The Blessings of Mount Zion - Hebrews 12:18-24

Introduction: As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we are not come to the Mount of the Law for our place to dwell spiritually, but unto Mount Zion.  What a stark contrast to living our lives at the foot of Mount Horeb, or Mount Sinai, when we are offered grace through Christ.  There is a huge difference between the conditions under the law at Sinai and the grace found at Mount Zion.

At Mount Sinai Moses feared and quaked when confronted with of how to approach God.   No one could approach Mount Sinai when the law was given.  The mount could be touched.  It burned with fire, and the earth quaked, smoke ascended into the heavens.  The people feared at the sound of the trumpet, and the voice that was heard from the place of the giving of the law.  

Imagine yourself at the foot of Mount Horeb (Sinai):  a beast could not touch the mountain or it would die by stoning or be killed with a spear.  The Scripture indicates that it was a terrible sight and Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake.

It was terrible because Mount Sinai and the Law separated the people from their God.  In a positive way, the Law showed the people their need to deal with sin, but the also the realization that sin separated them from their God.

12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels - When we are delivered by the blood and righteousness of the Lord Jesus we are:  delivered from the law, dead to the law, free from the law, redeemed from the curse of the law.

The Apostle Paul contrasted the law of God and the perfect law of grace in 2 Cor. 3:2-7.

 The "law" killeth, ministration of death, accompanied by glory - but this was done away with (2 Cor. 3:9,11-16). This is a good description of the law: ministration of condemnation which was abolished.

A veil preventing man’s approach to God separated him from the Holy of Holies in the tabernacle worship. The veil can only be removed by One who is sinless and able to pay for sin. The VEIL was torn apart at the death of Christ (Matt. 27:51). The real significance of this is overwhelming. The barrier, which prohibited man from entering into the holy Presence of God, has been torn down.

Should we go back to the law, and turn our backs on Calvary. NO! Enter into work of Christ and His resurrection power. Israel could not obey during the first three months out of Egypt, but God continued to forgive them. They did not appreciate the grace, but they believed they could do anything that God would require – Exodus 19:8

They should have said, " Oh God we need your mercy and grace. Cleanse us and allow us to see your greatness and longsuffering with us." But they did not desire grace! Therefore God gave them a set of laws, which was the perfect expression of His will. The law was to convince Israel that they needed God’s grace, and that they could not do all that was required by God.

Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:20-21

We do not hope to enter into glory with the Lord.  We know that we will enter.  We do hope to please God by our own actions and works, but know that we can please the Lord by living by faith through grace.

We do not live under the conditions of the Law, but But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem…

We are come unto Mount Zion, the place to hear the voice of God with joy, the place to be received by love, the place to live, the place of blessing and grace. At Mount Zion we find the place of hope, not despair, we find grace to approach our God with boldness, because we are the children of promise.  Mount Zion is a picture of the grace of God in Christ. 

“But we are come” (proselhloqate is a Perfect Present Participle) unto Mount Sion.  The perfect tense describes an action, which is viewed as having been completed in the past, once for all, not needing to be repeated.  We are once saved and we are currently and constantly in the presence of His glory.  Heaven is a done deal. 

“Into the city of the living (Pres Act Ptc) God, the heavenly Jerusalem” –  

Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.  Isa. 12:6

Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.  Isa. 51:11

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.  Joel 2:32

For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.  Heb. 13:14

12:23-24  To the general assembly (Old Testament and Tribulation saints)

church of the firstborn (The N.T. Church) which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect 

And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

There was no sacrifice (Abel) that would bring perfection, but the blood of Christ perfects, sanctifies, and declares the sinner righteous, allowing the sinner to enter into the presence of God.