Hebrews 12:18-24
18 For you have not come to the mountain that may be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and darkness and tempest, 19 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. 20 (For they 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.” 21 And so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I am exceedingly afraid and trembling.”)
22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.
22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.
When God’s word was given on tablets of stone to Israel, the mountain of God was foreboding and dangerous to approach. When the words of God came against the backdrop of that fury and fire, they were trembling so much as to beg not to hear His words to them. They were so scared that they shook in their sandals at the thought of hearing and being held accountable as the guilty often do. We are also all guilty of sin (Romans 3:10, 23) yet now come near to God in approaching the heavenly mountain where He is enthroned forever. There the obedient angels worship and serve Him and rejoice as His people are now able to freely approach Him through the righteousness of Christ who mediates this covenant agreement God gave us by grace. We who are registered in His book of life in heaven do no longer fear the dark tempest of works swirling the mountain of death proclaimed by the Law, but by the Lamb’s book of life accept His work in place of ours which enables us free access to approach boldly yet humbly to the Judge of all men. Christ’s blood sprinkles His holiness on us as High Priest, forgiving forever by that eternal sacrifice, one time for all He calls, effectual forever. Therefore we boldly come before the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16) to the city of God on the heavenly mountain, no longer trembling for fear of judgement in fire (1 John 4:18) but in awe of the forgiving mercy given in grace. We draw near in full assurance.
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