SUBJ: The greater consequence of refusing to hear Christ and the blood that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

AIM: That we might grow in our consciousness of the awful power of God so that we might better know and cling to His grace.

INTR: While the absolutes of the Old Testament were evident, those concerning Christ are infinitely more so. God has not departed from His holiness.
1. Remember that the blood of Christ speaks better things than that of Abel.
2. While many have trodden under foot the Son of God it is not without consequence. See Hebrews 10:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
3. We may truly delight in knowing and experiencing the fear of God in that we know that we are delivered from the wrath to come.

THESIS: The message of the Gospel is all about Christ Jesus our Lord. To refuse Him that speaketh is to fly in the face of all that God holds dear.

I. That ye refuse not… (vv. 25-26)
1. A most powerful warning is forthcoming and we must bear witness to it.
2. We are given a reminder of what took place at Sinai and the things that followed (Acts 7:39 To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt,)
3. The message of Christ is more emphatic as witnessed by what we see.
1) What was required by God was shown in the life of Christ – He showed us what to do!
2) In what He did to Christ – (There was no mercy shown) Jesus neither asked nor received mercy

4. The voice from Heaven
1) The acknowledgment of His Son and the attention that is to be drawn to Him – “…hear ye Him…” From the Mount of Transfiguration.
2) The divine confirmation and approval seen in His Word and His works.
5. The earth was then shaken (especially in the immediate area)
6. But Heaven is now included. See Haggai 2:6 For thus saith the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land;
1) With the coming of Christ all human institution and heaven itself was shaken.
2) There seems to be a certain looking to the future and the conflagration to come

II. The significance of things being shaken (vv. 27-28)
1. There are things to be shaken and moved: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 2 Corinthians 10:4-5
1) The whole system of offerings in the Old Testament and we note the ultimate destruction that came in 70 A.D.
2) The human elements of pride, self righteousness, human invention
2. Consider here 1 Corinthians 3:13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
3. Grace, faith, justification and sanctification are among those things which remain
4. In fact we have an unmovable Kingdom (note various references and applications of Kingdom in the present.
5. The thought then is that we should be “having grace” and holding fast to it (see marg.)
6. It is then by grace that we serve:
1) With reverence or shamefacedness toward God.
2) With Godly fear in that we move with caution in that we know Who He is.

III. A consuming fire (v. 29)
1. This quote is from Deuteronomy 4:24 For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.
2. We connect this thought with Hebrews 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
3. The same thought that will horrify the world is precious to those who trust in Christ our Lord.
1) Because we see that we are saved because He consumed Christ
2) And, He consumes undesirable things in us and for this we pray
3) Furthermore, He consumes all those things that oppose and we see the witness of this in such examples as Nadab and Abihu.

1. We must come – And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. John 5:40 and compare John 6:37 and 7:37.
2. To a heavenly citizenship and a relationship to those therein.
1) The heavenly dwelling place of the King.
2) The city of the Living God (which Abraham sought)
3) The heavenly Jerusalem (Consider that two mounts were there. The Temple Mount and Mount Zion to the south.
4) And to innumerable Angels in association and mutual delight in the King.
3. To an association with the redeemed
1) To a union with the elect of God – “Written in Heaven” – past, present and future.
2) To God as the judge of all – He is the righteous judge to whom we are reconciled and may approach.
3) The spirits of just men made perfect – We are identified with those who have been made perfect and sanctified in Christ.
4. To Jesus and His blood
1) The mediator of the New Covenant is “Jesus,” his given name
i. Since He mediated as a man His personal name is used
ii. The New Covenant is of grace and meets the needs that Old Covenant could not.
2) The blood of sprinkling
i. His blood is shed in saving us
ii. It is sprinkled in application for us in application of all its virtues and benefits to us. AWP
3) Better than that of Abel
i. Abel’s blood cried for vengeance, Christ’s for reconciliation
ii. Abel was a martyr and his blood cried out for that which was good in him – Christ’s was better because of His perfect innocence. AWP
iii. Abel’s blood cried from the ground. The blood of Christ still speaks in heaven. AWP