Two Mountains… (3 points)

• 1^st – Mount Sinai… vs. 18-21
  • Mount Sinai… vs. 18
    • For you have NOT come to the mountain…
      • The FIRST mountain that is described is Mount SINAI…
      • Traditionally Mt. Sinai is located on the Sinai Peninsula between Egypt and Israel…
      • The Sinai Peninsula gets its name from this TRADITION…
      • But that is a more recent name for the peninsula – it was NOT called that in Jesus time!
    • Modern archeology points to a different location…
      • Mt. Sinai / Mt Horeb was in the Land of Midian [Saudi Arabia] – Exodus 3:1
      • Paul even tells us Mount Sinai is in Arabia – Galatians 4:25
      • According to the historian Josephus it was the tallest mountain around…
      • Mount Jebel el Lawz – is one of the tallest mountains in Saudi Arabia…
      • The top of the mountain is scorched black to this day – Exodus 19:18
    • After 430 years in SLAVERY – Moses led Israel out of Egypt and through the Red Sea…
      • They camped at Mount Sinai for TWO years – where they were given the LAW…
      • We are given here – FOUR characteristics of Mount Sinai…
      • Which describe for us what it is like trying to RUN the RACE – under the LAW!
  • 1^st – Required no FAITH… vs. 18
    • Can be touched…
      • Faith is the EVIDENCE of things NOT seen – Hebrews 11:1
      • But Mount SINAI required no FAITH – it was a tangible – it could be SEEN!
      • When I first started serving at church – I can remember being frustrated…
      • I was looking for the Pastor to TELL me what he wanted me to do…
      • I wanted RULES to guide me – I was looking at it like a JOB…
      • But the pastor WISELY wanted me to learn to LISTEN to the Lord – walk by FAITH!
    • Many people PREFER the LAW – because the LAW requires no FAITH!
      • We like RULES because we think rules keep us out of trouble…
      • Building a fence to keep us safe from the temptations and evils of the world…
      • But here is the danger – RULES can only control our actions – not change our heart!
      • We might think our RULES make us stronger in the Lord…
      • When in reality their RULES make us weak – take our eyes off of Jesus…
      • Because we trust in our RULES – rather than living by FAITH in the Lord!
      • Colossians 2:21-23 – “RULES may seem wise because they require strong devotion… but they have no effect when it comes to conquering [our] evil thoughts and desires.”
  • 2^nd – Motived FEAR… vs. 18-19
    • [Sinai] burned with fire – and to blackness [cloud] and darkness and tempest…
      • And the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words…
      • So that those who heard it begged that the word should NOT be spoken to them anymore!
      • The THIRD day after Israel arrived at SINAI – God came down – Exodus 19:16-19
      • His arrival was accompanied with thunder and lightning in a DARK cloud…
      • There was a LOUD blast from a [first time in OT] SHOFAR [שֹׁפָר] …
      • Moses BROUGHT [hiphil] the people – who hesitantly came to the foot of the mountain…
      • A mountain engulfed in FIRE and SMOKE billowing into the sky…
      • Then there was a violent EARTHQUAKE [it must have looked like a volcano eruption]!
      • Exodus 20:19 – “[The people] said to Moses – You speak with us – and we will hear – but let not God speak with us – lest we die.”
    • Mount SINAI taught people to FEAR the Lord – Psalm 111:10
      • The purpose of the LAW – is to show we are SINNERS – and the consequences of SIN…
      • Because if we do not FEAR sin – then we are NOT going to look for the SOLUTION!
      • Romans 3:20 – “No one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.” [NLT]
      • The LAW is perfect – it is HOLY / JUST / and GOOD – Romans 7:12
      • The problem is we are NOT perfect – we are sold under SIN – Romans 7:14
      • And it only takes ONE sin to keep us out of heaven – James 2:10
      • Therefore the LAW teaches us FEAR – because it shows us – we are SINNERS!
      • Romans 7:7 – “I would not have known sin except through the law.”
      • Which then opens our eyes to our NEED for Jesus – Galatians 3:24
  • 3^rd – Defined HOLINESS… vs. 20
    • [Israel] could NOT endure what was commanded…
      • And if so much as a beast touches the mountain – it shall be stoned or shot with an arrow!
      • Moses put BOUNDARIES all around the mountain – do NOT enter signs – Exodus 19:12
      • If any man of animal crossed over and touched the mountain – they were to be KILLED!
      • God would be on the mountain – making the mountain HOLY…
      • To an unholy SINNER – even the mountain was too HOLY to be touched…
      • They had to be put to DEATH – but even they then could NOT be touched…
      • They had to be stoned or shot with an arrow from a DISTANCE!
      • All that to emphasize – there is no way for us to anywhere near to God on our own!
    • The COMMANDS of God are perfect – making Him unapproachable…
      • If we try to RUN the RACE – try and get to God on our own merit – we will NOT endure!
      • Everyone will one day stand before the Great white throne – Revelation 20:11
      • There are only TWO options on how we try and STAND before a HOLY God…
      • We can STAND in OUR clothes – OUR good deed – OUR righteousness…
      • And we will be judged by OUR works – then cast into outer darkness – Matthew 22:13
      • OR we can be clothed in the white robes of the righteousness of Jesus – Revelation 3:5
        
