Strathalbyn Church of Christ

Hebrews 12:18-24. Theme: A tale of Two Mountains. Sermon by Pastor David Williams. Strathalbyn Church of Christ. 19 June 2022.

A tale of Two mountains.

A friend lived in terror of death. She went to church, she prayed, but because of her past, she convinced herself that God would never accept her. It was as though Jesus had never come. She was living under a hard Law. She had no understanding that Jesus had come to save sinners like her.

This is the quandary some of these Hebrew Christians may have felt – as they went from living under Law to figuring out the new covenant of grace in Christ – and how the two were connected. Today’s passage is about two mountains, and two very different ways to approach God:

1. Earthly Mt Sinai

2. Heavenly Mt Zion

3. Where do we worship?

4. Our inheritance

1. Earthly Mt Sinai

The passage recalls Exodus 19 where the Hebrews were gathered before Mt Sinai seen as …

18…a place of flaming fire, darkness, gloom, and storm. 19 For they heard an awesome trumpet blast and a voice so terrible that they begged God to stop speaking.

If you read Exodus 19, you will read of God’s terrifying presence - shown by lightnings, fire, smoke, and an earthquake. A cloud of deep darkness reminded them of the plague of darkness on the Egyptians. A long loud trumpet blast and the thunderous voice of God added to their terror.

You may find this picture strange, even quaint. God is for many like a big friendly Father Christmas. Hearing his voice is something we long for, is it not? But if this is your God, then it is a god you have made in your own image. The true Creator and Judge of all is not a tame God. He is not to be trifled with. The Hebrews knew this – again and again in the OT they were terrified when they encountered God (Isaiah 6; Isa 2:19; Ex 33:20).

God is holy. And so, there is a problem. How could Israel live with this holy God? At Mt Sinai God gave his people the Law through Moses which at least laid down some ground rules. But incredibly, as soon as Moses’ back was turned, they brazenly broke both first and second commandments. They made a golden calf. And they would continue their idolatry and disobedience all the way through the OT. No wonder then, that not even an animal could approach: 20“If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” No wonder that even Moses said 21“I tremble with fear”.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that God has changed between the OT and the NT. God does not change. Indeed, fearful warnings are given in the NT too (Heb 10:27, 31). No, God has not changed – but our access to him has.

2. Heavenly Mt Zion

The good news for these Hebrew Christians, and for us – is that we have not come to Mt Sinai. We have not come to a God who we dare not approach. Instead, we have come to Mt Zion.

18 You have not come to what may be touched (a physical mountain) …

22 But you have come to Mount Zion …

Mount Sinai could never bridge the chasm between sinners and a holy God. The law could only show us how sinful we are.

the law … can never … make perfect those who draw near, Heb 10:1

The Law can never put guilty sinners to rights. The law can only demand justice – like the blood of Abel. It cries out for vengeance from the ground. But the blood of Jesus brings pardon and forgiveness.

22 But you have come to Mount Zion … the heavenly Jerusalem …24 and to Jesus … to the sprinkled blood that speaks better things than the blood of Abel.

Instead of Mt Sinai, we have the heavenly Mt Zion. Instead of the Law, we have the Gospel. The Gospel achieved what the Law could not.

For what the law was powerless to do . . . God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering, Rom 8:3.

You see – holiness still matters. God is a holy God and cannot tolerate sin. But he has made a way through his son for us to be reconciled with him. The Law condemns; but we are pardoned, cleansed through his blood. We need not fear death like my friend.

Did you notice – the writer did not say, you will go to Mt Zion, when we die. But you have come. You have come to … the heavenly Jerusalem. If we trust in Jesus, we are already citizens of heaven. We have gone from death to life. And nothing can reverse this! (Rom 8:31-39).

3. Where do we worship?

Mt Zion was captured by David and he built his royal palace there as the capital of Jerusalem. Later it was the site for Solomon’s temple. Mt Zion is doubly important – the home of Israel’s great king and the place where Israel may meet with God – in the temple.

a. Disagreement over Israel

Some Christians place great importance in the earthly land of Israel, and Jerusalem. Some even plan to rebuild the temple there. Bible believing Christians – all sides who agree that the Bible is the infallible word of God – they differ on these issues. Before looking at this, it is vital that we all recognise that these are secondary or second order issues, not first, not primary. You are not saved by whether you believe the temple will be rebuilt in the state of Israel, or whether you don’t. These matters are not necessary for salvation. Christians can disagree and should not break fellowship over second order issues. Don’t worry about offending me – such disunity offends Christ. The only church that will agree with you or with me in every detail will be a very lonely place – I know I’ll be sitting on my own for sure. But sadly, these issues do divide Christians, so it is important for us to understand them.

