Rsbc 5/2/04
Sunday Night
The Book of Hebrews
Subject: “ What We Have Come To”
Text: Hebrews 12:18-29
Intro: If you recall the theme of this whole book has been the superiority of Jesus Christ and his kingdom to the old covenant and its many facets. Through out this book we have seen Christ is better than angels, better than Aaron’s priesthood, better than the law, better than Moses.
Once again in this text that has various interpretation, we see Paul declaring and contrasting the new from the old. It would do the reader and the studier of this text that attention be paid to the tenses in the text.
By that I mean there is no future tense in any of these verses. In fact there is no future tense in this entire chapter that I can tell. You say what does that have to do with anything? Well it has all to do with it. If you ignore the tenses of this chapter you will interpret it wrong.
He presents Three things for our main consideration in these verses... (I.) What you have not come to..vs 18-21 (2.) What you have come to.. Vs 22-24 (3.) The responsibility to be taken seriously.
Pink said: “One class of more recent writers have, it seems to us, been far more anxious to read into it their own pet theory regarding the future, than to interpret these verses in accord with the theme of the Epistle in which they are found. It would indeed be strange for the apostle to introduce here a reference to some future “millennium”: the more so in view of the fact that he has studiously avoided the use of the future tense”.
I. WHAT THEY HAD NOT COME TO: VS 18-21
In this negative approach to his teaching, a number of things to be considered at this point.
1st. The majesty of God..
When God came down on the Mountain his glory and majesty did shine. No doubt to here the voice and see this wonder put owe in the mind and heart of Moses. The ancient Job describes it like this: Job 37:22 Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God [is] terrible majesty.
Psalm 104:1 Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.
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2nd. The dread of his wrath: vs 19-21
Exodus 19:11-14 And be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai. 12 And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, [that ye] go [not] up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death: 13 There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether [it be] beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount. 14 And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes.
What Paul is teaching in this text: Look what God has delivered you from, your fathers had not the privileges you have. How you and I need to see the glory of God in this text and the wonder of his new covenant.
II... “ WHAT THEY HAD COME TO: VERSE 22-24
Once again no future tense, he looks back to the past and shows them the dread of it, then calls their attention to what they have presently. In the Greek - english New Testament it reads like this: but ye have come to Sion mount.
1st. They had come to Mt Zion:
Zion is where the Lord dwells:
Here we must take this not literally, but as it is, a spiritual dwelling. Christ dwells in us his church and his kingdom. Christ is the head of all things to the church. In the old testament we see the acknowledgment of this.
Micah 4:7 And I will make her that halted a remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong nation: and the LORD shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even for ever.
If you remember it was in Zion that Christ was laid as the foundation of his church. It is so amazing to read where he is the foundation and the head: Listen as I read Isaiah 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner [stone], a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
I really like what MH says about this verse:
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2nd. The city of the living God the real Jerusalem and to Angels:
Here I believe he is talking about that spiritual entity of the invisible kingdom of God in heaven on earth and visualized in the church of Jesus Christ. Paul said in his letter to the Ephesian church.
Ephesians 2:6 And hath raised [us] up together, and made [us] sit together in heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus:
He calls this a heavenly Jerusalem: this is a picture of the new Jerusalem that John saw coming down from heaven as a bride adorned for her husband.
Paul said we are the spiritual Jerusalem. Galatians 4:25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. Galatians 4:26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
Then he speaks of Angels... I do believe that angels are present here tonight because truth is realized and preached in this assembly each week.
Peter said it like this:
1 Peter 1:12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
Again Paul said concerning Angels: 1 Corinthians 4:9 For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.
3rd. To the general assembly and church of the firstborn:
Keep in mind that here Paul is using old testament language. He makes references to the gatherings of the Jews in their most solemn meetings. The Greeks would gather in great arenas.
Let me read you the definition of the Greek word that is used in this translation: “a festal gathering of the whole people to celebrate public games or other solemnities. “ A public festal assembly”. He is not saying that the general assembly is the church, for the very next statement in the “and the church of the first born” Which speaks of Christ church.
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These folks in the church of the firstborn are written in heaven. You remember when Jesus sent out the 70 disciples and they came back and rejoiced because the demons were subject to them through Christ powerful name. It was at this particular gathering, Christ said these words to them.
Luke 10:20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
4th. To God the judge of all and spirits of just men: vs 23
I don’t think that you will have any trouble understanding that we have come to GOD..we have come to him through Jesus Christ by faith in his work, but what does he mean to just men made perfect.
Matthew Poole says: The perfect state to which the gospel covenant leadeth is promoting holiness, for they have an access to the same lot, and are come into the same way of being perfected in holiness, which the spirits of the righteous, separated from their bodies, enjoy in heaven; and have a right unto, and shall have the certain enjoyment of, the same privilege, which carrieth through all difficulties in the pursuit of it, expecting themselves by death to be put in possession with them of the same state.
5th. To Jesus Christ: vs 23
The great savor of sinners says come unto me and I will give you rest, take my yoke upon you and learn of me...We have come to Christ how?
1st. By the drawing of the Father:
John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
2nd. By the giving of some to Christ by the Father:
John 6:65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
3rd. We have come to Christ by the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit:
Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
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4th. We have come to Jesus through the preaching of his word:
Acts 8:31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. Acts 8:35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
We have come to the great mediator of the new covenant. Wow what a joy and a special privilege we have. To part of the new covenant, this is what this book has been about, it is about the new and the old vanishing away.
Note that he says it speaks of better things than that of Abel.. Gave of the first of flock and shed a lamb, God gave the best he had and sacrificed his son for our sins.
III... “ THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES AS WELL AS YOU AND I SHOULD BE TAKEN VERY SERIOUSLY...VS 25-29
1ST. They would take their responsibility seriously when they did not refuse the word: vs 25 “ See that ye refuse not”
2nd. They would take their responsibility seriously when they realized that it was GOD really doing the speaking...vs 25
3rd. They would take their responsibility seriously when they reverenced the LORD..vs 26-29
He shook the earth by merely speaking..
He will shake it again.
Some things cannot be shaken..
4th. We have received a kingdom...vs 28-29