"You have not come to a physical mountain, to a place of flaming fire, darkness, gloom, and whirlwind, as the Israelites did at Mount Sinai. For they heard an awesome trumpet blast and a voice so terrible that they begged God to stop speaking.
They staggered back under God’s command: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.” Moses himself was so frightened at the sight that he said, “I am terrified and trembling.”
No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering. You have come to the assembly of God’s firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven.
You have come to God himself, who is the judge over all things. You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven who have now been made perfect.
You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel" (Hebrews 12:18-24).
We are under a new covenant, were Jesus is the mediator and by his blood we are hidden in Christ (Colossians 3:3). "For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life" (Leviticus 17:11). We have received atonement, reconciliation, and life through the blood of Jesus Christ (Romans 5:11).
No longer are we fearful to approach the "mountain" since "we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus" (Hebrews 10:19). No longer do we have to put on our holy garments nor follow the law of atonement. "Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 13:14) and come boldly before the throne of a gracious God (Hebrews 4:14-16).
We have this confidence to draw near to God, by this new living way, so let us draw near, assembling together, stimulating one another to love and good deeds, as the day is drawing near (Hebrews 10:19-25). Shake off the old religious fog of reverence, live in the new way, a living savior wants you to come boldly to the throne of grace.
The right spirit in which to approach the Throne of Grace by C.H. Spurgeon:
They staggered back under God’s command: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.” Moses himself was so frightened at the sight that he said, “I am terrified and trembling.”
No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering. You have come to the assembly of God’s firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven.
You have come to God himself, who is the judge over all things. You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven who have now been made perfect.
You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel" (Hebrews 12:18-24).
We are under a new covenant, were Jesus is the mediator and by his blood we are hidden in Christ (Colossians 3:3). "For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life" (Leviticus 17:11). We have received atonement, reconciliation, and life through the blood of Jesus Christ (Romans 5:11).
No longer are we fearful to approach the "mountain" since "we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus" (Hebrews 10:19). No longer do we have to put on our holy garments nor follow the law of atonement. "Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 13:14) and come boldly before the throne of a gracious God (Hebrews 4:14-16).
We have this confidence to draw near to God, by this new living way, so let us draw near, assembling together, stimulating one another to love and good deeds, as the day is drawing near (Hebrews 10:19-25). Shake off the old religious fog of reverence, live in the new way, a living savior wants you to come boldly to the throne of grace.
The right spirit in which to approach the Throne of Grace by C.H. Spurgeon:
- First in lowly reverence. It is expected that the subject in approaching to the king should pay him homage and honor...
- Second with devout joyfulness. If I find myself favored by divine grace to stand among those favored ones who frequent his courts, shall I not feel glad?...
- Third with complete submission. We do not pray to God to instruct him as to what he ought to do, neither for a moment must we presume to dictate the line of the divine procedure...
- Fourth, if it be a throne, with enlarged expectations. We do not come, as it were, in prayer, only to God's almonry where he dispenses his favors to the poor, nor do we come to the back-door of the house of mercy to receive the broken scraps, though that were more than we deserve; to eat the crumbs that fall from the Master's table is more than we could claim; but, when we pray, we are standing in the palace, on the glittering floor of the great King's own reception room, and thus we are placed upon a vantage ground...
- Fifth with unstaggering confidence. Who shall doubt the King? Who dares impugn the Imperial word?..