From Sinai to Zion: Embracing Our New Covenant Joy

Devotional

Day 1: The Old Covenant: Terror and Inadequacy at Sinai

The old covenant, represented by Mount Sinai, was marked by tangible displays of God's holiness—fire, darkness, gloom, tempest, and the overwhelming sound of a trumpet. These manifestations filled the Israelites with fear, for they knew they could not bear the weight of God's commandments or approach His presence without dread. The law revealed their inadequacy and drove them to recognize their need for a Savior. Even Moses, the mediator, trembled with fear at the sight and sound of God's glory. This fear was not meant to be the final word, but to point forward to something greater. [01:31]

Hebrews 12:18-21 (ESV)
For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.”

Reflection: Are there areas in your life where you still relate to God out of fear or a sense of inadequacy, as if you are still under the old covenant? What would it look like to bring those fears honestly before Jesus today?

Day 2: The New Covenant: Drawing Near to Christ at Zion

Unlike Sinai, Mount Zion represents the new covenant—a place of invitation, grace, and nearness to God through Jesus Christ. Here, believers are welcomed into the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, where Christ reigns and bids all to come near. Jesus, full of grace and truth, reveals the heart of the Father and transforms our fearful approach into a free, grace-filled relationship. No longer are we held back by terror; instead, we are invited to draw near, to rest in Christ, and to find our home in His presence. [22:16]

Hebrews 12:22-24 (ESV)
But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly 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 that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

Reflection: In what practical way can you draw near to Christ today, trusting that He welcomes you with open arms rather than holding you at a distance?

Day 3: Worshiping with the Heavenly Host

When believers gather to worship, they are not alone. The new covenant brings us into joyful fellowship with an innumerable company of angels, joining their festal gathering in praise of the Lamb. Our worship is not just an earthly act but a participation in the ongoing, heavenly chorus that surrounds God's throne. This reality should transform the way we approach worship, filling our hearts with awe and anticipation for the day when we will see the fullness of this heavenly assembly. [33:09]

Revelation 5:11-13 (ESV)
Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

Reflection: The next time you sing or pray in worship, can you intentionally picture yourself joining the heavenly host? How might this change your attitude and participation in worship?

Day 4: Sharing in Christ’s Inheritance and Welcoming Others

As members of the assembly of the firstborn, believers share in Christ’s privileges, inheritance, and blessings. Our names are written in heaven, not for taxation or judgment, but for blessing and redemption. This truth calls us to treat our fellow believers as dearly loved VIPs and to actively seek to fill the rolls of heaven by sharing the gospel. The grace we have received is meant to be shared, and the privileges of Christ’s inheritance are to be extended to others through our love and witness. [38:31]

1 Peter 1:3-5 (ESV)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Reflection: Who is one person you can treat as a “VIP” in Christ this week, or invite to experience the blessings of Christ’s inheritance through your words or actions?

Day 5: Christ’s Blood Speaks a Better Word

Jesus is the mediator of a new and better covenant, whose sprinkled blood speaks not of vengeance, but of mercy, grace, and redemption. Unlike the old covenant, where the blood of sacrifices could not fully cleanse, Christ’s sacrifice is complete and final. His blood calls out forgiveness and love to all who will receive it, inviting us to remember and celebrate His work every time we come to the Lord’s Table. In Christ, we are free to approach God boldly, knowing that His grace is always greater than our sin. [45:39]

Hebrews 9:13-15 (ESV)
For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.

Reflection: As you remember Christ’s sacrifice, is there a place in your life where you need to let His blood “speak a better word”—to receive His mercy and let go of guilt or shame?

Sermon Summary

Gathering together as the family of God is a joy beyond compare, especially as we remember and proclaim the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ through the Lord’s Supper. This is the highest celebration for believers, far surpassing any earthly joy, because it centers on the finished work of Christ and the hope of his return. Turning to Hebrews 12, we see a powerful contrast between the old covenant, symbolized by Mount Sinai, and the new covenant, represented by Mount Zion. Sinai was marked by tangible, terrifying manifestations—fire, darkness, gloom, and tempest—reminding Israel of God’s holiness and their own inadequacy. The law, given amidst thunder and smoke, was a burden too heavy to bear, driving home the reality that no one could stand righteous before God on their own.

Yet, the new covenant is entirely different. Instead of fear and distance, we are invited to draw near to God through Jesus, our perfect mediator. Mount Zion, the city of the living God, is a place of joy, festal gathering, and peace. Here, we are not only welcomed but celebrated as the assembly of the firstborn, sharing in Christ’s inheritance and surrounded by an innumerable company of angels. Our names are written in heaven, not for taxation or judgment, but for blessing and redemption. The judge of all is also our redeemer, who has provided pardon through his own sacrifice.

In Christ, we are connected not only to one another but also to the saints who have gone before us, united in one body and one hope. The sprinkled blood of Jesus speaks a better word than Abel’s—where Abel’s blood cried out for justice, Christ’s blood proclaims mercy, grace, and reconciliation. We are called to live not in fear or inadequacy, but in the freedom and confidence that comes from being fully accepted in Christ. As we come to the Lord’s Table, we do so with grateful hearts, celebrating the new covenant and the unshakeable hope we have in Jesus.

