HEBREWS 12:18-29 – CHANGE: JESUS BRINGS GRATITUDE
- There was once a king of Judah named Joash. (See 2 Chronicles 22:10 – 2 Chronicles 24:25)
- The fact that he ever became King or even lived was an act of God and of people who cared.
- He was a baby when his father, the King, died.
- His grandmother promptly murdered all of her grandchildren so there would be no heir to the throne.
- But his Aunt rescued him. Hiding him from the wicked queen. He was hidden for 6 years.
- Her husband was Jehoiada, the high priest.
- When Joash was 7, Jehoiada pulled off a coup, that overthrew grandma who was quickly executed and established Joash as king.
- As long as Jehoiada was alive Joash was a good king, but when Jehoiada died, the leaders of Judah, came to Joash and persuaded him to stop following God and start worshipping idols.
- Jehoiada’s son preached against the idol worship and Joash had him stoned! There was no gratitude on the part of Joash. 2 Chronicles 24:22
- We can be appalled at this lack of gratitude but wait! God sent His Son to forgive us and give us everlasting life. How grateful are we?
- When Jesus saves us, he changes our lives with change comes gratitude!
THE WAY THINGS WERE – Hebrews 12:18-21
- Sometimes, for us to realize how good we have it we must remember how bad things were.
- The author is talking of two mountains, Mount Sinai, which represents the old covenant of law, is first mentioned, saying to believers, we aren’t there anymore.
- God revealed himself to Israel as unapproachable because of his holiness. Man could not approach him because of sin. This appearance showed the importance of keeping God’s law, which is impossible.
- God in love provided temporary blood sacrifices for sin.
- Galatians 3:24 – The law was our tutor to bring us to Christ.
THE WAY THINGS WERE: GOD WAS UNAPPROACHABLE!
THE WAY THINGS ARE – Hebrews 12:22-24
- If you have trusted Christ as your Savior, you may approach God now and will live with God eternally!
- 22 – We come to the “New Jerusalem” which is our permanent home, where innumerable angels worship God.
- 23 – We come with fellow believers, the “assembly of the firstborn from the dead”. Colossians 1:18
- We come to God the Judge of all, and now he accepts us! Romans 5:1
- “The spirits of just men made perfect” – Probably those in Heaven who are awaiting resurrection bodies.
- 24 – We come through Jesus and His shed blood. It is through Him that God is accessible to us now and for all eternity!
THE WAY THINGS ARE: GOD IS APPROACHABLE THROUGH JESUS
THE WAY THINGS WILL BE – Hebrews 12:25-27
- 25 – We must be sure our faith is truly in Christ, that we have been born again.
- 26 – As God did at Siani, God will shake things again. Haggai 2:6
- 27 – The final shaking will remove all things physical and replace it with new heavens and new earth. 2 Peter 3:10, 12-13, Revelation 21:1-2
THE WAY THINGS WILL BE – NEW HEAVENS AND EARTH
THE WAY THINGS SHOULD BE – Hebrews 12:28-29
- 28 – We have an unshakeable Kingdom, and we are to be grateful, showing reverence and Godly awe.
- Our behavior on a daily basis is to express gratitude by living lives that show it.
- 29 – We must remember that our God is a consuming fire.
THE WAY THINGS WERE: GOD WAS UNAPPROACHABLE!
THE WAY THINGS ARE: GOD IS APPROACHABLE THROUGH JESUS
THE WAY THINGS WILL BE – NEW HEAVENS AND EARTH
THE WAY THINGS SHOULD BE – LIVES THAT SHOW GRATITUDE.
To hear Pastor Jack preach this sermon go to First Baptist Church New Holland – Sermons (fbcnhremembers.com)
