Question
THE CITY OF THE LIVING GOD
Hebrews 12:14-29
Key Verse 12:22
1. The key verse shows that Christians are called to live in the city of the living God. With this in mind what does the author of the Hebrews exhort us to do (and not to do) in verses 14-17? In what respect are these things challenging? How can we live these out? (Verse 15; 2Cor 5:17; Phil 4:13)
2. Verses 18-24 contrast two mountains: Mt. Sinai (verses 18-21; Ex 19:10-25) and Mt. Zion (22-24). How are the two different? Who are the residents of Mt. Zion? What does “you have come” in verse 22 indicate about the present status of the members of the church? (Eph 2:6)
3. In verse 25, God is described as “him who speaks.” What does this expression—especially the word ‘speaks’—tell us about 1) the way God communicates His plan and purpose to His children and 2) the way for His children to benefit from His speech?
4. In the Old Testament God spoke to His people from earth through His servant Moses. The location from which God speaks has shifted from earth to heaven. This indicates that believers in the New Testament era are in a better position to understand God’s word than those in the Old Testament era. What does Scripture say about this change? (verse 24; John 14:16, 16:13; Mark 13:10; Dan 12:4)
5. Please consider the words ‘refuse’ and ‘refused’ in verse 25. How do people refuse Jesus?
6. What does the word ‘escape’ suggest about one of the reasons people refuse Him? But, what will happen to those who refuse Him? (Verses 26-27; 28b; Rev 20:8; John 15:4-6; Matt 7:24-27)
7. What do the following exhortations suggest about the problems many suffer despite the Lord God’s continuous grace to them?
1) Let us be thankful, and so
2) Worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.
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Message
THE CITY OF THE LIVING GOD
Hebrews 12:14-29
Key Verse 12:22a
But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God.
This passage teaches us that the kingdom of God is for those who are made compatible with it. One can get in God’s kingdom only when one is made compatible with the life that takes place in it. In the key verse for today we see the expression, “But you have come to Mount Zion…” Here, “you have come to” is different from “you get in to”. All you have here is the city of God standing in front of you, with the king of the city yet to send someone out to the gate and say, “Welcome. Please come on in.” So it is still possible that the king may reject you saying, “Who are you? I don’t know you. Go away.” Who then can get in? The passage gives us several clues. Let us take a look at them.
First, make every effort to live in peace with all men.
Look at v. 14a. “Make every effort to live in peace with all men…” The city of the living God is the place of perfect peace. Therefore it is only natural that it must be inhabited by those who know what it is to live in peace with all men – never is it for a war-like man. Make “every” effort to live in peace with “all” men. The words “every” and “all” are very challenging. Yet those who desire to live in God’s kingdom must learn to live in peace with all men. It is because the Kingdom of God is not just for a special kind of people, but for “every” one. It is for “all” who believe in Jesus.
God created every one differently. Please consider the disciples of Jesus. John was different from Peter. Andrew was different from Philip. Each of them had to learn to live in peace with all men. No matter which society or fellowship you are in you will find someone you find it difficult to get along with. So you may wish to avoid that person as much as possible. But the very person you hate may also get into God’s kingdom. Then when you go there, you will have to see him again. This then will make the city of God not exactly the perfect paradise. In fact, you will find it a perfect hell, for you are stuck with that person eternally. So what should we do? We must make every effort to live in peace with all men.
Second, be holy.
Look at v. 14b. “[A]nd to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” The king of the city of the living God is, of course, God. God is a holy God. So it is only natural that every citizen must be holy as God is holy. What does holiness mean? In Hebraic thought, holiness refers to the perfection of God, especially moral and spiritual perfection. When Jesus came he taught us God’s holiness in specific terms. For example, in Matthew 5-7, Jesus set forth what God’s holiness consists of. In laying down the perfect standards of life for God’s children to live by, Jesus says in Matthew 5:48, “Be perfect…as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Then in teaching the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus asks us to pray (as a matter of first importance), “Hallowed be your name.” Here “hallowed” means “revered as holy.”
