Hebrews 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

18 For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,

19 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard entreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:

20 (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:

21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)

22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:

26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.

27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

29 For our God is a consuming fire.

MEMORY VERSE: See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we tum away from him that speaketh from heaven. —Hebrews 12:25

CENTRAL THOUGHT: In the giving of the law of Moses the earth quaked fearfully. In the giving of the New Testament in Christ, the spiritual heavens, the realm of the souls of men, are shaken. We should give diligent heed, for we shall not escape if we do not yield to Him who speaks now from heaven.

LESSON BACKGROUND

This is the final lesson in our series of studies concerning the law of Moses and the law of grace in Christ Jesus, the Lord. We have seen how faith was first implanted in the soul of man as a standard for God’s dealings and man’s responsibility. We have studied how the law was given, how it failed, why it failed, and why the Savior needed to come. We have beheld the wonders of His grace and what it can do for the soul which the law could not do. For our final lesson, we have chosen to dwell on the serious side of the dispensation of grace. We are not only to welcome and rejoice at the inception of the grace of God into our lives, but we are to realize the seriousness and the responsibility that is ours thereby.

When we receive the grace of God we become very responsible creatures. God is expecting something of us. Those who despised Moses’ law and turned away from the voice that spoke on Mount Sinai were punished. They did not escape. How much more should we reverence and respect the voice of God that speaks to us now by way of the Holy Spirit, the blood of Jesus, the Word of God?

It is not for us to just take or leave; it is for us to receive and give allegiance and obedience to. If we refuse it, the consequences are dire and certain. If we receive it and then fail to diligently pursue the mark and yield to the will of God, we are going to face an awful judgment.

We must not receive the grace of God in vain (2 Corinthians 6:1). We must give the more diligent heed to the things which we have heard. As the book of Hebrews also teaches, Christ has an inheritance above the angels. Therefore, we ought to sincerely and earnestly pursue the truth that is in Christ and follow in His steps. Let us receive that kingdom that cannot be moved. For even though the wrath of God has been appeased in Christ, those who refuse His grace will merit a fiercer anger from God and from Christ.

—Bro. Leslie Busbee

QUESTIONS:

1. What is our fate to be without holiness?
2. Is there any danger of losing the grace of God?
3. What is the fearful and serious warning in our lesson?
4. What are we come to in Christ?
5. How should we serve God? Why?

    

COMMENTS AND APPLICATION

There is a tendency for people to say, “We are under grace now, so we do not have to be so careful.” This is erroneous thinking. We do not have to be under the strain of condemnation, but the dispensation of grace has brought great responsibility upon mankind. The grace of God has been provided for all, but there is much on our part to exercise and to do for the grace of God to be effectual in its administration. We must follow and pursue peace with our fellow man; we must follow holiness with God.

Under the law we could not be holy, but in Christ we can and must be holy. We want the law of holiness to be written upon our hearts that by lives of purity we may be worthy of His name. We must be diligently on our guard for any deviation from the strait and narrow way. Satan is not going to leave us alone. He will be permitted to try us from every quarter.

We are not come to a phenomena such as was seen on Mount Sinai. It was a fearful sight that caused Moses to even fear and quake, but we are come to spiritual realities. Instead of to the old literal city of Zion and Jerusalem, we are come unto a spiritual experience in which we are raised up from fleshly and carnal appetites and living to a close walk with God. It is not imaginary, but a spiritual reality. This heavenly Jerusalem that we are come to in the grace of God is the Church which He purchased with His own blood. We come to it and are made a part of it when we are truly born again.

Jesus is the Mediator of the new covenant. His blood sprinkled on the heart pleads for favor and mercy with God. Abel’s blood cried out for vengeance, but Christ’s blood cries out for mercy and pardon. This voice of the covenant shakes the spiritual places. It refines and purifies the soul; it leaves nothing in its path unturned. It is like an ever working leaven that spreads throughout the entire man. It has been the means of every spiritual awakening down through the Church age. This scripture in Hebrews 12:26, 27, was one of the main texts that moved and inspired the early pioneer ministers and helped usher in the Evening Light Reformation. It is the New Testament Covenant of Grace. Mankind has a tendency to drift from it into formality and man-rule, which go along with a law spirit, but revivals and spiritual awakenings have restored it time after time. We today need to be constantly renewed in spirit and refreshed in the glory of the Spirit of the Living God sent down from Heaven.

—Bro. Leslie Busbee

REFLECTIONS

“For our God is a consuming fire.” Moses shielded his face with his hand as he looked upon an awesome but fearful sight: a bush ablaze, yet, as he stared in amazement, not turning into lifeless, charred embers, but standing, leaves, branches and all, as strong and vibrant as when he had admired it early that morning.

He drew nearer to find meaning in the mystery. So we, looking on the wonder of salvation‒Christ in you‒can only gaze in silent awe. A consuming fire–dwelling in us? But other words come to add explanation: “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness” Lamentations 3:22-23). And, “…the good will of him that dwelt in the bush…” (Deuteronomy 33:16). As Jacob was preserved and transformed by his encounter at Peniel, as Isaiah was purged by the living coal; as God’s people, represented by the burning bush, have emerged with only the cords that bound them burned off, let us also receive the kingdom into our hearts; be purged, be shaken, be liberated.

Being under grace does not mean that we are free from all responsibilities of faith and obedience. Having Christian duties and obligations to obey does not mean that we have to work to deserve or obtain salvation. Contrary to popular religious thought, there is still a yoke of restraint upon our lives; however, it is light–not heavy–and we walk at liberty because it is love that constrains us. What we do, we do because of the love of Christ in us.

In Christ, truly, mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have embraced. The consuming fire is enveloped in good will and compassion. And we are saved.

—Sis. Angela Gellenbeck