“The Better Way” – Hebrews 12:18-29

When we have a choice between two things, we generally try to choose the better option. Butter or margarine, non-fat or regular, diet or non-diet. These are options and each of us knows which we prefer. We tell ourselves the choices we make are for the better.

In the book of Deuteronomy, Moses told the people that they had a choice. Deuteronomy is a summary of what the people had gone through to get from slavery to the edge of the Promised Land. In his speech to them, Moses said, “See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to keep His commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess” (Deuteronoy 30:15-18). Moses was clearly offering Israel two choices, and he left no doubt which was the better way.

The writer of Hebrews does the same in today’s text. Rather than offer it as a choice, though, he presents it as a contrast between the old way and the new way, encouraging his readers to remember they had the better way to live out.

Background

The book of Hebrews is written by an unknown author. There has been speculation, but no one really knows who wrote it. What we do know is that the author had a working knowledge of the Jewish faith and used his letter to demonstrate why the gospel of Jesus Christ is better than the Jewish faith. Point by point, the writer shows that Jesus far surpasses all aspects of Judaism—from the role of atonement, of the high priest to the role of faith and prayer. In all things, Jesus is superior.

As the writer comes toward the end of his letter, he makes the final point which we are looking at today. His point is that God chose in Christ to offer fellowship and direction in a far more personal way than in Judaism. In short, we come to this truth:

Central Truth: In Christ, we find the better way.

Following the better way

1. The old way (18-21)

You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.” The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”

The Romans ruins of Pompeii as a result of the eruption of Vesuvius is a stark testimony of the destructive nature of a volcano. More recently, we watched with shock, awe and horror at the eruption of Mt. St. Helens. The devastation from that one event shaped the northwestern part of the United States for decades afterward.

When God told Moses to tell the people to come to Mt. Sinai to hear the voice of God, the people had no idea what they were about to experience. Exodus 19 tells what happened leading up to that encounter and the encounter itself. “On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the Lord descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, the whole mountain trembled violently, and the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder” (Exodus 19:16-19). God then gave the Ten Commandments, and afterwards the people told Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have spoeak to us or we will die” (Exodus 20:19).

The people were told to bath and keep themselves clean, physically and spiritually, for three days before their encounter at Mt. Sinai. They were told to construct barriers to keep them from touching the mountain. Touching the mountain would immediately end in death. God reiterated that reality when the people came to the mountain, telling Moses to warn them against trying to climb the mountain. Everything about this first encounter was to show the people that God is mighty and not to be trifled with.

This is what the writer of Hebrews describes in these verses. His comment to his readers is that their relationship with God did not begin with such a dazzling display of power and awe. They did not tremble when they came into God’s presence. They didn’t tremble not because they didn’t understand that God is holy and just and all-powerful, but that they entered into their relationship with God through His love and grace.

The old way was one of, “Follow the rules or suffer the consequences.” The writer describes this in order to remind them and us of the better way.

2. The better way (22-24)

But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

In contrast to how God spoke to the people in the Old Testament, here the writer gives different word pictures. Rather than describing a terrifying event, he reminded the readers they came into God’s presence, entering into a special relationship. While Israel also entered into God’s presence and into a special relationship, the difference here is the new covenant is one of grace, joy and peace. He described the believers as “the church of the firstborn.” To be firstborn was to be the heir apparent with the promise of inheriting the father’s estate when the time came. So we too are promised to inherit in all the promises of the gospel that will ultimately be fulfilled in Christ’s second coming.

Our names are written in heaven, a fact that Jesus said was the real reason to rejoice (cf. Luke 10:20) and the Revelation tells us, “If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15). When we come to Christ by faith, our names are written in the ledger that stands as a guarantee we belong in God’s family.

The writer then told them they came to God, and describes God as the judge of all men. Throughout the letter to the Hebrews, the writer reminded the readers that the God who saved them is the same One who will judge them. He repeatedly warns against withdrawing from the faith, lest they incur God’s judgment. We come to God the judge of all men.

But we also come to the spirits of righteous men and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant. Jesus is the One who provided the means to enter into the new covenant, and His blood serves as a testimony of this new covenant, this better way.

3. Accepting the better way (25-29)

See to it that you do not refuse Him who speaks. 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 sake 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. 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.”

There are two choices, the better way being described after the other way. The writer knows that his readers have chosen the better way, even if their current practices seem to be leading them away to the other way. So the writer makes his final appeal with a warning and a promise.

The warning came in vs. 25-27. His warning is that those who came to Mt. Sinai and were scared out of their wits suffered judgment when they strayed from God. How much more will the punishment be to hear the voice of God through Christ and still turn away? Already, the writer has warned that it is impossible to fall from grace and find salvation again, because Christ cannot and will not be sacrificed a second time (cf. Hebrews 6:4-6). He has also warned that continuing to deliberately sin cannot escape judgment (Hebrews 10:26-31). The warning found here is that God’s judgment is certain, but unlike the first encounter Israel had with God, where the mountain and grounds shook, when judgment finally comes, God will shake the earth and the heavens.

This shaking is a clear indication that at the Second Coming, God’s judgment will completely destroy all sin and those who embrace sin without atonement from Christ. All that will remain are those whose names were written in the book of life, the righteous people, the church of the firstborn. To walk away from God is to invite such a judgment, the writer warns.

The encouragement comes in vs. 28-29. He reminded his readers that our inheritance is a done deal. Those who have faith in Christ and hold to that faith regardless of the challenges and threats to depart from it will continue to walk in His ways and remain in his kingdom. The resultant attitude we should and must have is that of gratitude and worship. We worship God because we are reverent and in awe of the One True God, the living God, the righteous and holy God, and the God who is the judge of all men. Our inheritance will be purified from sin because God is a consuming fire, consuming all sin and those who embrace it.

Conclusion

If someone offered you a steak dinner for free, would you rather have the sirloin or the rib eye? My choice is obvious—the ribeye is a better cut of meat and if it’s free it won’t cost me anything more.

God offers us a better way through Christ. Let us resolve to follow the better way, to walk in gratitude, reverence and awe, and to seek His guidance in all we do.