Hebrews 12:18-29: God's Unshakable Kingdom
Hebrews - Jesus is Greater • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction
Introduction
Scripture
Scripture
18 For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest 19 and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. 20 For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” 21 Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.” 22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
25 See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.
Outline
Outline
Hebrews 1-2 - Jesus is Greater Than the Angels
Hebrews 1-2 - Jesus is Greater Than the Angels
Hebrews 1:1-4 - God has Spoken
Hebrews 1:5-14 - The Son is Superior to the Angels
Hebrews 2:1-4 - A Warning
Hebrews 2:5-9 - Lowliness to Crowning Glory
Hebrews 2:10-18 - Jesus has Delivered His Brothers
Hebrews 3:1-4:13 - Jesus is a Greater Rest
Hebrews 3:1-4:13 - Jesus is a Greater Rest
Hebrews 3:1-6 - Jesus is Worthy of More Glory Than Moses
Hebrews 3:7-19 - Disobedience After the Exodus
Hebrews 4:1-13 - A Sabbath Rest for God’s People
Hebrews 4:14-7:26 - Jesus is Greater than Melchizedek
Hebrews 4:14-7:26 - Jesus is Greater than Melchizedek
Hebrews 4:14-16 - Jesus is the Great High Priest
Hebrews 5:1-10 - Jesus is the High Priest After the Order of Melchizedek
Hebrews 5:11-6:20 - Warning and Exhortation
Hebrews 5:11-14 - Failure to Mature
Hebrews 6:1-8 - Pursue Maturity
Hebrews 6:9-12 - Loving Motivation
Hebrews 6:13-20 - The Promise of God’s Word and God’s Oath
Hebrews 7:1-10 - The Greatness of Melchizedek
Hebrews 7:11-19 - Jesus’ Priesthood is Needed
Hebrews 7:20-28 - Jesus Guarantees a Better Covenant
Hebrews 8:1-10:18 - Jesus is the Greater Covenant
Hebrews 8:1-10:18 - Jesus is the Greater Covenant
Hebrews 8:1-6 - Jesus Mediates a Better Covenant
Hebrews 8:7-13 - The Promise of the New Covenant
Hebrews 9:1-10 - The Earthly Tabernacle Points to What Would Come
Hebrews 9:11-14 - Christ is The Mercy Seat
Hebrews 9:15-22 - Blood is Necessary for Forgiveness
Hebrews 9:23-28 - Christ’s Sacrifice Permanently Removes Sin
Hebrews 10:1-10 - Christ’s Sacrifice Replaces the Law
Hebrews 10:11-18 - Christ's Sacrifice Fully Forgives Sin
Hebrews 10:19-12:29 - Assurance of Faith
Hebrews 10:19-12:29 - Assurance of Faith
Hebrews 10:19-25 - Because of Christ's Sacrifice Let us...
Hebrews 10:26-31 - A Warning Against Apostasy
Hebrews 10:32-39 - A Warm Encouragement
Hebrews 11:1-11:40 - Faith
Hebrews 11:1-7 - Faith Before the Patriarchs
Hebrews 11:8-22 - The Faith of the Patriarchs
Hebrews 11:23-31 - Faith in the Midst of Danger
Hebrews 11:32-40 - The Faith of the Future Hope
Hebrews 12:1-3 - Jesus our Great Example
Hebrews 12:4-11 - The Discipline of the Lord
Hebrews 12:12-17 - Run the Race and Be Wary of Counterfeits
Hebrews 12:18-29 - God’s Unshakable Kingdom
Hebrews 12:18-24 - Mount Sinai vs. Mount Zion
Hebrews 12:25-29 - A Prized Kingdom
Purpose of Book
Purpose of Book
Christ, who has accomplished salvation through His atoning sacrifice, is greater than all things; therefore, persevere in true faith and encourage others to do likewise
Christ, who has accomplished salvation through His atoning sacrifice, is greater than all things; therefore, persevere in true faith and encourage others to do likewise
Main Point
Main Point
Access to God on Mount Zion is available because of the blood of Christ and our response to this wonderful kingdom is gratitude
Access to God on Mount Zion is available because of the blood of Christ and our response to this wonderful kingdom is gratitude
Hebrews 12:18-24 - Mount Sinai vs. Mount Zion
Hebrews 12:18-24 - Mount Sinai vs. Mount Zion
18 For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest 19 and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. 20 For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” 21 Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.” 22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them.