  • 4^th – Brought JUDGEMENT… vs. 21
    • So TERRIFYING was the sight that Moses said – I am exceedingly afraid and trembling…
    • Terrifying [φοβερὰ] – 3x in NT [all in Hebrews] – fear of what was coming…
    • Moses was TERRIFIED – because God wanted to DESTROY Israel – Deuteronomy 9:19
    • BEFORE going up SINAI – Moses told the people all the WORDS of the Lord – Exodus 19:8
    • They answered – ALL the WORD the Lord has said – we will CONTINUALLY do [imperfect] …
    • That was the right answer – but it was not the TRUTH – the people quickly rebelled…
    • Just FORTY days later they made the GOLDEN CALF – Exodus 32
    • Because the LAW [Sinai] – with its rules and regulations – could NEVER change a person!
    • There are ONLY two resources in life we can draw from to live for God…
    • We can depend on OUR strength – look to RULES we can follow – to make us HOLY…
    • Or we can depend on the strength of GOD – look HIM / GRACE – to make us HOLY!
    • II Peter 3:18 – “Grow [through] the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus…”

• 2^nd – Mount Zion… vs. 22-24
  • Mount ZION… 22
    • You have come to Mount Zion – the city of the living God…
      • When you come to Jerusalem – the city is built on THREE mountains [hills] …
      • There is Mount Moriah – where the Temple stood / Mount Ophel – the City of David…
      • Then there is Mount Zion – ZION [צִיּוֹן] 154x in OT / 7x in NT – meaning a dry place…
      • The name is synonymous with the Jerusalem – where the Temple stood…
      • Making it the dwelling place of God – the CITY of the living God!
    • The heavenly Jerusalem…
      • Note – we do NOT come to ZION / Jerusalem that is here on earth [Israel 2022]
      • We come to the HEAVENLY Jerusalem – speaking of coming directly to God…
      • Here the author paints a CONTRAST between the LAW and GRACE!
      • Where the LAW [Sinai] could only show us our NEED for God…
      • GRACE [Zion] allows us to come into the presence of God!
      • Where the LAW [Sinai] brought FEAR / GRACE [Zion] brings JOY – Psalm 48:2
      • Where the LAW [Sinai] brought DEATH / GRACE [Zion] brings SALVATION – Isaiah 46:13
    • Therefore – GRACE [Zion] is better than the LAW [Sinai]…
      • The Author goes on to give us SIX things we will find waiting for us in ZION…
      • SIX things we receive by GRACE to help us as we RUN the RACE with endurance!
  • 1^st – The ANGELS… vs. 22
    • An innumerable company of angels…
    • ANGEL [ἄγγελος] – 185x in NT – literally means a MESSENGER from God…
    • ANGELS are POWERFUL – one killed 185k soldiers is one night – Isaiah 37:36
    • ¹/₃ of the ANGELS rebelled – meaning there are more GOOD than BAD – Revelation 12:4
    • There are a LOT of ANGELS – INNUMERABLE – unlimited number beyond counting!
    • The King of Syria sent a great army to arrest Elisha – his servant saw them and panicked…
    • Then Elisha prayed for the Lord to open they eyes of his servant – II Kings 6:16
    • The servant looked up – and the hillside around Elisha was filled…
    • Horses and chariots of fire – an army of angels surrounding the army of Syria!
    • It is easy in life to forget that what we can SEE – is only PART of the world around us…
    • And that even when everything seems to be against us – we can think we are lost…
    • But no matter who is against us – by GRACE – we have an INNUMERABLE multitude on our side!
  • 2^nd – The INVITATION… vs. 23
    • The general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven…
    • General assembly – only here NT – all LARGE gathering for a PARTY…
    • CHURCH [ἐκκλησία] – those who have been CALLED OUT – of the world…
    • Of the FIRSTBORN – speaking of the Church of Jesus – Colossians 1:15/18
    • WRITTEN in heaven – believe whose names are written in the BOOK of life – Revelation 21:27
    • The picture is POWERFUL – there is a PARTY that is going to take place in HEAVEN…
    • EVERYONE who by FAITH has been called OUT – becomes part of the CHURCH of JESUS…
    • When we arrive in ZION / HEAVEN – we will find an INVITATION – names in the BOOK of life…
    • Allowing us – by GRACE – to come to the PARTY and worship forever before the THRONE!
  • 3^rd – The JUDGEMENT… vs. 23
    • God the Judge of all…
    • Every man will have to one day stand before Jesus – John 5:22
    • Either we will stand before the BEMA seat of Christ – and be rewarded – II Corinthians 5:10
    • Or we will be JUDGED before the WHITE throne – and condemned – Revelation 20:11
    • We are told – that every knee SHOULD bow to Jesus for salvation – Philippians 2:10
    • But we are also told – every knew WILL bow to Jesus in judgment – Romans 14:11
    • Because there are only two kinds of people when it comes to God…
    • SINNERS who by GRACE have been forgiven – and are GIVEN the REWARD of heaven…
    • SINNERS who reject the GOSPEL – and will one day bow their knee to the JUDGE of all!
  • 4^th – Just men… vs. 23
    • The spirits of just men made perfect…
    • JUST [δίκαιος] men – exact same word used – the JUST shall live by FAITH – Hebrews 10:38
    • The SPIRITS of just men – suggests we are talking about the OT believers – Hebrews 11
    • Believers who have been made PERFECT [complete] by GRACE through FAITH!
  • 5^th – The New Covenant… vs. 24
    • Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant…
    • MEDIATOR – a person who can give us access to God…
    • The problem is we have all sinned – and been separated from God – Romans 3:23
    • To stand before God now – would be to face the wrath of God [SINAI] …
    • Therefore – we need a MEDIATOR to bridge the gap – give us access to our Holy God!
    • I Timothy 2:5 – “One God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.”
    • There is no other way to be able to approach God – than through Jesus!
    • If we reject the way God has provided – there is no second option…
    • It is only through Jesus we have complete access – to our Holy and Perfect God!
    • John 14:6 – “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
  • 6^th – The blood… vs. 24
    • The blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel…
      • When Esau murdered his brother – the blood of Abel cried out – Genesis 4:10
      • It demanded JUSTICE – Esau had to PAY the price for his own sin!
      • But the BLOOD of Jesus – does not demand JUSTICE for our SIN – it PAID for our SIN!
      • I Peter 1:18 – “[We] were… redeemed with… the precious blood of Christ.”
    • Jesus Christ – the only perfect man – paid the price for our sin on the cross!
      • In that moment Jesus DEFEATED sin once and for all!
      • Then came the great mysteries of the ages – God GAVE us His RIGHTEOUSNESS!
      • II Corinthians 5:21 – “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.”
      • Now when God looks down on us – He does not see our sinful mistakes / flaws…
      • He instead – by FAITH through GRACE – He sees us as JUST and PERFECT!