All of us have a theology – the sense that we make of God and the Bible – and it will be different for each one of us. I think all of us would agree that our theology should stand or fall on whether it is consistent with the Bible. If there are parts of the Bible that don’t fit with our theology, then maybe our theology needs some adjusting. I don’t pretend to have all the answers. I know that some will disagree strongly with me and you may be right. I will explain what I think Hebrews is saying on these issues. I’m happy to be corrected if I’m wrong. Please see me afterwards and we can make a time to consider the scriptures together. But let it be the scriptures please – let’s not argue over the many modern prophets.

b. Abandoning the old covenant?

Those first Hebrew Christians faced intense pressure from fellow Jews. You can imagine the taunts – What? You are giving up all your Jewish heritage? You are giving up the Land promised to Abraham, the holy city founded by David, the Law given to Moses? You are giving up the sacrifices and the temple? You are giving up all this for what? A carpenter’s son – who died under God’s curse on a cross. You must be out of your minds!

If there is a future for the land of Israel – then you would expect to find it - of all places – in the letter to the … Hebrews! You would expect that letter to major on the land of Israel. And yet it is silent. Instead, the focus of Hebrews and as far as I can see, the whole of the NT shifts from earth to heaven. For Jesus and Paul too – their attention is on our citizenship in heaven. Jesus hosed down any idea that as the new Moses he would retake the Promised land from the Romans.

So, what answer could these Jewish Christians give to their fellow Jews. Were they abandoning their heritage and the old covenant? The answer given in Hebrews is interesting.

c. Heavenly Jerusalem – Heb 12.

Today’s passage is not about the earthly Mt Zion. Instead

“you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem”

Mount Zion sometimes refers to the hill in Jerusalem and sometimes it stands for the city of Jerusalem itself. It is interchangeable. Here the writer speaks of Mt Zion and Jerusalem in the same breath – but it is not the earthly mountain or city – rather it is Mt Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. Let’s look at how the Land and the city are dealt with in some other chapters.

d. Promised Land = God’s Rest. Heb 3-4

Hebrews 3-4 equates the Promised Land with God’s rest. Because Israel rebelled, they were not able to enter the Promised Land. Moses himself was not able to enter because of their rebellion. But in Hebrews, instead of saying Land, the writer changes that for Rest. He’s linking the two ideas.

8 don’t harden your hearts
as Israel did when they rebelled …
11 in my anger I took an oath:
‘They will never enter – not my land, but - my rest.’”

Even when Israel later entered the land with Joshua, they still failed to gain God’s rest. They were missing something.

8 Now if Joshua had succeeded in giving them this rest, God would not have spoken about another day of rest still to come. 9 So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God.

Even though Israel had come into the Promised Land – they had not entered it … spiritually. They had not entered his rest. How do we enter God’s rest? By faith:

3 For only we who believe can enter his rest.

e. Abraham’s heavenly goal – Heb 11

God promised the land of Canaan to Abraham. Amazingly, Hebrews says that this land was not the place of God’s promise. The land was just a symbol of something far greater. God’s promise went way beyond a plot of earth. Turn to Hebrews 11.

9 By faith Abraham made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

Abraham settled in the land of Canaan. So it would seem that God’s promise was fulfilled. They were now in the land. Yes? But we read

13 These all died in faith, - Abraham, Isaac, Jacob - not having received the things promised, - they were in the land but had not received the promise - but from a distance they saw and greeted them.

What did he see from a distance? Abraham’s ultimate promise was not the land but something far greater.

16 But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

For Abraham, that land of Canaan was just a symbol of a greater promise yet to be attained. This is not just some strange quirk in Hebrews. Do you remember the words of Jesus to the Samaritan?

Woman … a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain (the mountain of the Samaritans) nor in Jerusalem… God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth, Jn 4:21-24.

Jesus seems to be saying that earthly Jerusalem has passed its used-by-date. It is no longer the focus for worship. Paul – that Hebrew of Hebrews – also transfers the focus from the earthly to the heavenly realm. In unflattering terms, he even compares earthly Jerusalem to a slave woman. In contrast,

the Jerusalem above is free and she is our mother – the mother of all believers, Gal 4:25-26.

f. New covenant is superior

Hebrews is full of contrasts. Something in the OT is said to be like Christ – but then Christ is always superior. 25 times words like “more” or “better” or “greater” are used. The first 10 chapters of Hebrews can be summed up with 8 contrasts. So, Jesus is superior to

- The prophets 1:1-2

Long ago … God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son …

- Angels Chapters 1-2

The Law was given by angels, 2:2; our “great salvation” came through the Son, 2:3.

