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Hebrews 12:25-29
The author of Hebrews gives an additional warning to not disregard the words of God as did those at Mount Sinai. If they were disobedient to the words that God spoke on earth, much more will be the punishment for those who are disobedient to the words that God speaks from heaven through the fulfillment of the old in the new, being Jesus, the High Priest whose reign is forever through the order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 7-8). Haggai 2:6 is quoted by the author of Hebrews in reference of a “shaking of the heavens and the earth” that is yet to come which will destroy all things that are made, leaving only the spiritual things of heaven, which cannot be shaken, to remain (Hebrews 12:26-27). Therefore, as the author of Hebrews states, his encouragement is to be receiving of the kingdom which cannot be shaken, God’s grace in Christ Jesus, and a godly fear, which is sincere respect in that we may be acceptable to God when that time comes. Hebrews 12:29 states, “For our God is a consuming fire.” This indicates the “shaking” that will come when all physical things will be destroyed (Hebrews 12:26-27).
This is a promise that God will shake the heavens and the earth once more and destroy all physical things, leaving only the reborn spiritual things in Christ Jesus to remain.
This is a great passage that shows the old covenant lessons that lead us to the new covenant truth in Christ Jesus. God spoke to Moses and gave many signs and wonders to the Israelites to show His mighty power and authority as the one and only true God of heaven, the creator of the heavens and the earth and all things in which have ever been made; that He would be the focus of all worship by all people. But the Israelites refused over and over to believe in God as their Savior, and they reaped their own fate by their lack of faith in God.
We have been given the fulfillment of the old covenant in Jesus Christ, whom God sent to save the world from sin (John 3:17). We have the inspired writings of the apostles of the new covenant in Christ Jesus, along with the writings of the old covenant prophets to lead us to eternal life in and through Christ Jesus. We are taught throughout the whole of the Bible that salvation and forgiveness is not about following a set of rules or doing works to gain salvation, for we are unworthy of it because of sin. It is only through the blood shed by the acceptable sacrifice, Jesus, on the cross, in His innocence of sin that redeems us from sin and death. And it is only through His resurrection that we may have eternal life, as this is the proof that sin and death have no power over Him. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). What can we do to be included in salvation and receive eternal life? What can we do to have our sins forgiven and be acceptable to God?, “if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:9-10, NKJV).
Dear LORD,
You have shown the people of the old covenant that they cannot earn their way to righteousness and find favor in Your eyes because of the presence of sin in their lives. You taught them that if they would believe in You in their hearts, they would be considered righteous, as it was with Abraham because he believed in You. We ask of Your great mercy and grace to abound to us that You would open our eyes so that we can see, and open our ears so that we can hear of Your great love for us in Your one and only Son, Jesus, the Savior of the world, that we would believe in Him, confess with our mouth and believe in our hearts that Jesus is Lord. In Jesus name I pray, amen.