“[B]e holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” What is required of us here is not a title, intellect, license, or certificate, but “holiness”. And the word “no one” is dreadful. What does “no one” mean? “No one” means “no one.” Not one single person. It does not matter who you are or what your background is. You must be holy as God is holy. Also interesting is the word “will”. It does not say, “No one may see” or “can” see the Lord, but it says, “No one will see the Lord.” Will involves will (in the sense of volition.) This indicates that if you have been living in a way which is inconsistent with the character of God, it will probably be you, first, who will not want to see the Lord.
Third, see to it that no one misses the grace of God.
Look at Look at v. 15. “See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.” God’s kingdom is inhabited by the people whose inner beings have been fully graced by the grace of God. Therefore it is only natural that the one who knows God’s grace and therefore whose inner being has been graced by God will find the kingdom enjoyable. “See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.” According to this passage then two things are true of all men:
(1) It is possible that one can miss the grace of God. God is a graceful God. In fact, God is so gracious that just as the air surrounds everyone, and as the sun shines on all, God’s grace always surrounds and shines on every living individual. But it is possible that one can miss God’s grace. How? The answer is obvious. Even if one has fine weather on a particular day, one may miss it: for one reason or another he may feel gloomy, so he withdraws to his dark room, listens to dark music, and thinks dark thoughts. The same is true with God’s grace. About 2000 years ago, Christ died on the cross for your sins, rose again, and is now seated at the right hand of God, praying for you. But still you can close your heart to his loving grace and thereby miss the grace of God.
(2) If one misses God’s grace one thing will surely happen to him: a bitter root will grow up. Then he will soon become a trouble maker and will end up defiling many. Remember that man’s heart has rich soil for bitter roots to grow. And if you do not remove bitter roots, without yourself knowing, they will keep growing. Then even against your will you will cause trouble to your neighbors and in this way end up defiling many.
Please remember what happened to Cain. Cain was the first child born of the first couple. And he turned out to be the first murderer. Cain murdered his brother Abel in cold blood. Why? He missed the grace of God. He allowed a bitter root grow in his heart. Eventually, he caused trouble to his parents, and then to his brother Abel. He defiled many.
“See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.” But my point is that if anyone misses God’s grace at any moment of his life, and finishes his life with bitter roots still remaining inside, he will suddenly find the heavenly city not “suitable” for him. He will find it a “wrong” place to dwell in.
One person I know used to say, “Life is too hard. No one is friendly to me.” I can understand him. But, what he said is not totally true. Why? Because Jesus is our true friend. If one opens himself up to him, Jesus will prove his true friendship. “See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.” “This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it”, says Psalms 118:24. How can we rejoice in it? We can do so by remembering the grace of God, especially the grace of his sin-forgiving love. Then when we open our hearts to him, his grace will shine upon us. He then brings healing. Instead of bitter roots, sweet songs of praise will ring out from the bottom of our hearts.
Fourth, see that no one is sexually immoral.
Look at v. 16a. “See that no one is sexually immoral…” Here “no one” refers to those who are inside of the church. It is an injunction against the insiders not the outsiders. In the history of the Israelites, sexual immorality was one of the major causes for the demise of the nation. Due to the sexual immorality of the King David, the seed for the division of an otherwise united kingdom was sown. This seed grew up in the heart of the next king, Solomon. When it was first sown in the heart of Solomon it was tiny, but when it bore fruit the magnitude of its fruit turned out to be seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines.
The kingdom was eventually divided. The bad fruit that came out of sexual immorality did not stop at the dividing of the kingdom however. It eventually culminated in the Babylonian captivity. In the course of the people getting deported into Babylon thousands were butchered. The nation was devastated. But the greatest disaster was the loss of their fellowship with the Lord. The prophet Ezekiel described the scene: “Then the glory of the LORD departed from over the threshold of the temple and stopped above the cherubim.” The Lord God then gave another long look at the Lord’s temple, and then left Jerusalem (Ezekiel 10:18). The Israelites became empty. They were doomed. The nation was fully exposed to violence, waves after waves of it.