For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them.
For
Communal care for one another as we grow weary from the race
Also, rebuffing those who may infect the church and lead us away from Jesus
Live differently than Esau!
You have not come to what may be touched
Mount Sinai
A blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest and the sound of a trumpet
16 On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled. 17 Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they took their stand at the foot of the mountain. 18 Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the Lord had descended on it in fire. The smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln, and the whole mountain trembled greatly. 19 And as the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him in thunder. 20 The Lord came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. And the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.
Awesome judgment/terror
A voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them
18 Now when all the people saw the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid and trembled, and they stood far off 19 and said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die.” 20 Moses said to the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.” 21 The people stood far off, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was.
For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.”
For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.”
12 And you shall set limits for the people all around, saying, ‘Take care not to go up into the mountain or touch the edge of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall be put to death.
The people were unable to approach God
Christ makes it possible for us to approach the throne!
14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.”
Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.”
After the golden calf idolatry
19 For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure that the Lord bore against you, so that he was ready to destroy you. But the Lord listened to me that time also.
But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem
The contrast is made between Sinai and Zion
Already, but not yet - they already have come to Zion, but not the fullness of Zion
The new Jerusalem is the city that Abraham looked to, it is the city where persecution is banished, it is the city where God CAN be approached and full of those who are His unlike Sinai
Christ-followers are already citizens of this great city and yet anticipate the fullness of the city at the same time
To innumerable angels in festal gathering
2 He said,
“The Lord came from Sinai
and dawned from Seir upon us;
he shone forth from Mount Paran;
he came from the ten thousands of holy ones,
with flaming fire at his right hand.
Festal gatherings were festivals where Israel worshiped Yahweh
To the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven
Firstborn is plural
Those in Christ, the church, are God’s children
22 Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord, Israel is my firstborn son,
To God, the judge of all
God is the ultimate judge who determines the destiny of all people
As the ultimate judge, God will deliver those who do not shrink back
30 For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
To the spirits of the righteous made perfect
All, OT and NT, who have been made righteous by the sacrifice of Christ
These individuals have passed already and have not yet received their glorified bodies
To Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant
Jesus brings His people to Mount Zion
Not only a new covenant, but a better covenant!
To the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel
Abel’s blood testifies to his faith as we saw in Hebrews 11
Jesus’s blood purifies the inner conscience of a person
Hebrews 12:25-29 - A Prized Kingdom
Hebrews 12:25-29 - A Prized Kingdom
25 See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.
See that you do not refuse him who is speaking.
See that you do not refuse him who is speaking.
See = command
Watch out!
Do not refuse him who is speaking
Refuse = “beg” vs 19
This is a warning not to be like the wilderness generation who eventually died in the wilderness and did not enter the promised land
For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven.
For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven.
Lesser than to greater than argument
1 Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. 2 For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, 4 while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
Remember the bigger context - warning for the congregation to get to the eternal promised land - persevere unlike the wilderness generation!
39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.
The God who warned them on earth now warns us from heaven from the heavenly Jerusalem
At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”
At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”
6 For thus says the Lord of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land.
In context, God will shake the earth and make the glories of His temple advance
Here in Hebrews the shaking points to the eschatological shaking where God will shake both earth and the heavens
12 When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, 13 and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. 14 The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. 15 Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, 16 calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, 17 for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”
This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain.
This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain.
The only things that remain are the triune God, the new heaven and earth, the new jerusalem, and those who are saved by the Lamb
Sin, evil, corruption will all be put away
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.
Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.
Therefore
As a result of above
Let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken
The response of Christ-followers to God’s grace is gratitude
Thus let us offer to God acceptable worship
Worship
14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
Acceptable service
1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
With reverence and awe
Reverence is submission/godly fear
For our God is a consuming fire
16 The glory of the Lord dwelt on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud. 17 Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel.
Main Point
Main Point
Access to God on Mount Zion is available because of the blood of Christ and our response is to this wonderful kingdom is gratitude
Access to God on Mount Zion is available because of the blood of Christ and our response is to this wonderful kingdom is gratitude