You Have Come To Mount Zion

I. Introduction:

[!NOTE] Primary Scripture Reading: Hebrews 12:18-24

II. Better Things in Hebrews

A. The book of Hebrews emphasizes the superiority of the gospel of Christ over the Old Covenant.

B. The purpose of the argument is to urge the Jews to leave behind the Old Law and follow Christ.

C. The writer acknowledges the need for the law in its time, but that, because of Christ, the time of the Old Law is passed.

D. Ephesians 2:12-15 – Christ abolished the Old Law Galatians 3:22-27 – The Old Law prepared the way for Christ

E. Better Covenant

F. God and the Jews made a covenant with one another at Mt. Sinai when God released Israel from Egyptian bondage.

G. The Old Law was the terms of the covenant the Jews had to observe. God, in turn, promised to protect the Jews, make them prosper, and provide spiritual blessings through them. Though the Jews frequently neglected their agreement, God gave them opportunity to repent and adhere to the covenant again.

H. Ultimately, God dissolved their covenant and made a covenant with all men who would come to Him through Jesus.

I. Hebrews 8:6-13 – The necessity of a new covenant God did not cast off the Jews for they could still be His children through Jesus; but they would have to abandon the Old Law. Under the new covenant—the gospel—men could have the remission of sins and spiritual blessings beyond those the Jews enjoyed under the Law.

J. Better Sacrifice

K. Under the Old Law, the Jews regularly sacrificed animals for their sins.

L. Hebrews 10:1-4, 11 – The animal sacrifices could not remove sins The sacrifice reminded them that their sins caused the death of innocent animals and the bloody scene surrounding it.

M. Under the new covenant, Jesus made a sacrifice for sin, once for all

N. Hebrews 9:11-15 Hebrews 9:27-28 – He only had to offer Himself once His blood can remove sins His sacrifice should remind us that Jesus, innocent of all sin and unrighteousness, had to suffer terribly and die an agonizing death in order to take away our sins.

O. Better Priesthood and Tabernacle

P. Old Law

Q. The priests served in a physical structure to intercede with God on behalf of the people. Only the high priest could go into the most holy place, into the presence of God, and he could go only once a year.

R. New Covenant

S. Hebrews 9:6-9, 11 – the old tabernacle symbol of the perfect tabernacle Hebrews 10:19-23 – We can boldly access the Father through Jesus in the heavenly tabernacle without the need of priests How confusing it is that some want to return to the Old Law, even today.

III. The Better Mountain

A. Mount Sinai

B. When God brought Israel out of Egyptian bondage, He brought them to Mount Sinai to offer them a covenant.

C. The people could not go up into the mountain or even touch it under penalty of death The people had to prepare for two days for God’s appearance on the third day. Exodus 19:16-20 – The frightful appearance of God on Mt. Sinai Exodus 20:18-21 – The people trembled with fear From the mountain, God thundered out the basis of the Law, the Ten Commandments, shaking the earth with His mighty voice. The sight was frightening and the people moved away from God’s presence

D. Mount Zion

E. We do not approach Mount Sinai, we have come to Mount Zion.

F. Mt Zion is the mountain upon which David built the old city of Jerusalem. Specifically, it was the mountain upon which Solomon built the temple.

G. We have not returned to physical Jerusalem and the earthly temple, but a spiritual city in the presence of God.

H. Spiritual Jerusalem needs no temple, Revelation 21:9-10, 22-27. It is a city the faithful seek, Hebrews 11:13-16

I. Noble citizenry fill its walls

J. An innumerable company of angels

K. Hebrews 1:14 – they minister to those who seek salvation They praise and serve God diligently

L. The church of the living God

M. God’s children—the church—are citizens of this grand city. As we read in Hebrews 11, those who are citizens of the spiritual Jerusalem consider themselves pilgrims and foreigners on the earth Their names are registered in heaven, Revelation 20:151 Peter 2:11-12 – We do not act like citizens of the world

N. Faithful men and women of God who have died

O. They were just in their actions and perfected by Jesus Even in the eternal reward, we see the connection between faithful service and God’s grace.

P. God dwells with and rules over His people

Q. The Father is the Judge of all but also justifies His children through the sacrifice of Jesus.

R. Jesus, our Mediator and Savior dwells with us in heaven

S. Hebrews 1:2-3 – Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father He will rule until the end when He returns the kingdom to the Father’s control, 1 Corinthians 15:23-26. God is a loving and caring ruler, Revelation 22:2-8.

T. This is where we dwell and we must not rebel through disobedience

U. Hebrews 12:25-29

V. Those who turn back on God have no continuing city and no hope God’s voice shook Mt. Sinai in the past but will one day shake the heavens and earth from their place so that only His kingdom remains.

W. We hope to live as the “spirits of just men made perfect,”

X. We must serve God acceptably—according to His new covenant We must serve God with fear—respecting the rule of God and remembering His wrath against all unrighteousness

Y. This is the city that God has prepared for His people; greater than anything we could imagine, and He wants us to be a citizen in it.

IV. Becoming A Citizen

A. Colossians 1:12-14 – Made citizens through the blood of Jesus

B. 1 Peter 1:17-21 – Redeemed by Jesus blood through faith Galatians 3:26-27 – adopted in baptism Hebrews 10:22 – Consciences sprinkled and bodies washed

C. Hebrews 13:10-16

D. Though the blood of the animals entered the temple, the priests burned and disposed of their bodies outside of the camp, later the city of Jerusalem. The priests (Luke 23:13—chief priests and rulers) took our sacrifice, Jesus, from the camp, away from the people of the city, to be destroyed in a shameful fashion and to, figuratively, dispose of Him. To be a part of that heavenly city, we also must go outside the camp enduring the reproach that Jesus’ enemies heaped upon Him. In doing so, we reject our earthly citizenship to become pilgrims journeying towards that continuing city.

E. As citizens of the heavenly city, we offer the sacrifice of praise, thanksgiving, and godly service.

V. Conclusion: Will you become a citizen of that heavenly city this evening?