Coming to Mount Zion (1): the meaning of Mount Sinai

Series 16

Episode 2

Prologue

Brothers and sisters, today’s topic of Treasures for the Soul is “Coming to Mount Zion (1): the meaning of Mount Sinai.” Hebrews chapter 12 talks about Mount Sinai and Mount Zion. It’s a contrast between the law and grace. Mount Sinai represents the old covenant. People of Israel were boastful of the law. Unfortunately, they didn’t live them out. It’s very precious that things have changed after we believed in the Lord. We no longer need to observe the festivities nor go to the temple, etc. On the contrary, we enjoy the new covenant, which is more excellent. We do not merely have the glory on the outside, while having desolation inside, continuously struggling in sins. We have received the blessings of the new covenant, and we will not be condemned. We have been set free, because Christ has come.

Message

Hebrews chapter 12 is a comparison between Mount Sinai and Mount Zion. The Book of Galatians speaks to the comparison in a similar manner. The Bible is also divided into Old and New Testaments. Hebrews 12:18 reads “For you have not come to what may be touched…” This mountain is Mount Sinai where God gave the commandments, and established a covenant called the old covenant. People of Israel treasured this covenant very much. There were other covenants such as the covenant God made with Abraham. We were originally strangers to all these covenants, but now it is different because we have believed in the Lord. The comparison between Mount Sinai and Mount Zion is a contrast between the laws and grace; the old covenant and the new covenant established by the blood of the Lord.
Hebrews 12:18-21 describes the experience of those who don’t believe in the Lord: “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.’”
I encourage you to read Exodus, which records how terrifying and fearful it was when God established this old covenant. Even Moses, the person closest to God at that time said that he trembled with fear. Without the Lord, we might still act like the people of Israel, boastful of the laws and the old covenant. Yet, they did not live out the law. This is the reason why they were condemned. God showed His holiness, righteousness, and judgement on Mount Sinai. The Book of Hebrews was written for the Jews, some of whom may not have been saved yet. Some of them might not have been steadfast in faith and were tempted by Satan to return to Judaism and the law. 3:57-4:01 delete.
These Jews used to be proud of the beauty of the temple, the prestigious look of priests in white robes, and all the rituals. In contrast, after they believed in the Lord, the meetings were held at home and there were not many people. They had experienced worship in the temple and synagogues. The congregations were larger. Celebrations on major festivities were observed a few times a year, and pilgrimage was made to Jerusalem. Indeed, God had prepared for the Jews very precious experiences in their long history. Those who knew God and loved Him were very joyous. But after they believed in the Lord, they experienced persecution and rejection from their fellow kinsmen, who didn’t believe that Jesus was the Saviour. Compared to the old days, they had lost their status and were even rejected. They no longer had a prestigious meeting place nor priests in beautiful white robes. Their meetings were modest.
Hebrews tells us what we have gained now is more excellent. This excellent covenant has begun, for Christ the Son of God has come. We should not simply value outward appearances and practices. We do not worship in Jerusalem or Samaria. Jesus told us to worship in spirit and truth (John 4:23). It’s so different now. It’s no longer mere beauty on the outside but desolation inside, continuous struggle in sins. In old times, the Israelites’ hearts were far from God, and they felt condemned and they didn’t have the peace of having sins forgiven. They couldn’t enjoy the spiritual blessings of the new covenant, because they held onto the outward practices and appearances.
During this trip to Israel, we learned that everything has been prepared to rebuild the temple in a short time, including the necessary vessels, the priests and the Levites. But are the Jews happy? Are they close to God? Do we need to pray and mourn at the Western Wall (Wailing Wall) like the Jews?
Instead, we can shout for joy. We are a lot happier because Christ has come and changed all things.

Series 16

We Have Come to Mount Zion and the Heavenly Jerusalem

Message Date: 2020-03-20

We should mind the things above, look upon the Lord in glory, and live to Him. It’s very precious that Hebrews 12:22-24 lets us understand about things in heaven in a concrete way. By the Lord’s salvation, today when we draw near to God, we are not coming to Mount Sinai (which represents the law), but we have come to Mount Zion (which represents grace). To obtain forgiveness of our sins is almost impossible! However, God’s grace is tremendous. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit have paid the highest price, endured the greatest pain, and made us see God’s holiness and righteousness. God also manifested His great love. So, by the Lord’s precious blood, our sins are forgiven, and we are united with the Lord forever. God desires us to draw close to Him. Hebrews mentions multiple times “having come” before God, to the throne of grace, and lastly to Mount Zion, that is, the heavenly Jerusalem. When we pray and draw near to God, we have come to the heavenly Jerusalem, and we are living in grace. In heavenly Jerusalem, there are many joyful things: the festal gathering of innumerable angels, the assembly of the firstborn, God the judge of all, the spirits of the righteous made perfect, Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. All these express God Himself, and His heart towards us. The Lord indeed has opened His heart to us through this series of messages, causing us to understand His purpose better.
1

See that the Lord is at the right hand of the Father

2

Coming to Mount Zion (1): the meaning of Mount Sinai

3

Coming to Mount Zion (2): the difficulty in forgiveness of sins

4

Coming to Mount Zion (3): to Live in Grace

5

Having Come to the Heavenly Jerusalem

6

What is in the heavenly Jerusalem (1)?

