Mount Zion

If we are believers in Jesus Christ, we have not come to God through the difficult path of buying our salvation through works of righteousness as religions do.  (Hebrews 12:18 – 29).  God used the commandments given on Mt. Sinai, as a schoolmaster (Galatians 3:24) to bring us to Christ showing us how impossible it would be to meet the standard of perfection God the Father set (Romans 3:10 -12, Psalm 14:3 and 53:3) in our own strength (John 15:5).  The old testament sacrificial system requiring the blood of bulls and goats could only cover sin for a period of time (Hebrews 9:13 – 10:18).

Instead we have come to the city of God, the heavenly Jerusalem, Mount Zion.  We rejoice as members of the assembly of the firstborn, enrolled in heaven.  We come to God, the judge of all, as one of the spirits of the righteous made perfect.  Our righteousness is not based on our deeds but on the efficacy of the blood of Jesus Christ and what he did for us on the cross. (1 Corinthians 1:30 and 1 Peter 2:24)  Jesus is the mediator of this New covenant.  Jesus’ sacrifice of blood doesn’t just cover our sins for a short period of time or he would have to be sacrificed again and again. (Hebrews 6:6)  He throws our sins away from us as far as the east is from the west.  (Psalm 103:12)  His blood blots out even the handwriting of ordinances against us (Colossians 2:14 – 4:18).  Abel’s blood spoke of violence, revenge, and reparations but Jesus’ blood speaks peace, forgiveness and reconciliation.

It won’t be long in the measure of eternity before the scales will be balanced.  If we have no relationship with the savior, Jesus Christ, none of the good things we have done will amount to a hill of beans to God as they are just filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6) or fig leaves to cover our nakedness (Genesis 3).  In Eden, God prepared clothing for Adam (humanity) (Genesis 3:21) from the skin of an animal, probably a lamb like the untimate lamb of God slain from the foundation of the world (Jesus Christ – Revelation 13:8) foreshadowing the robe of righteousness we have in Christ, not our own righteousness (Isaiah 61:10) but His. 

The gifts God has given us are perfect. Reading through Psalm 103:1 -8 we remember He forgives us our sins (through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ). He heals all our diseases through Jesus Christ (by His stripes we are/were healed). He redeems our lives from destruction or the grave.  He crowns us with mercy and loving kindness.  He puts His words on our tongues in our mouths to satisfy us with good things so our youth is renewed like an eagle’s.  He executes righteousness and judgment for all who are oppressed.  He is full of compassion and mercy, slow to anger and of great mercy.  How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?  (Hebrews 2:3)

(Cathy Bayert is pastor of Greybull First Baptist Church.)