My point is not to emphasize the greatness of all the bad fruit that comes out of sexual immorality. The point is that no one should finish his life with the sin of sexual immorality un-repented. Why? It is because the life in the kingdom of God is so incompatible with those who are sexually immoral that those who are sexually immoral will find the life in the heavenly city totally uncomfortable.
Fifth, see that no one is godless like Esau.
Look at v. 16b-17. “[See to it that no one] is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears.” “Godly” means acknowledging deity, or divine law. By the same token “godless” means not acknowledging deity, or divine law. But the passage says something more about the meaning of “godly” or “godless”: “See to it that no one is godless like Esau.” Why did the author add the phrase “like Esau”? The answer is simple. Esau was deceptively similar to Jacob. They were twin brothers. They had believing parents. This indicates that Esau represents “look-alike” Christians. Look-alike-Christians do not deny God. They can even be members of a choir. But they do not acknowledge God all the time. They do not go by the divine law all the time. Sometimes they may, sometimes they may not. When things are convenient they obey, when things are not convenient, they live like unbelievers. They are so to speak “part-time” Christians.
But Esau’s problem was a lot more complicated than just being a look-alike believer. How so? Again, look at what the passage says: “who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears.” This passage shows two things about him.
(1) What did he seek first? “For a single meal he sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.” The “single meal” could be a number of different things. The word “sold” indicates that in going for the single meal, he had to sell his identity as the oldest son. Here “oldest” means “firstborn”. In the Bible the firstborn refers to the best of bests. This title comes with authority, power, and honor. It also comes with responsibilities such as the duties of taking care of family members financially and spiritually.
Symbolically, the firstborn stands for Christians who are born of God, born into the church of Christ who purchased them with his blood. This indicates that hanging on the balance are two values: on the one side there is practical benefit like a single meal, and on the other side there is the invisible right as a Christian.
This observation gives us an idea of what the word “godless” means. The word “godless” can mean that you do not acknowledge God in all circumstances. It means that you may be willing to sell your identity as belonging to Christ depending upon mere circumstances such as the conditions of your stomach. For example, when everyone sees you, you may behave like a Christian. When no one sees you, you may mingle with unbelieving people or people who do not know you as a Christian, and behave like a playboy. Esau was such a person.
(2) What did Esau want later? The passage continues to say, “Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears.” He sold his identity. Jacob purchased the birthright for a price. So, Esau’s birthright was gone! Yet, he wanted to get it back! This passage says that Esau had one serious problem: he wanted to get the best of both worlds. Esau’s idea sounds good, but it is not going to work.
This tells us that we must discipline ourselves to live before God all the time, whether in good times or bad times.
Sixth, see to it that you do not refuse him who speaks.
Vs. 18-24 describe two mountains: Mt. Sinai (18-21) and Mt. Zion (22-24). Let us read this passage. Mt. Sinai refers to the old relationship, as was experienced by the Israelites, with the Lord God, after coming out of Egypt, whereas Mt. Zion refers to the new relationship between Christians and God the Father through Jesus in the New Testament era. The relationship at Mt. Sinai is distant, legalistic, and fearful, but the one at Mt. Zion is intimate, graceful, and joyful. The former is incomplete in harmony and unity. The latter is complete and perfect in harmony and unity.
The mediators are also different. In the case of the Mt. Sinai, it was Moses (and subsequently priests from the line of Levi), but in the case of the latter, Jesus Christ is the mediator whose blood speaks a better word then the blood of Abel (who foreshadows Jesus Christ.) We believers are not compatible with God the Father. We are too sinful to stand before God. But Jesus stands as a go-between. He works as a mediator. Because he shed his blood for our sins, and as we rely on Jesus’ blood sacrifice for our sins, we can then approach God as if we have never sinned.
After comparing the two relationships, the author then says in 25a, “See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks.” This then brings up a question: how am I doing in my relationship with Jesus Christ? How closely am I related to Him? We need to think about these questions in a very personal way, for v. 25a says, “See to it that you do not refuse ‘him’ who speaks.” God is more than an abstract concept. God is a person. He is the one who speaks to us. We have sixty six books of the Bible. Behind the word of God, then, is God himself. This then tells us that as we study God’s word, we must fully open ourselves to God, so that God would complete his work of redemption within us. God wants to be our Father. He desires to have a perfect relationship with his children. Our relationship in Jesus then must develop into an intimate relationship with God the Father. Then, we are ready to enjoy the life in the celestial city.
