d. Remember the value of the Lord’s chastening – Hebrews 12:4-11

e. Run with style – Hebrews 12:12-13

f. Pursue peace and holiness – Hebrews 12:14

g. Look diligently lest one fall short of God’s grace, stumble because of bitterness, or become a fornicator or profane person – Hebrews 12:15-17

2. Further encouragement is now provided in the last half of chapter twelve

a. With a reminder of the mountain to which they have come

b. With a warning to obey Him who speaks

3. As we run the race of faith today, we need this same reminder and warning

a. Do we appreciate the significance of the mountain to which we have come?

b. Are we obeying the voice from the mountain?

c. How we answer such questions can reveal how well we are running the race of faith!

Body

I. THE MOUNTAIN TO WHICH WE HAVE COME (Hebrews 12:18-24)

A. IT IS NOT MOUNT SINAI (Hebrews 12:18-21)

1. The mountain described first is Mount Sinai, to which Israel came following their deliverance from Egyptian bondage where they received the Law – Exodus 19:12-19

a. It seems to have been much like a volcano – Exodus 20:18; Deuteronomy 4:11

b. It frightened the people – Deuteronomy 5:22-26; 18:16

c. Even Moses was afraid – Deuteronomy 9:19

2. We have not come to such a mountain, which forces us to stand afar off

B. IT IS MOUNT ZION (Hebrews 12:22-24)

1. The mountain to which we have come is one that encourages us to draw near

2. We have come to Mount Zion

a. Zion was originally the stronghold of the Jebusites in Jerusalem that became the city of David – 2 Samuel 5:6-10; 1 Chronicles 11:4-9

b. The term Zion came to be used to refer to:

1) The city of Jerusalem – Psalm 48:2; 84:7; Amos 6:1

2) The heavenly Jerusalem where God dwells – Isaiah 28:16; Psalm 2:6; Revelation 14:1

3. In coming to Mount Zion, we have also come to:

a. The city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem

1) The heavenly city longed for by Abraham and the others – Hebrews 11:10, 13-16

2) The heavenly city longed for by Christians today – Hebrews 13:14

3) The heavenly city we will one day experience – Revelation 3:12; 21:1-7; 22:14

b. An innumerable company of angels

1) The heavenly servants of God, of which there is a great number – Revelation 5:11

2) Who also minister to those who will inherit salvation – Hebrews 1:14

c. The general assembly and church of the firstborn registered in heaven

1) The church in the universal sense, made up of all who are saved – Acts 2:47

2) They are the firstborn ones, who enjoy special privileges of their birthright

3) Their names are in the Book of Life – Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:5

d. God the Judge of all

1) The Judge of all the earth – cf. Genesis 18:25

2) He is the One to whom we must give obey, as we shall note shortly

e. The spirits of just men made perfect

1) Those who died in faith, such as the Old Testament saints – Hebrews 11:39-40

2) Note: They had not been made perfect apart from us, but now they are made perfect; they were redeemed by the blood of Christ! – Hebrews 9:15

f. Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant

1) As we’ve seen, He is the Mediator of a better covenant – Hebrews 8:6

2) This new covenant is by means of His death – Hebrews 9:15

g. The blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel

1) Abel still speaks through the example of his faith – Hebrews 11:4

2) But in comparison, the blood of Jesus speaks volumes! – Hebrews 10:11-14

II. WHY WE SHOULD OBEY THE VOICE FROM THE MOUNTAIN (Hebrews 12:25-29)

A. THOSE AT MOUNT SINAI DID NOT ESCAPE (Hebrews 12:25)

1. We have seen from our study that:

a. Every transgression and disobedience received a just reward – Hebrews 2:2

b. Those who sinned, their corpses fell in the wilderness – Hebrews 3:17

c. Those who rejected Moses’ law died without mercy – Hebrews 10: 28

2. Thus the argument is again one of comparison, from the lesser to the greater

a. How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation – Hebrews 2:1-4

b. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy – Hebrews 10:26-31

3. As Jesus said in Luke 12:48

a. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required

b. And to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.

4. In Christ we enjoy so much more; dare we refuse to obey Him who speaks, not from Mount Sinai, but from Mount Zion (heaven itself)!

B. THE ONE WHO SPEAKS WILL SHAKE HEAVEN AND EARTH (Hebrews 12:26-27)

1. When God spoke at Mount Sinai, the earth trembled – Exodus 19:18

2. The day is coming when both heaven and earth will be shaken, even removed!

a. As promised in Hag 2:6

b. Which refers to the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made – 2 Peter 3:10-12

3. Dare we refuse to obey Him who speaks with such impact?

C. WE ARE RECEIVING A KINGDOM WHICH CANNOT BE SHAKEN (Hebrews 12:28)

1. While everything made will one day perish, we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken!

a. Note the present tense (are receiving)

b. Thus we are in the process of receiving this kingdom

2. It is a kingdom both present and future:

a. In one sense, we are now in the kingdom – Colossians 1:13; Revelation 1:9

b. In another sense, we have yet to enter the kingdom – 2 Peter 1:10-11

3. It is a kingdom:

a. Inaugurated when Jesus ascended to sit at God’s right hand on David’s throne – Acts 2:30-36

b. To be culminated when Jesus returns to deliver the kingdom to God – 1 Corinthians 15:23-26

4. Thus it is a kingdom:

a. which shall never be destroyedit shall stand forever – Daniel 2:44

b. Of which there will be no end – Luke 1:33

5. Receiving such a kingdom, dare we refuse to obey Him who speaks?

D. THE ONE WHO SPEAKS IS A CONSUMING FIRE (29)

1. We’ve read of a fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries – Hebrews 10:27

2. We’ve seen it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God – Hebrews 10:31

3. Even Jesus taught us to fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell – Matthew 10:28

4. Dare we refuse to obey such an awesome God?

Conclusion

1. God has indeed spoken

a. He has spoken through His Son – Hebrews 1:1-2

b. He has spoken from Mount Zion, that heavenly city, the New Jerusalem:

1) To which we have come through an obedient faith in Jesus – Hebrews 5:9

2) Where we can enjoy the fellowship of angels, the redeemed in heaven and on earth, and of Jesus and God Himself!

3) Where we can enjoy a New and better covenant, based upon the better sacrifice of Jesus’ blood!

2. But with such wonderful blessings come the responsibility of giving obedience:

a. Not to neglect our great salvation

b. Not to refuse Him who speaks from the heavenly mountain

3. Therefore our goal should be that as expressed by the author himself: let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. – Hebrews 12:28b