7

What is in the heavenly Jerusalem (2)?

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Introduction

01 Introduction of Treasures for the Soul

Series 1: Being Heart to Heart with the Lord

1.1 The Most Blessed Generation
1.2 Message from John the Baptist
1.3 Abide in the Lord Always
1.4 Abide in the Lord’s Love at All Times
1.5 The Lord Speaks to Us and Helps Us in Our Hearts

Series 2: Being Heart to Heart with the Lord Throughout this Year

2.1 God’s Greatest Work Starts in Our Hearts
2.2 To Be Heart to Heart with the Lord Throughout the Year
2.3 Our Spirits can Feel God and Have Fellowship with Him
2.4 The Importance of Peace
2.5 Our Spirits Need the Words of God
2.6 Give the Lord Time and Space to Speak in Our Hearts

Series 3: Let Our Hearts be Influenced

3.1 The World Needs People Who Deeply Experience God
3.2 Just as His Anointing 
Has Taught You, 
Abide in the Lord
3.3 Be Influenced 
by the Lord Throughout 
this Year

Series 4: The Importance of Peace

4.1 Enjoying God’s Peace in Your heart
4.2 Let Not Your Hearts be Troubled, Neither Let Them be Afraid.
4.3 How Should Our Spirit Respond to the Lord?

Series 5: Our Spirit Being Able to Enjoy the Lord

5.1 Our Spirit is Satisfied Only When We Worship God and Deeply Experience Him
5.2 How to Worship God with Our Spirit
5.3 Looking at the Lord with our Inner Eyes
5.4 Our Spirit Needs to Enjoy the Lord Himself
5.5 The Song of Solomon Often Mentions About “Eyes”
5.6 Realize Being Heart to Heart with the Lord in Singing and Worship

Series 6: Live out the Life of being Heart to Heart with the Lord

6.1 Living a life of union with the Lord in a stable pattern every day
6.2 Enjoying the Lord and not being disturbed
6.3 The Importance of Seeing Him with Our Spiritual Eyes

Series 7

7.1 Learn to Protect Our Spirits From Virus Prevention
7.2 Our Spirit Can Hear, Think, and See
7.3 How to Live a Life of Faith
7.4 The Importance of the Mind
7.5 David’s Eyes Beheld the Lord Always

Series 8: During the last supper, the Lord spoke about the essence of the blessings of the new covenant.

8.1 The Lord established with us the eternal love covenant by His blood
8.2 The Lord Treasures the New Covenant and Break-Bread Meeting the Most
8.3 Love Encounters
8.4 Before His Crucifixion, the Lord clearly explained the essence of the blessings of the new covenant: the fourth blessing
8.5 Before His Crucifixion, the Lord clearly explained the essence of the blessings of the new covenant: the first blessing (1)
8.6 Before His Crucifixion, the Lord clearly explained the essence of the blessings of the new covenant: the first blessing (2)

Series 16: We Have Come to Mount Zion and the Heavenly Jerusalem

16.1 See that the Lord is at the right hand of the Father
16.2 Coming to Mount Zion (1): the meaning of Mount Sinai
16.3 Coming to Mount Zion (2): the difficulty in forgiveness of sins
16.4 Coming to Mount Zion (3): to Live in Grace
16.5 Having Come to the Heavenly Jerusalem
16.6 What is in the heavenly Jerusalem (1)?

Series 9: Being Heart to Heart with the Father

9.1 Being Heart to Heart with Abba (Part 1)
9.2 Being Heart to Heart with Abba (Part 2)

Series 10

10.1 The Love Desire in the Depths of Abba and the Lord’s hearts
10.2 Fruit of the Lord’s Crucifixion: Eternal Life
10.3 The Lord Came to Manifest the Father’s Name
10.4 The Father Sent His Only Begotten Son
10.5 Reminders on enjoying heart to heart with the Father
10.6 The Father’s Desire for Me is Forever Steadfast

Series 11

11.1 The preciousness of the Letter to Philemon
11.2 The most profitable; the most accepted.
11.3 Charge That to My Account
11.4 The Father made the Lord our eternal High Priest by an oath (1)
11.5 The Father made the Lord our eternal High Priest by an oath (2)
11.6 We are the Lord’s darling love