Seventh, if they did not escape, how much less will we?
One last thing for us to consider is our attitude about God’s judgment. Look at vs. 25b-27. “If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, ‘Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.’ The words ‘once more’ indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.” Here the expression “they did not escape” or “how much less will we” point to the truth that there are only two alternatives for all people: either to accept Jesus and be saved, or to reject Jesus and be condemned eternally. No one who rejects Jesus Christ will ever be able to escape from God’s judgment.
In the past some of the Israelites hardened their hearts and did not believe in God’s word, so that they all fell into the hand of God’s judgment. For example, in Exodus 12 and beyond we see that about 600,000 people came out of Egypt. The Lord God promised them to give the land of Canaan as a gift. So the Lord asked them to go in and take possession of it. But majority of the people did not believe in this promise. They doubted God’s love and power to help them drive out the heathen nations and so take possession of it. They rejected God who spoke. So what happened to them? They all died in the desert. Why did they make such a foolish choice? They did so because they thought that they could reject God who speaks and still escape from God’s judgment. But did they escape? No. Not even one person escaped. In this way their loose and relativistic attitude about God’s judgment cost them their salvation.
The same thing will be even more so true with Christians who live in this advanced generation. Nowadays as the information age is still advancing, all kinds of knowledge, especially Bible knowledge has drastically increased in quantity and in quality. In addition, through all kinds of advanced technology, such as the internet, the gospel is being preached in many different places. So, we are in a better position to accept the one who speaks than people of former generations. But what if we still reject him who speaks and go our own way? We will not escape from the impending judgment.
Nowadays people love to talk about and hear about the message of salvation, but they do not get excited about the message on the impending judgment. And not many pay attention to the severity of the judgment to come. But the Bible (Haggai 2:6-7) says that when it hits the world, the judgment is going to hit big time. "This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,' says the LORD Almighty.” Imagine the seas or even the heavens being shaken up. How dreadful it might be? Then the desired of all nations (Jesus Christ) will come. Then there will be a real sifting: the chaffs will all be blown away; only grains will be gathered into the barn. We will receive a kingdom that cannot be shaken.
In view of the impending judgment, then, how should we live? Look at vs. 28-29. “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our ‘God is a consuming fire.’”
In conclusion, we learned that since we have God’s unshakable kingdom as a special gift from God, we must be thankful to God, and worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. And we must do so remembering that God is a jealous God. Unlike human jealousy, God’s jealousy is good and necessary, because in his perfect knowledge God tracts down every enemy of life, and removes it from the one who loves him. It is for this reason that those who are called to live in God’s perfect city are to adopt a lifestyle which is compatible with his kingdom.
One word: The city of the living God
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Biblenote
THE CITY OF THE LIVING GOD
Hebrews 12:14-29
Key Verse 12:22
In the first part of Hebrews 12, we saw the pilgrim's progress.
In the second part, we see the citizenship, our ultimate destination.
The point of the message is that our life here on earth must be compatible with the life that is to come.
1. The key verse shows that Christians are called to live in the city of the living God. With this in mind what does the author of the Hebrews exhort us to do (and not to do) in verses 14-17? In what respect are these things challenging? How can we live these out? (Verse 15; 2Cor 5:17; Phil 4:13)
** Four exhortations:
1) Live in peace with all men.
2) Be holy.
3) See that no one is sexually immoral.
4) See to it that no one is godless like Esau.
** One reason is not all are of the same opinion. It sounds impossible then to live in peace with "all" men.
** God is holy, man is born unholy. Plus this world is increasingly unholy. So many people call evil good, good evil. The generation is getting increasingly perverse.
** Due to material abundance and technological advancement people are becoming increasingly promiscuous.
** Esau put flesh above spirit. Nowadays people put more emphasis on flesh than on spirit. This trend poses a great threat to Christians who are called to let spirit rule flesh. John 6:63.
