“An Awesome,

All-Consuming

God”Hebrews 12:18-29

Awesome and Consuming God•I have a friend who has recently decided that we should be worshipping as Jesus did– obeying the Law and all its festivals, including the Sabbath for worship•He feels convicted that since Jesus worshipped that way, we should as well– this fails to take into account however, that Jesus worshipped that way because He had not yet fulfilled the Law, therefore He was still under the Law

Awesome and Consuming God•Understand that Jesus nor ANY of the Apostles taught us to follow Hebraic Dietary Law or Sabbath Law– because Scripture says those laws are for the Jews•If you want to rest on the Sabbath and worship that day too, God will bless that; but it doesn’t mean we should ignore all the Apostolic Warnings of “Beware the Judaizers!”

Awesome and Consuming God•This morning, I think you’ll see a stark contrast between Mount Sinai, that represented the Law with all its requirements, and Mount Zion that represents the grace of God•More importantly, I believe we will see a tiny portion of the awesomeness of our All- Consuming God!

“18 For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind, 19 and to the blast of a trumpet and the sound of words which sound was such that those who heard begged that no further word be spoken to them. 20 For they could not bear the command, “IF EVEN A BEAST TOUCHES THE MOUNTAIN, IT WILL BE STONED.” 21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, “I AM FULL OF FEAR and trembling.” 22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem,

and to myriads of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church 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, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.”

“25 See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, [i]much less will we escape who turn away from Him who warns

from heaven. 26 And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, “YET ONCE MORE I WILL SHAKE NOT ONLY THE EARTH, BUT ALSO THE HEAVEN.” 27 This expression, “Yet once more,” denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; 29 for our God is a consuming fire.”

Hebrews 12:18-29, NASB

A. Sinai- The Law•Vs 18-21—the full description of this event is found in Exodus 19

“18 For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind, 19 and to the blast of a trumpet and the sound of words which sound was such that those who heard begged that no further word be spoken to them. 20 For they could not bear the command, “IF EVEN A BEAST TOUCHES THE MOUNTAIN, IT WILL BE STONED.” 21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, ‘I AM FULL OF FEAR and trembling.’”

Hebrews 12:18-21, NASB

A. Sinai- The Law•All the things you see here explain why the OT God is viewed as unapproachable•Then the question— “Why did YHWH do these fearful things in their view?”•To show them the serious nature of His Law– their infancy– they had to under-stand reward and punishment

A. Sinai- The Law•There is a great difference between Holy fear, and just being scared– they were just scared, or they’d have changed•Holy fear of God changes you•One acknowledges two things clearly– 1) God is an awesome holy and righteous God, full of beauty, majesty, dominion, and power

A. Sinai- The Law•2) One (who is changed) also acknowledges that he/she is a mere human, carrying a sinful nature, yet accepted by God in His grace, mercy, and love•Out of holy fear of God, the one now loves God with all of his heart, mind, soul, and body; from holy fear of God, serves the Lord with diligence and integrity in everything•Out of holy fear of God, he/she speaks and behaves carefully so that they will not disgrace the name of God

B. Zion– Grace •Vs 22-24, this scene is the New Jerusalem before it comes to Earth, in Rev. 21

“22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church 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, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.”

Hebrews 12:22-24, NASB

B. Zion– Grace •Vs 22-24, this scene is the New Jerusalem before it comes to Earth, in Rev. 21•Who will be in this new Jerusalem?•Only the Born Again•Jesus talked about it in a parable, Mt 22:10-14

“10 Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered together all they found, both evil and good; and the wedding hall was filled with dinner guests.

11 “But when the king came in to look over the dinner guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed in wedding clothes, 12 and he *said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without wedding clothes?’ And the man was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness; in that

place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Matthew 22:10-14, NASB

B. Zion– Grace •V23 clarification– “firstborn” does NOT mean ‘first child physically born to the parents’•The Greek word is ‘prototokos’– the definition connotes rank or title of dignity, not placement of birth

B. Zion– Grace •V23 clarification– “firstborn” does NOT mean ‘first child physically born to the parents’•The Greek word is ‘prototokos’– the definition connotes rank or title of dignity, not placement of birth– same word Col 1:15

“15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.”

Colossians 1:15, NASB

B. Zion– Grace •The firstborn of all Creation means “Headship of all Creation.”•Now back to V24•Don’t be confused to the ‘blood’ reference– its referring to the blood of the animal that Abel sacrificed; the first recorded sacrifice given by man for the Lord

B. Zion– Grace •Now some final comparisons of Sinai to Zion•Mount Sinai was marked by fear and terror•Mount Zion is a place of love and forgiveness•Mount Sinai is in a desert on earth•Mount Zion is the city of the Living God in heaven•Mount Sinai hearkened earthly things•Mount Zion speaks of heavenly things•At Mount Sinai, only Moses was allowed to draw near God•At Mount Zion, an innumerable company, a general assembly is invited to “draw near the Throne of Grace”

B. Zion– Grace •Mount Sinai was characterized by guilty men in fear•Mount Zion features justified men, perfected through the blood of Jesus•At Mount Sinai, Moses was the mediator•At Mount Zion, Jesus is the Mediator•Mount Sinai brings an Old Covenant, ratified with blood of animals•Mount Zion brings a New Covenant, ratified by the blood of Jesus•Mount Sinai was about exclusion– keeping people away from the mountain•Mount Zion is about invitation, but not a blanket inclusion•Mount Sinai is about the Law•Mount Zion is about grace

C. A Stern Warning to Heed•Vs 25-29, When the Jews rebelled against God, there were dire consequences •There are even greater consequences after god has done all necessary for salvation at Zion•We cannot remain ignorant of the consequences of compromise, or pretend we don’t know•Conscience always points people to God•The fact that God is a Consuming God comforts us!

C. A Stern Warning to Heed•Because God the Father poured out His consuming fire of judgment on the God the Son on the cross in our place, so that we may enter into His grace without blemish•The penalty of our sin was consumed by Jesus at the cross!•C.H. Spurgeon said, “No power in the world, and no power in hell, can shake the kingdom which the Lord has given to his saints. For the Lord has established this kingdom upon the Rock, and it cannot be moved or removed.”

Take Home!1. Receive God’s grace each

day and don’t take it for granted– It cost the life of Jesus for you and for me!

2. Don’t be distracted by tremendous evil around us– Keep running the race with endurance and fix your eyes on the Lord Jesus Christ!