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希伯来书：12:18-21: 18你们原不是来到那能摸的山；此山有火焰、密云、黑暗、暴风、19角声与说话的声音。那些听见这声音的，都求不要再向他们说话。20因为他们当不起所命他们的话，说：“靠近这山的，即便是走兽，也要用石头打死。”21所见的极其可怕，甚至摩西说：“我甚是恐惧战兢。”
在这一章的其余部分，希伯来书的作者对比了在西奈山上所赐的旧约的信息，与他以锡安山象征的新约的信息。关于这种对比，明天的经文里会有更多的讨论。《希伯来书》是针对犹太基督徒写的，但他们受到诱惑，想重回西奈山，回到旧约，回到律法，因为他们认为这些能让他们得救。实际上，作者在这个对比的开头就说：“你们真想回到那里吗？”在西奈山上显示的上帝的大能和圣洁让人敬畏，以色列民在恐惧中战兢，甚至连摩西也感到战兢。
律法的功用就是如此。它让我们在恐惧中战兢。它让我们从心底呼喊：“我该怎么做才能得救？”它让我们双膝跪地，深刻体察自己的罪，并低头承认：“上帝啊，可怜我这个罪人吧。”我们需要律法，这样我们就不会骄傲自满，但是我们无法依靠律法来拯救自己。律法永远不会带来平安，也永远不会让我们与上帝和好。这些只有福音才能做到。
今天很多改革宗或福音教派的教导更重视律法，而不是福音。他们求助于律法是因为他们认为律法能改变行为。但当律法成为你改变的动力，你实际是在说上帝不爱你，除非你达到了某些标准。最终，你会感到不确定、害怕和绝望。还记得这封书信开头的话吗？“就在这末世，上帝藉着他儿子晓谕我们。”只有福音能拯救、安慰和改变我们。
一位牧师说过：“律法主义说如果我们改变，上帝就会爱我们。福音说上帝会改变我们，因为他爱我们。”你可以探访西奈山，但你要居住在锡安山上。
祷告：天父上帝，我知道律法本来是好的，你使用律法的目的是让我有一颗谦卑悔改的心。不要从西奈山上向我说话，请从锡安山上向我说话，说那福音的信息，就是那在耶稣基督里罪得赦免的信息。然后，借着福音的力量，改变我的心，改变我自己。祷告奉耶稣的名，阿们。
Hebrews 12: 18 You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and to burning fire, to darkness, to gloom, to a raging storm, 19 to the sound of a trumpet, and to a voice that spoke. Those who heard the voice asked that not one more word be added, 20 because they could not endure what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.” 21 The sight was so terrifying that even Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.” (EHV)
In the rest of this chapter, the writer to the Hebrews contrasts the message of the Old Covenant, given on Mt. Sinai, with the message of the New Covenant, which he symbolizes with Mt. Zion. More on that tomorrow（这里似乎指明天更多讲后者）. The Jewish Christians he is writing to were tempted to go back to Mt. Sinai, the Old Covenant, and the Law for the assurance of their salvation. In essence, he begins this comparison by saying, “Do you really want to go back there?” The awesome display of God’s power and holiness from that mountain made the people tremble in fear. Even Moses trembled!
That’s what the Law does. It makes us tremble in fear. It makes us cry out in our hearts, “What must I do to be saved?” It drives us to our knees and makes us so aware of our sinfulness that we bow our heads and say, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” We need to hear that law so that we do not become proud or complacent, but we cannot put our trust in the law to be saved. The law will never make us feel safe or at peace with God. Only the Gospel can do that.
A lot of Reformed and evangelical preaching today focuses more on the law than the gospel. They turned to the law because it is the law that changes our behavior. But when the law is your motivation for change, you are really saying that God doesn’t love you until you measure up. In the end, you feel uncertain, frightened, and in despair. Remember what words began this letter? “In these last days, God has spoken to us through his Son.” Only the gospel can save, comfort, and change us.
Tullian Tchividjian said, “Legalism says God will love us if we change. The Gospel says God will change us because he loves us.” You can visit Mt. Sinai, but dwell on Mt. Zion. Prayer: Heavenly Father, I know that the law is good, and that you use it to keep me humble and repentant at heart. But do not speak to me from Mt. Sinai. Speak to me from Mt. Zion, with the blessed message of the gospel, with the assurance that my sins are forgiven in Christ. Then, by the power of the gospel, change my heart and change me. Amen.