** The grace of God in v. 15 refers to the blood of Jesus by which we are forgiven of our sins. This grace also includes the grace of the Spirit who helps us to put to death to our sinful nature, and receive the power to overcome ourselves and the sinful world.
2. Verses 18-24 contrast two mountains: Mt. Sinai (verses 18-21; Ex 19:10-25) and Mt. Zion (22-24). How are the two different? Who are the residents of Mt. Zion? What does “you have come” in verse 22 indicate about the present status of the members of the church? (Eph 2:6)
** One of the fundamental differences is that Mt. Sinai is physical (material) whereas Mt. Zion is spiritual. Mt. Sinai represents the law (Moses) where as Mt. Zion grace (Jesus).
** 1) The living God; 2) Jesus Christ; 3) the members of his church; 4) angels; and 5) all believers of the Old Testament period.
** In God's eyes, this transaction (of salvation into God's family) is as good as done. This is based on the concept that God always fulfills what he promises to fulfill.
3. In verse 25, God is described as “him who speaks.” What does this expression—especially the word ‘speaks’—tell us about 1) the way God communicates His plan and purpose to His children and 2) the way for His children to benefit from His speech?
** He communicates by talking to his children. This is because God created us in such a way that we would either accept what he says or reject what he says. In other words he gave us the right to make a choice, so that it would be each persons own decision, not His decision.
** We better listen to what he says, consider the pros and cons, and then make a decision. Proverbs 22:17-18 provides us with a good four-step guide: 1) pay attention and listen; 3) apply to your heart; 3) keep in your heart; and 4) have all of them ready on your lips.
4. In the Old Testament God spoke to His people from earth through His servant Moses. The location from which God speaks has shifted from earth to heaven. This indicates that believers in the New Testament era are in a better position to understand God’s word than those in the Old Testament era. What does Scripture say about this change? (verse 24; John 14:16, 16:13; Mark 13:10; Dan 12:4)
** 1) shadows vs. reality
In the past God spoke in a rather inferior way such as in symbols or patterns (like the blood of Abel) which all work as foreshadows of the reality come, that is, Jesus Christ. But in the New Testament period, we have Jesus who fulfills the Old Testament patterns.
2) Earth vs. heaven
In the past God spoke from Mt. Sinai, for example. But Jesus has gone to heaven, is seated at the right hand side of God, and from there he sends His Spirit to those who believe in Him, so that through the guidance of the indwelt Spirit his children would understand the word better.
3) Israel vs. Gentiles
In the past the revelation was mostly limited to the Jewish nation, but now the gospel is being preached to all nations.
4) Technology: nowadays the means of communication has advanced drastically so that the knowledge of the Bible can be shared with many a lot faster than in the past.
5. Please consider the words ‘refuse’ and ‘refused’ in verse 25. How do people refuse Jesus?
** Antonym of the word refuse is accept. It is possible for one to believe in Jesus, but not fully accept Him.
Another way is to accept Him as the Savior, but not necessarily as the master/Lord/King.
Another way is to know him with mere head knowledge, still maintaining a lifestyle which is totally different than or even hostile to Jesus' character.
Remember that it was to the church of Laodicea (which refers to the church of the last generation right before the second coming of Jesus) that Jesus approached them with the words of Rev 3:20.
6. What does the word ‘escape’ suggest about one of the reasons people refuse Him? But, what will happen to those who refuse Him? (Verses 26-27; 28b; Rev 20:8; John 15:4-6; Matt 7:24-27)
** They develop a fantasy that they can ignore God's warning, live as they like, and still escape from God's judgment.
** They will not escape, for God is going to shake what is shakable to sift out what is unworthy and throw it into the fiery lake of burning sulfur and keep what is not shakable in His house.
7. What do the following exhortations suggest about the problems many suffer despite the Lord God’s continuous grace to them?
1) Let us be thankful, and so
2) Worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.
** Two things: The first is an unthankful heart and the second is a lack of awesome reverence. The latter trend is mainly because of men's foolish pride, thinking that men can do everything, like space travel, for example, without God, not knowing that in the first place it is God who made man so well.
The end.