- Moses ch 3

5 Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, 6 but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son.

Moses could only speak of the things that were to come – the salvation God’s Son would achieve.

- **_Promised Land _**ch 4

Instead of a place on earth, they now have a place in heaven – an eternal rest.

- Priesthood ch 5-7

o Aaron and his priesthood were temporary.

The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, Heb 7:23.

o But Jesus is our permanent high priest.

You are a priest forever,
after the order of Melchizedek, Heb 5:6.

o Unlike the priests who were “beset with sin” 7:27; 5:2-3, our high priest is

holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens, 7:26.

- Old covenant ch 8

The old covenant was “faulty” and “obsolete” (8:7, 13) because Jesus had introduced the new covenant:

10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel
… I will write my laws on their hearts …

12 and I will remember their sins no more.

- Tabernacle ch 9

The tabernacle in the wilderness – where priests could meet with God – and later the temple also – these were but man-made copies of the throne room of heaven, where Jesus is high priest.

Jesus is a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man, 8:2.

- Sacrifices ch 9-10

o Whereas the priests offered bulls, Christ offered himself

o The old sacrifices could only cover over ritual and ceremonial offences, Jesus’ blood cleanses our guilty consciences (Heb 7:27; 9.8-10, 13-14; 10.21-22).

13 Under the old system, the blood of goats … could cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity. 14 Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God.

o The sacrifices had to offered daily. Christ’s sacrifice was once-for-all.

o The sacrifices could only remind people how serious sin was, but Jesus’ sacrifice removes sin. Heb 9.26, 10:11-12

And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, Heb 10:11-12.

g. The old covenant was temporary

These ten chapters show us that the old covenant was ineffective and so it was temporary. What then was its purpose, with its Law and priests, sacrifice and temple? Its purpose was to point to something better – to Christ and his work. So, the old covenant is described as a copy, shadow, and pattern.

8:5 The priests’ … worship is only a copy, a shadow of the real one in heaven…

“Be sure [Moses] that you make [the Tabernacle] according to the pattern I have shown you here on the mountain.”

The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves, Heb 10:1.

h. Should we then throw out the OT?

By no means. Jesus said,

Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them, Mt 5:17 (see also Lk 24:25-27, 44-47).

Putting it over simply - The old covenant was the promise of God. The new covenant was the fulfillment of this promise.

Hebrews begs the question then,

i. Who is a true Jew?

Let’s return to those taunts of the Jews who claimed that these Hebrew Christians had abandoned their heritage. Far from doing so, these Christians were the true heritage keepers, for they had seen the truth of what the old covenant was pointing to and they embraced it. It was their tormentors - those Jews who failed to recognise their Messiah, who failed to accept the gift of the new covenant – they were the ones turning their backs - not just on the new covenant but also on the old covenant. The Hebrew Christians were the believing remnant of Israel, and they were soon joined by believing Gentiles.

For Jews today who are outside of Christ, what they need is not a political settlement. They need Christ. As John the Baptist called on the Jews of his day – they need to repent and believe in the Messiah for his kingdom is at hand. We know from Romans 11 that at the end, all Jews will welcome Jesus as Messiah (Romans 11:26-27). Presumably, at that time, all Jews will repent and believe wherever they are, whether they are in the land of Israel or not. So, it is hard to see any basis in the NT for connecting their conversion with the land of Israel.

4. So, what is their – and our - inheritance?

1. We have the Prophets, and we have the Word made flesh also

2. We have the Law – perfectly fulfilled by our great high priest

3. We have the Promised Land, the heavenly city that Abraham looked to, that we are even now citizens of, and the rest that we can enjoy.

4. We have the temple – for Jesus himself is the true temple. He said, “Destroy this temple and I will rebuild it in 3 days”, Jn 2:19. And his temple now lives in us as the temple of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus we can approach God’s throne with complete confidence without fear.

5. In his own blood is the one, complete, once-for-all sacrifice. His blood that purifies our guilty consciences.

Lord, give us understanding of your word, both old and new testaments. Give us a deep love for one another that we may disagree without rancour, that we may always speak the truth in love, seeking to build one another up, and as Paul counselled, avoiding foolish and vain disputes over words. Amen.

Source:

· Burge, G. M. (2005). Whose land? Whose promise? Cleveland, Ohio: Pilgrim Press.

Series: Hebrews

Topics: #Hebrews , #Israel , #Jerusalem