Key Takeaways

1. The old covenant at Sinai revealed God’s holiness and our inadequacy, marked by fear, distance, and the impossibility of keeping the law. This was not meant to crush us, but to drive us to see our need for a Savior who could do what we could not. The terror of Sinai is a reminder that self-reliance before God leads only to despair, but it also prepares our hearts to receive the grace offered in Christ. [10:45]
2. The new covenant in Christ transforms our relationship with God from one of terror to one of intimacy and joy. Jesus, as our mediator, invites us to draw near without fear, offering rest for our souls and a yoke that is easy and light. The invitation is not just to come, but to come boldly, knowing we are fully welcomed and loved. [27:19]
3. Worship under the new covenant is a heavenly reality, not just an earthly ritual. When we gather, we join an innumerable company of angels and the saints of all ages in a festal assembly. This perspective should deepen our reverence and joy in worship, reminding us that we are never alone and that our praise echoes in the courts of heaven. [33:09]
4. Our identity as the assembly of the firstborn means we share in Christ’s privileges, inheritance, and blessings. Our names are written in heaven, not by our merit, but by the blood of Jesus. This should shape how we treat one another—with honor and love—and motivate us to invite others into this glorious inheritance by proclaiming the gospel. [38:31]
5. The sprinkled blood of Jesus speaks a better word than the blood of Abel, offering mercy instead of vengeance, and reconciliation instead of condemnation. Christ’s sacrifice is the foundation of our confidence before God; it assures us that every sin is paid for and that we are eternally secure in him. This truth calls us to live in gratitude, freedom, and hope, always remembering the cost and the completeness of our redemption. [45:39]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:31] - Sinai and the Old Covenant: Terror and Inadequacy
[04:51] - The Theophany at Sinai: Fire, Darkness, and Gloom
[08:06] - Worship in Spirit and Truth
[10:45] - The Law’s Burden and the Need for a Savior
[13:51] - The Trumpet and the Voice: The Need for a Mediator
[17:38] - Living in Fear or in Grace?
[19:50] - Mount Zion: The City of the Living God
[22:16] - Christ’s Nearness and the Invitation to Come
[24:14] - All Are Welcome: Christ’s Open Arms
[27:19] - The Easy Yoke of Jesus
[28:20] - Going to Others as Christ Came to Us
[30:37] - Worship with Angels: The Festal Gathering
[35:05] - The Assembly of the Firstborn: Our Inheritance
[38:31] - Our Names Written in Heaven
[40:20] - The Judge Who Pardons
[43:43] - United with the Saints: The Church Across Ages
[45:39] - The Mediator and the Better Blood
[47:43] - The Lord’s Supper: Remembering Christ
[49:18] - Prayer and Thanksgiving

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Hebrews 12:18-24 (ESV) — > 18 For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest
> 19 and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them.
> 20 For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.”
> 21 Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.”
> 22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering,
> 23 and to the assembly 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 that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

Observation Questions

What are the main differences described between Mount Sinai and Mount Zion in Hebrews 12:18-24?
According to the passage, what kind of atmosphere surrounded Mount Sinai, and how did the people respond to it? ([01:31])
What does the writer say we have come to instead, as believers in Christ?
In verse 24, what is said about the blood of Jesus compared to the blood of Abel?

Interpretation Questions

Why does the writer of Hebrews use such vivid imagery (fire, darkness, gloom, tempest) to describe the old covenant at Sinai? What is he trying to communicate about our relationship with God under the law? ([10:45])
What does it mean that we are now part of the “assembly of the firstborn” and that our names are “enrolled in heaven”? How should this shape our sense of identity? ([38:31])
The sermon says that the sprinkled blood of Jesus “speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.” What is the significance of this comparison? ([45:39])
How does the new covenant change the way we approach God, compared to the old covenant? ([27:19])

Application Questions

The old covenant at Sinai was marked by fear and a sense of inadequacy before God. Are there ways you still relate to God out of fear or a sense of not being “good enough”? What would it look like to approach God with the confidence the new covenant offers? ([17:38])
The sermon describes worship under the new covenant as joining a “festal gathering” with angels and saints of all ages. How might this perspective change the way you participate in worship on Sundays? ([33:09])
Our names are written in heaven, not by our own merit, but by the blood of Jesus. How does this truth affect the way you view yourself and others in the church? Is there someone you need to start treating with more honor or love because of this? ([38:31])
The blood of Jesus speaks mercy, grace, and reconciliation. Is there a specific area of your life where you need to receive or extend mercy and grace this week? ([45:39])
The sermon calls us to live in the freedom and confidence of being fully accepted in Christ. What is one practical step you can take this week to live out of that acceptance, rather than striving to earn God’s favor? ([27:19])
The new covenant invites us to “come boldly” to God. What keeps you from coming boldly to God in prayer or worship? How can you remind yourself of Christ’s invitation? ([40:20])
The message encourages us to invite others into this glorious inheritance by proclaiming the gospel. Who is one person you can pray for or reach out to this week to share the hope you have in Christ? ([39:35])

