Throughout this Book the Holy Spirit’s purpose is to show us the superiority of this gospel age to that of the Old Testament. A key word in these 13 chapters is the word "better." It is used repeatedly.
(Hebrews 1:4) Christ is better than the angels. "Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they."
(Hebrews 6:9) Christ has given us better things, things that accompany salvation. "But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak."
(Hebrews 7:7) Christ, our Melchizedek, is better than Abraham. "And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better."
(Hebrews 7:19) Christ gives us a better hope, "a good hope through grace," than the law could ever give. "For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God."
(Hebrews 7:22) Christ is the Surety of a better covenant. "By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament."
(Hebrews 8:6) Christ is the Mediator of a better covenant. "But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises."
(Hebrews 9:23) Christ is a better sacrifice. "It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these."
(Hebrews 10:34) Christ gives us a better, enduring, heavenly inheritance. "For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance."
(Hebrews 11:16) In Christ we are made citizens of a better country. "But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city."
(Hebrews 11:35) Christ gives us hope of a better resurrection. "Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:"
(Hebrews 11:40) God has provided better things in Christ. "God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect."
(Hebrews 12:24) Christ’s sacrifice and blood speaks better things than the blood of Abel and his sacrifice. "And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel."
As Paul comes to the close of this blessed Book, he seems to write as one who is running out of paper, or running out of time, as a man so excited about his subject that he cannot speak of it adequately.
In Hebrews 12:22, he tells us that we have come to Mount Zion, a better place than Sinai!—To the Heavenly Jerusalem, a better city than Jerusalem!—To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven, a better assembly than those who gathered at the tabernacle or temple of old, whose names were merely written on paper.—To God, who is infinitely better than all the types and pictures given of him in the Mosaic age!—The Judge of all, who is better than all the best judges Israel ever had.—To the spirits of just men made perfect, a better company than Israel ever enjoyed.
That brings me to our text for tonight (Heb. 12:24-25). Here are some more of those better things that are ours in this gospel age.
(Hebrews 12:24-25) "And (ye are come) 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."
Coming to Christ
Faith is coming to Christ. All who are born of God and taught of him come to Christ. But coming to Christ is not at all what people imagine it to be. Coming to Christ is an act of faith. It is altogether something that is done in the heart. It is altogether a spiritual thing.
- Many came to Christ physically, touching him and being touched by him, who never came to him. – "It is the spirit that quickeneth. The flesh profitteth nothing."
- Multitudes come to Christ outwardly, by profession, in the place of public worship, who never come to him.—Ananias and Sapphira!—Simon Magus!
- Faith is a heart work. It is coming to Christ with a sense of need.
- It is coming to him as the One, the only One, who has infinite fulness to meet our souls’ need.
- This faith is the gift and operation of God’s almighty, omnipotent, irresistible, efficacious grace.
- Faith is coming to Christ and no one else!—Coming to him alone for everything!
O needy soul, hear me. Come to Christ now! Poor, helpless, bankrupt, naked, needy sinner, come to Christ with no aide, no assistant, no mediator, no priest, and no sacrifice!—Come to Christ bringing nothing of your own to ingratiate you.—Come to Christ bring nothing but you…
- Filth for him to cleanse!
- Sin for him to forgive!
- Nakedness for him to cover!
- Need for him to meet!
Now hear his promise.—"Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out!"
This gift of faith is the great privilege of God’s elect. It is the blessing of blessings.
O gift of gifts! O grace of faith!
My God, how can it be,
That, Thou who hast discerning love,
Shouldst give that gift to me!
All who are given this great boon of grace are saved, safe, settled, secure, and at peace. They can want no good thing, for all things are theirs. We have free access to God through Christ, and a right to all privileges of the sons of God in him!