A NEW KIND OF COMMUNITY

NOVEMBER 23, 2014

HEBREWS 12: 18-24

18 For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind,

19 and to the blast of a trumpet and the sound of words which sound was such that those who heard begged that no further word be spoken to them.

20 For they could not bear the command, "IF EVEN A BEAST TOUCHES THE MOUNTAIN, IT WILL BE STONED."

21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, "I AM FULL OF FEAR and trembling."

22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels,

23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,

24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.  

First Thoughts

ACTS 2: 42-46

42  They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

43  Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.

44  And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common;

45  and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.

46  Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart,

47  praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved. 

·        This passage describes a new kind of community.

·        Perhaps this is the way it will be in the millennial kingdom; a form of socialism where everyone is committed to the spirit of true fellowship.

·        I do not believe that fallen man can maintain such a lifestyle as sooner or later man’s selfish sin nature will spoil the whole thing.

·        It is not known how long this fellowship endured, but we know it is not ongoing now.

·        During World War II, in 1942 such a fellowship was attempted called Koinonia Farm.

·        They faced opposition of course, but they persisted and Habitat for Humanity eventually was formed out of it and many others were won to the Lord because of their example.

·        In 1993 the farm adopted a more corporate approach. 

Understand the Context

·        In the passage since last week’s lesson and this week’s lesson the writer of Hebrews continued his admonitions concerning the Christian life.

·        They eagerly were to seek to live in harmony with non-Christians and with one another as believers.

·        He was calling for a strong sustained effort to establish and maintain peace.

·        Second, believers were to strive earnestly for “holiness” -- moral purity, a mark of the life set apart to God and his service.

·        Believers were to be attentive to one another so none would be left behind in the Christian marathon and fail to reach the goal.

·        The Christian community was not to tolerate any sexually immoral are godly person like “Esau”.

·        The writer used Esau as an example of someone who considered satisfying physical appetites more important than spiritual heritage.

·        The writer warned believers to receive what God was communicating in the new covenant mediated through Christ.

·        The Israelites at Mount Sinai asked Moses not to let God speak to them but to speak to them himself.

·        They failed to keep the Commandments God gave and faced his judgment.

·        How much more, then, would believers face judgment if they turn away from God's revelation through his son?

·        The writer stressed the reason for having proper awe of God:  “our God is a consuming fire”.

·        God stands opposed to and judges sin.

·        Disobedience to him has severe consequences. 

Explore the Text

Verse 18-19:

·        We did not come to a dark and forbidding mountain that was frightful, but you to a more superior gospel message.

·        Before Jesus came, God was distant and foreboding; but, Jesus made all the difference.

·        The recipients had been forced out of Jerusalem and were unable to go to the temple, therefore they may have felt that they are unable to fulfill the law.

·        The encouragement was they no longer had to satisfy the law for had something superior; reconciliation through Jesus Christ. 

Verse 20: 

“In the law; not that they disliked and despised the law, as unregenerate men do; but they could not endure it, or bear it, as a yoke, it being a yoke of bondage; nor as a covenant of works, it requiring perfect obedience, but giving no strength to perform; and as it showed them their sins, but did not direct them to a Saviour; as it was an accusing, cursing, and condemning law; and, as a fiery one, revealing wrath, and filling the conscience with it; unless this should have any respect to the following edict, more particularly:”

John Gill 

·        The law was hard to hear because it provided no remedy for sin. 

Verse 21: 

“These words are nowhere recorded in Scripture; wherefore the apostle had them either by divine revelation, or from tradition, confirmed by the former: for the Jews have a notion that Moses did quake and tremble, and when upon the mount; and that he expressed his fear and dread. They have such a tradition as this; ‘when Moses ascended on high, the ministering angels said before the holy blessed God, Lord of the world, what has this man, born of a woman, to do among us? he said unto them, to receive the law he is come; they replied before him, that desirable treasure, which is treasured up with thee, nine hundred, and seventy, and four generations, before the world was created, dost thou seek to give to flesh and blood? ‘What is man, that thou art mindful of him, and the son of man, that thou visitest him? who hast set thy glory above the heavens!’ The holy blessed God said to Moses, return them an answer; he said, before him, Lord of the world, ‘I am afraid’, lest they should burn, (or consume) me, with the breath of their mouth.’”

John Gill 

Verse 22: 

“It is what Paul called "Jerusalem that is above" (Galatians 4:26), mother to all believers. Our author views it as already attained by those who have believed the new covenant and come to Jesus. In spirit they were residents of the city already, though in body they were yet pilgrims and strangers on earth. That there is yet to be an earthly manifestation of the city is clear from the later reference in Hebrews 13:13 to "the city which is yet to come." 

IVP New Testament 

·        It was not the earthly Mt. Zion referred to here, but it is a simile for heaven.  

Verse 23:

·        The “general assembly and church of the firstborn” refers to all believers.

·        The “…spirits of the righteous made perfect,” are the ones made righteous through the imputation of Jesus Christ. 

Verse24: 

“Abel's blood cried for vengeance; Christ's blood cries for peace and pardon,”

John Gill