The Assembly of the Firstborn; Heb. 12:18-24

Delivered during the Sunday Morning Worship Service, 7/14/2024. On a morning when our church will enjoy the installation of elders and deacons, the sacrament of baptism, and the taking of the Lord's Supper, our attention will turn to the privilege true believers have to be part of the New Testament church. The writer of Hebrews makes a sharp comparison between the old and new covenants by symbolically comparing Mount Sinai to Mount Zion. After describing the terrifying Presence of God at Mount Sinai when the first assembly of the "Qahal" could not even touch the mountain for fear of God's holiness, he describes in beautiful language how the same immutable God establishes redemption, restoration and reconciliation with Himself through His Son Jesus Christ. We will rejoice in the glorious blessings of the "Ecclesia" as we bounce back and forth between descriptions of the "church triumphant" (meaning the church in heaven), and the "church militant", (meaning the church on earth). Ultimately, as we prepare our hearts for the taking of Communion, we will realize that with such rich blessing comes great responsibility. Not only to persevere and remain faithful to the Gospel, but to recognize how great a gift the blood of Christ is-- and to live our lives accordingly as the assembly of the firstborn!