Two Mountains (Hebrews 12:18-24)
Here we get a comparison of two states of being in a relationship with God. The metaphor is one of two mountains: Sinai and Zion.
At Sinai, the children of Israel—saved by God—were terrified by His presence. They were in a relationship with a holy God but had to rely on sacrifices and laws to endure His holy presence. Their sin in His presence was a recipe for certain death. They had been rescued from Egypt, but not from their sinful nature.
After Christ, we now experience a new level of relationship with God. We have been covered by a perfect sacrifice. We have been credited with the holiness of Jesus. We no longer need to live in fear towards God.
However, it is not that God has changed at all. He is still the holy, awe-imposing God of Sinai. We can be grateful for our salvation, but we should not ever forget what we have been saved from! It is not just our sin that we have been rescued from, but also the wrath of a holy God who can’t abide sin.
The writer returns to imagery from the Genesis accounts to another set of brothers. The blood of Jesus, that has saved us from sin, speaks even stronger than that of Abel. Abel’s blood testified against Cain for the sin of murder that he had committed. We need to consider that the blood of Christ testifies against those who do not accept it in a way that changes them. More on that in the next paragraph…
At Sinai, the children of Israel—saved by God—were terrified by His presence. They were in a relationship with a holy God but had to rely on sacrifices and laws to endure His holy presence. Their sin in His presence was a recipe for certain death. They had been rescued from Egypt, but not from their sinful nature.
After Christ, we now experience a new level of relationship with God. We have been covered by a perfect sacrifice. We have been credited with the holiness of Jesus. We no longer need to live in fear towards God.
However, it is not that God has changed at all. He is still the holy, awe-imposing God of Sinai. We can be grateful for our salvation, but we should not ever forget what we have been saved from! It is not just our sin that we have been rescued from, but also the wrath of a holy God who can’t abide sin.
The writer returns to imagery from the Genesis accounts to another set of brothers. The blood of Jesus, that has saved us from sin, speaks even stronger than that of Abel. Abel’s blood testified against Cain for the sin of murder that he had committed. We need to consider that the blood of Christ testifies against those who do not accept it in a way that changes them. More on that in the next paragraph…
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