Series 12

12.1 The Lord’s Words at the Last Supper
12.2 Apart from the Lord, we can do nothing.
12.3 What is true faith?
12.4 Look upon the Lord in glory
11.5 Trust and Peace (1)
12.6 Trust and Peace (2)

Series 13: The Lord’s Gentleness and Humility

13.3 The Lord’s Gentleness and Humility (Part 2)

Series 14: Manifold evidence

14.1 How does the infinite Lord see us?
14.2 We are the ultimate and final love of the Lord
14.3 The Lord is forever a Man; He once died for us
14.4 The Lord’s manifold love evidence (Part 1)
14.5 The Lord’s manifold love evidence Part 2

Series 15: Understand How Our Spirit Works And Be Heart To Heart With The Lord Continuously

15.1 We Can Only Enjoy God By Faith
15.2 His Words Abide In Us
15.3 Live With The Lord
15.4 Seek The Things That Are Above
15.5 Understand How Our Spirit Works: Will, Mind And Feelings
15.6 Guard And Uplift Our Mind

Series 17: Know that the Church is the Firstborn

17.1 Know that the church is the firstborn
17.2 The Blessing of the Firstborn (Part 1)
17.3 The Blessing of the Firstborn (Part 2)
17.4 The Lord redeemed us to be the firstborn (Part 1)
17.5 The Lord redeemed us to be the firstborn (Part 2)

Series 18: The Blessings to be the First Born

18.1 Israel is God’s Firstborn Son (Part 1)
18.2 Israel is God’s Firstborn Son (Part 2)
18.3 To be united with the Lord and become the Firstborn
18.4 The Lord is the Firstborn
18.5 The Blessing of the Firstborn: Kingship
18.6 The Blessing of the Firstborn: a Double Portion of the Blessings

Series 19: Coming to Mount Zion to Appear Before God

19.1 The Lord is the way, and the truth, and the life
19.2 Live in Grace. Enjoy the Father and the Lord
19.3 Mind the things that are above (1)
19.4 Mind the things that are above (2)
19.5 Appear before God in Mount Zion

Series 20: The final destination of our spirit and eternity is the heavenly Jerusalem

20.1 The Lord Desires Most for Us to Draw Near to Him (1)
20.2 The Lord Desires Most for Us to Draw Near to Him (2)
20.3 The Lord Becomes the Way so that We can Come Before God with Confidence
20.4 The Heavenly Jerusalem, Destination of Our Spirits and Eternity (1)
20.5 The Heavenly Jerusalem, Destination of Our Spirits and Eternity (2)

Series 21: Live Out the Life of the Firstborn: Be A Priest

21.1 The Father made the Lord the High Priest
21.2 Priesthood: One of the Blessings of the Firstborn
21.4 The Precedents of Priests in the Bible (2)

Series 22: When Believers Die, They Will Go to the Heavenly Jerusalem

22.1 The Heavenly Jerusalem is paradise (1)
The Heavenly Jerusalem is paradise (2)
The Spirits of the Righteous Made Perfect

Series 23: New Jerusalem is a real city

God has prepared a heavenly home for us
Is the heavenly new Jerusalem a real city?
Satan causes man not to be clear and assured about the things in heaven
Are physical substances not spiritual?
New Jerusalem is a real city (1)
New Jerusalem is a real city (2)

Series 24: God prepares for us

Genesis 22: Father and Son went together
Genesis 22: For us, the Father gave His only Son
Genesis 22: The Lord will provide
24.4 God’s preparation for us

Series 25: The Father and Son Affection

25.1 The Lord Came to Make Known the Father
25.2 The Father and Son Affection (Part 1)
25.3 The Father and Son Affection (Part 2)

Series 26: We are a royal priesthood

26.1 God who alone does wondrous things
26.2 The Lord is the High Priest
26.3 We are a royal priesthood (1)
26.4 We are a royal priesthood (2)
26.5 The life of a priest

Series 27: Who are you in the infinite one’s loving heart?

27.1 Meditate on who you are in the infinite Lord’s loving heart
27.2 Meditate on who you are in the infinite Lord’s loving heart (2)
27.3 Meditate on the infinite Lord’s words at the last supper

Series 28: The conclusion and climax of the book of Hebrews

28.1 Sing praises at Easter (1): The defeat of death
28.2 Sing praises at Easter (2): The risen Lord has swallowed up death
28.3 The important purpose of Hebrews and the help we get from it
28.4 Confirming the importance of drawing near to God

Series 29: How to behold

29.1 Behold the Father
29.2 See that God meets me in His steadfast love 
and exults over me with loud singing (1)
29.3 See that God meets me in His steadfast love and exults over me with loud singing (2)
29.4 See how the Lord loves us (1)
29.5 See how the Lord loves us (2)