Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Hebrews 12:18-24.

 

“For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind, 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.   For they could not bear the command, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it will be stoned.”   And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, “I am full of fear and trembling.”

 

But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, 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, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.”  Hebrews 12:18-24.

 

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Previously, in the Book of Hebrews, Peter explained in great detail how the Law (a/k/a the old covenant a/k/a Sinai, the place were the Ten Commandments were handed down from God to Moses) was unable to “perfect those who draw near”.  For example, see Hebrews 10:1. 

 

Here, in today’s Scripture, Peter warns those who still want to be under the Law by vivid and scary descriptions of the Law represented by Sinai.  Although the Law is holy and good, we are not holy and good.  Because of our sinful nature, the holy Law will condemn us, and the result is our fear and trembling and eventual death. 

 

“So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.”  Romans 7:12.  “But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind;  for apart from the Law sin is dead.  I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died;  and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me;  for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.”  Romans 7:8-11. 

 

But, after giving this warning of what the Law represents, Peter assures us that we have come to Grace (a/k/a the new covenant a/k/a Zion a/k/a heaven). 

 

There is a sharp contrast between the two.  The Law represents the desert, gloom, darkness, whirlwind, fear, and condemnation.  Grace represents the heavenly city, joy, light, peace, comfort, and commendation.

 

We have seen a similar sharp contrast between the Law and Grace by the use of another allegory in Galatians 4:21-28.

                        

^“Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not listen to the law?  For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman.  But the son by the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise.  This is allegorically speaking, for these women are two covenants: one proceeding from Mount Sinai bearing children who are to be slaves;  she is Hagar.  Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.  But the Jerusalem above is free;  she is our mother.  For it is written,

And you brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise.”  Galatians 4:21-28.

Therefore, be warned.  Don’t go back to the Law.  Cling to the Grace that you have in Christ.

“See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking.  For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape who turn away from Him who warns from heaven.”  Hebrews 12:25.