Formed by His Presence: From Sinai to Christ

In the fullness of time, God sends his only son. And the word does not merely echo from Mount Sinai. The word now comes and takes flesh and dwells among the people. At Sinai, God's speaking from the mountain and the people tremble. In Jesus Christ, God speaks from within our flesh and blood, from within our humanity, and sinners are drawn near to God in Christ. At Mount Sinai, the voice of God shook the earth. In Christ, the voice of God says, come to me, and the weary find rest. [00:58:56] (53 seconds)  #GodWithUsInChrist

And the voice that once said, do not break through, now says, this is my body, which is for you. And so we come and we come with reverence, with respect, and awe. We come with humility, not presumption. We come together because God's people God's people are still formed as they are gathered together. He speaks to us when we are gathered together, and he feeds us by grace when we are gathered together. [01:03:00] (41 seconds)  #CommunionCallsForReverence

Christ has gone up the mountain for us. Christ has borne the fire. Christ has carried all us, all of us, all the way into the presence of God. And so when we gather at this table in just a moment, God is still speaking. Not in thunder and not in but but in promise. Not from a distance, but through the bread and through the cup. [01:02:35] (26 seconds)  #ChristPresenceInCupAndBread

Jesus does not cancel what happened at Sinai. Jesus does not cancel the 10 commandments. Jesus fulfills what happens at Sinai. He is not the softer version of God. Jesus is the holy God made accessible to the people. He is the mediator that Sinai anticipates. He speaks the same divine word, but now he speaks it with hands that heal and a body that would be given for us. [00:59:49] (46 seconds)  #JesusFulfillsSinai

And so there's a pattern that is established at Sinai. God speaks and a people are formed. God reveals his will. He reveals his character. He reveals his covenant purposes. And then his people learn who they are by listening to God. Knowledge of God, knowledge of self. But Sinai also teaches us something else that is just as important. You see, the people, they hear God speak, but they cannot endure his voice directly. [00:56:06] (38 seconds)  #SinaiFormsGodsPeople

It runs forward through the rest of scripture. God continues to speak. God continues to gather his people. But again and again and again, a mediator is required. Somebody is required to stand between God and his people. Someone who's not going to soften God's truth, but somebody who's going to make God's presence survivable. And that's where Mount Sinai opens towards Jesus Christ. [00:58:10] (36 seconds)  #WeNeedAMediator

God doesn't just say God does not say, if you obey me, then I will have your back. That's not the way it works. What he says is I have saved you. Therefore, listen to me. Grace comes first. The law here follows grace, and obedience is is a response. It is not a condition of the people's redemption. [00:40:54] (31 seconds)  #GraceFirstLawFollows

I Israel's identity does not begin with their obedience. It does not begin with their faithfulness. Israel's identity begins on God's grace demonstrated to his people because he rescued them. He brought them out. He carried them. God acted decisively on their behalf. That's very important to understand because it it it establishes the logic of covenant. [00:40:22] (33 seconds)  #IdentityFoundedOnGrace

God continues to gather his people. But again and again and again, a mediator is required. Somebody is required to stand between God and his people. Someone who's not going to soften God's truth, but somebody who's going to make God's presence survivable. And that's where Mount Sinai opens towards Jesus Christ. [00:58:14] (29 seconds)