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Sermon Introduction

The author contrasted the Mt. Sinai event to the Mt. Zion experience. God shook the earth with thunder, lightning, whirlwind, and fire; even Moses admitted fear in Mt. Sinai. However, Mt. Zion is a different story. God brought believers to His Son and Himself. He also brought them to the assembly, the church of the firstborn. Christ is the firstborn and the mediator of the New Covenant. And God brought the believers to His blood. The author was alluding to Christ as the perfect High Priest and the perfect sacrifice, whose blood speaks forgiveness.

Dr. Ed Pilapil Jr.
Senior Pastor

Hebrews 12:25-29 NASB

25 See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape who turn away from Him who warns us from heaven. 26 And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heaven.” 27 This expression, “Yet once more,” denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let’s show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; 29 for our God is a consuming fire.

Notes

The author contrasted the Mt. Sinai event to the Mt. Zion experience. God shook the earth with thunder, lightning, whirlwind, and fire; even Moses admitted fear in Mt. Sinai. However, Mt. Zion is a different story. God brought believers to His Son and Himself. He also brought them to the assembly, the church of the firstborn. Christ is the firstborn and the mediator of the New Covenant. And God brought the believers to His blood. The author was alluding to Christ as the perfect High Priest and the perfect sacrifice, whose blood speaks forgiveness.

1. The author warned the letter’s recipients to listen to the One who speaks, the Mediator of the New Covenant, whose blood speaks better than Abel. His blood signifies forgiveness. Those who do not heed will not escape (12:25).

2. The author exclaimed that the Lord shook the earth during the terrifying event in Sinai, yet He will once again shake the earth; moreover, He will shake the heavens as well, which is symbolic for everything (12:26-27).

3. The author encouraged the Jewish believers that all who are in Christ received an unshakeable Kingdom. Thus, believers should thank and worship God with reverence because God is a consuming fire (12:28-29).

Application

1. Christ’s blood speaks. None of us should fall away from the gospel message. We have spiritually entered the heavenly Jerusalem. We also have the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, and the community. There is no reason to fall away.

2. God will shake everything: the earth, the sky, and celestial bodies. It could be the most terrifying thing yet. But it shall happen, and all who are not in Christ will feel it. So let us then continue to worship and fear God.

3. Through Christ, God gave us an unshakable Kingdom. It means that all who are in Christ are secured. God bonded us with Him, and He called us to the church of the Firstborn. Through the gospel, He made us unshakeable.

Discussion / Reflection

1. What was the author’s warning to the readers of the letter?

2. What will God do that will be more terrifying than the Mt. Sinai event?

3. How then should we live?