Run our RACE with the confidence – knowing by His GRACE – we cannot be SHAKEN! 

3^rd – Final warning… vs. 25-29

1^st – Do not refuse… vs. 25

See [present] that you do not refuse Him who speaks…

For if they did not escape who refused him who spoke on earth…

Much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven!

The FIFTH and FINAL warning of the book of Hebrews!

FIRST warning –the DANGER of not listening – lest we DRIFT AWAY – Hebrews 2:1-4

SECOND warning – the DANGER of a HARD HEART – Hebrews 3:7-19

THIRD warning – the DANGER of not MATURING – Hebrews 6:4-8

FOURTH warning – the DANGER of WILLFUL sin after being saved – Hebrews 10:26-31

FIFTH warning – do NOT refuse when God speaks…

Because no one ESCAPED who refused to LISTEN to Moses who spoke for God on earth…

How much more will we not ESCAPE – if we refuse to LISTEN to Jesus from Heaven!

REFUSE – literally to make excuses – to reject an invitation!

Jesus gave the PARABLE of the WEDDING feast – many were INVITED…

But they gave EXCUSES as to why they could NOT attend!

Luke 14:18 – “They all with one accord began to make excuses [same word].”

Our worthiness to get to Heaven is not based on what we do – LAW [Sinai] …

It is based on what we do with the invitation God sent – GRACE [Zion] …

There is one way to get from here to Heaven – one road – Jesus Christ…

If we reject THE road to heaven – then we NOT escape the JUDGMENT that is coming!

2^nd – The end is coming… vs. 26-29

The desire of all nations… vs. 26

Whose voice then shook the earth – but now He has promised…

Saying – yet once more I [will] shake not only the earth – but also heaven – Haggai 2:6

God SHOOK the earth once before – when He gave the Law on mount Sinai…

For the first time men had a record of the requirements of God…

There was NO longer ANY excuse – the Law told us what God expected!

But yet ONCE more – God would SHAKE the earth again – this time with Jesus…

Because where the Law established the righteousness requirements of God…

Only through the cross of Jesus could men be saved – and receive the righteousness of God!

Haggai 2:7 – “I will SHAKE all nations – and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations…”

The FINAL shake… vs. 27

Now this – yet once more – indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken…

As of things that are made – that the things which cannot be shaken may remain!

When God spoke at SINAI – the earth shook – but nothing changed – Exodus 19:18

God is going to SHAKE things up ONE last time – both HEAVEN and EARTH…

And when He does NOTHING will be left standing – all creation will disappear…

Speaking of the DAY of the LORD – the CONCLUSION of the STORY!

II Peter 3:10 – “The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.”

UNSHAKABLE kingdom… vs. 28-29

Therefore – since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken…

Let us [subjunctive] have GRACE – by which we may [subjunctive] serve God acceptably…

With reverence and godly fear – for our God is a consuming fire!

It is impossible to SERVE God acceptably – endure the RACE – in our own strength…

Only the things God does in our lives by GRACE – have lasting results – John 15:16

Therefore let us LISTEN to the Lord – accept His invitation to come to Mount ZION…