An Approachable God
-Introduction
-primary text: Heb 12:18-24
-Context: main point of Hebrews: superiority of Jesus & the Gospel over Moses & the Law
-chapter 11 - roll call of faith
-chapter 12 - 1-2 - exhortation to remain stedfast
3-11 - strengthening results of chastisement
12-17 - be strong and stay on course - consequences of not heeding these
words: falling short of God’s grace (vs 15)
-Then in the text we’re focusing on, another sharp contrast between Judaism (under the Law)
and Christianity (under the Gospel) in presented: Sinai vs Zion.
-Notice the contrast: “For ye are not come” (vs 18); “But ye are come” (vs 22).
-The Terrifying Events of Sinai
-Heb 12:18-21
-Ex 19:10-20; 20:18
-Deut 5:22-25
-Heb 12:21
-Moses had received instructions from God at the burning bush.
-He had boldly stood before Pharoah and witnessed God’s deliverance of His people.
-He had led them to Mount Sinai.
-Yet, on this occasion, Moses experienced exceeding fear and he quaked.
-A couple of notes:
1. “mount that might be touched”
-The passages we just looked at clearly point out that the people at Sinai were not to
touch the mountain.
-Heb 12:20
-The writer of Hebrews is pointing out the physical nature of the Law - physical
tabernacle, altar, sacrifices, etc - physical mountain.
-This is contrasted with the spiritual nature and emphasis of the Gospel.
2. Let’s remember the involvement of the angels at Sinai - Ps 68:17. They were a part of
the scene that terrified God’s people.
-Main point: At Sinai, the people did not perceive God as approachable.
-An Opened Door at Zion
-Zion - thoughts of Jerusalem
-highly respected and esteemed by the Jews
-location of Jesus’ sacrifice and victorious resurrection
-location where the church was established
-Isa 2:1-3
-Heb 12:22-24
-city of God - His dwelling place - heaven
-A God who seemed unapproachable at Sinai has now opened the doors of His home with
an invitation to us to enter in.
-Phil 3:20
-Isn’t it amazing that we can now call God’s home our home?!
-The angels that accompanied God at the fearsome sight of Sinai are now a welcomed and
comforting thought.
-Heb 1:14
-The church - Acts 2:47, Heb 12:28
-Within the church, we are in fellowship with God - in fellowship with our brothers and
sisters in Christ - in fellowship with our Savior. We are part of the same family.
-Heb 2:11, Gal 3:26-29
-A seemingly unapproachable God at Sinai called Moses to Him. The good news of the
Gospel is this: God sent Jesus to us in order to provide us with an avenue through which
we can approach God.
-“ye are come to” (vs 22) - proserchomai - (Strongs) - to approach; literally, come near...
-Heb 4:16, 7:24-25, 10:22, 11:6
-Summary and Invitation
-How fortunate we are to have an approachable God!
-We must come to Him and seek Him diligently.
-We can come to the throne of grace boldly.
-We can approach in full assurance.
-Let’s allow these facts to motivate us to be strong and stedfast. Let’s not depart from God
but, instead, let’s draw closer and closer to Him.
-Jas 4:8
-Let’s find strength in faith - during good times, difficult times, challenging times.
-Let’s strive to serve God with reverence and Godly fear (Heb 12:28).
-What about you? Have you come to Him through obedience to the Gospel?
-If not, believe (John 3:16, 8:24), confess that faith (Matt 10:32, Rom 10:9-10), repent
of your sins (Luke 13:3,5; Acts 17:30), be baptized into Christ (Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38)
-If you’ve obeyed the Gospel, have you continued in your service to God? If you have
wavered in your faithfulness, confess your shortcomings, repent and pray for God’s
forgiveness (1 John 1:7-9, Acts 8:22-24).