Sermon Clips

God's holiness, which was revealed in the law, the Ten Commandments that was given to Moses, and then the 600 Samad rules that followed placed a heavy burden on the children of Israel, right? Who could obey those? It's hanging over your head like gloom, right? You know that you're a dead man walking. Because what does Paul say? The law kills, right? It renders us guilty before God. The law was meant to drive us to Christ, to show us a need for the Savior, right? But they hadn't been revealed all the way yet. And so it was a very heavy thing for them. It was a gloomy thing for them. [00:10:28] (45 seconds) #LawRevealsNeedForSavior

Israel was fearful because they knew they were unholy. They knew the commandments that God had given to them they could not bear. They could not keep them. It was terrifying to them, especially seeing the fire and the smoke, the Shekinah glory of God, seeing...the tempest, hearing the voice of God and the trump were sound. They were afraid that God was going to break out war against them for not keeping it. So they were terrified of that. Let me ask you, are you living in fear as if you're still under the old covenant? That's what the writer of this is asking them. He's telling them, you've not come to that mountain that can be touched, right? You're under the new covenant. [00:17:27] (48 seconds) #FearNotOldCovenant

So the application is saints don't live like you're under the old covenant. Your relationship with God should not be marked by terror, nor should it be marked by inadequacy, as if God's covenant wasn't enough for you? His promises weren't effective for you? Well, how should I view God then? I'm glad he asked. The writer of Hebrews does the same thing. He answers that in verses 22 through 24. [00:19:50] (29 seconds) #GraceReplacesFear

Not only did Jesus come to us, but when we read the New Testament and the New Covenant, all come to Jesus. Didn't lepers come to Jesus? But they were unclean. Was Christ tainted by them? No. Didn't fathers and mothers come to Jesus, bringing their children to him? Didn't they say, the father of Jairus, my daughter, I don't know what to do, right? But Jesus knew what to do. Didn't the blind come to Jesus? Didn't the poor come to Jesus? Didn't the lame come to Jesus? Didn't people even bring lame people to Jesus? They removed the roof and lowered the paralytic to bring him to Christ, because they knew that Christ says, come. Come to me, right? What does he say? Suffer the little children to come to me. Didn't he tell the disciples to come to him, right? [00:24:05] (68 seconds) #EmpoweredToObeyWithJoy

In the new covenant, God comes to those who tremble before him and he touches them. So rise, don't be afraid. Christ is one who speaks peace to the storm, right? By Christ, we have access to our Father in heaven, right? What does Romans 8, 1 tell us? There is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. So the application for this is, first of all, draw near to Christ who welcomes you in his arms. [00:26:49] (39 seconds) #GoAndHealLikeTheSamaritan

God enrolls you in his heavenly city as a part of his congregation for blessing and for redemption. God does not make any errors on his role, right? Your name is written indelibly in the blood of Jesus Christ. It cannot be wiped away, right? And it's there for your blessing. It's there to share his inheritance with you. [00:38:06] (32 seconds) #ChristPaidOurPrice

Because of Christ, we can come near. Let me read to you Hebrews chapter 4, verse 13 through 16. And there is no creature hidden...from his sight the judge of this world but all things are naked and open to the eyes of him to whom we must give an account seeing that we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens jesus the son of god let us hold fast our confession for we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weakness but was in all points tempted as we are yet without sin let us therefore boldly come to his throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace and help in time of need christ beckons us to come i understand is what christ says i was tempted i have provided for your sins come and find grace and help in times of need [00:40:25] (59 seconds)

Just as the angels join us in our worship in a very real way but undescribed in scripture fully in a very real way we are connected to the saints who are already in heaven right if i am united to christ through faith by a spirit those in heaven are also united to christ through faith by a spirit the spirit still indwells when we get to heaven right So just as you and I are brothers and sisters, we have brothers and sisters in heaven, right? Now that does not mean that we pray to them or we seek help from them, no. But do you know what we can do? First of all, we can learn from their godly example. [00:42:36] (48 seconds)

But in the new covenant, a better covenant, Christ, our mediator, he has paid our price. The obedience was not set on us, but was on him. He fulfilled the old covenant to give us the blessings of the new covenant, right? And because he is the mediator, he's not just God, but he's the God -man, he warmly invites us to come to him, and he understands our weaknesses. He understands our frailities, because he too, even in heaven, is humanity, glorified, perfected humanity, joined forever to the person of God in Jesus Christ. [00:46:05] (39 seconds)

When we celebrate the Lord's Supper, we are celebrating Christ. We are celebrating what he has done for us. What he has done for us speaks far better than able. When it says in verse 24, and to the sprinkling blood speaks of better words than the blood of Abel. Abel's blood cried out from the ground what? Vengeance, right? Christ's blood calls out mercy, calls out grace, calls out love and redemption to all who will receive it. [00:48:23] (40 seconds)

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What contrasts are made between Mount Sinai and Mount Zion?

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