Hebrews 12:25-29

Hebrews 12:25-29 (NKJV)

See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape, who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain.

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear; for our God is a consuming fire.

Citizens of the Kingdom of God

The author of Hebrews addresses his congregation—and believers of all ages—as citizens of the kingdom of God. He encourages us to align our attitudes, thoughts, feelings, and actions with those of Abraham, who looked for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

Hebrews 11:10

...the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

This impresses upon our hearts and minds a focus on the transcendent reality that we are citizens of the kingdom of God—something more permanent and lasting than citizenship in any earthly nation.

The instructions throughout Hebrews 12 urge us to stop being earthly minded. The Old Testament covenant was earthly, even carnal, pertaining to dietary laws, moral conduct, and other temporal matters. It was never intended to be permanent. The author warns against abandoning the permanent profession we have in Jesus Christ to return to a temporary, imperfect system that could not effectuate salvation.

We are called to put off sin and distractions, pressing forward toward our eternal bliss in the heavenly kingdom. Being earthly minded focuses on what is imperfect, temporary, and vanishing—like the Old Testament system, which ended with the destruction of the temple in AD 70.

Pizza Theology

Consider this illustration: If I promised everyone pizza next week, would you prefer to live in the promise or enjoy the reality? Clearly, experiencing the pizza is better. The Old Testament promised permanent salvation and eternal life; why ignore the reality for the shadow? Earthly mindedness fixates on temporary pleasures, sin, and distractions, even non-sinful things that impress us unduly.

The author moves us toward recognizing the transcendent reality in Jesus Christ, instituting a heavenly minded attitude. Our citizenship in heaven permeates every facet of life—not just church attendance, but work, relationships, family, and private moments. It is our devotion to God as members of the church and submission as citizens of His kingdom.

Three Key Elements in Our Text

With our heavenly citizenship in mind, the passage presents three things:

1. A Command to Be Obedient

This command equates to the warning passages in Hebrews, urging greater concern for the gospel message, motivation, and privileges.

2. The Purging of Temporary Things

A common New Testament concept: all temporary things outside Jesus Christ will be purged, highlighting the futility of earthly mindedness.

3. Participation in the Unshakable Kingdom

What does it look like for believers to participate? Attitudes, actions, and feelings aligned with heaven.

Do Not Refuse Him Who Speaks

Hebrews 12:25

See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape, who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven.

Do not pretend God has not spoken. God has spoken in His Son.

Hebrews 1:1-2

God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son...

Scripture is God speaking. Do not ignore it like mystical Christians waiting for new thunder from heaven. God has already told us what He requires.

Micah 6:8

He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

Matthew 22:31

But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God...

Do not refuse Him as Israel did at Sinai, where His voice exposed sin and humbled them. They preferred Moses to God. Rejecting the unshakable for the shakable leads to removal, for God will shake it again.

Hebrews 12:26-27

...whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain.

This quotes Haggai 2, calling us to stand strong in God's word, the unshakable foundation.

Stand strong in your profession of faith amid persecution. Live for the permanent: forgiveness, repentance, God's glory—not temporary lusts or sins that will be purged.

Serving in the Unshakable Kingdom

Hebrews 12:28-29

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear; for our God is a consuming fire.

We are presently receiving the kingdom—enjoy it now. Embrace grace, which produces gratitude, motivating acceptable service with reverence and godly fear.

God's grace is His favorable attitude toward us, supplying our greatest good: salvation, enlightenment, needs (even humbling), conformity to Christ—all for His glory. This grace enables contentment in all circumstances.

Philippians 4:12-13

I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound... I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Grace produces gratitude for Christ's death, election, sanctification—motivating service without self-boast or excuses like "someone else will do it." Serve God in every area: workplace, marriage, child-rearing, private life—kingdom-minded, not just church-minded.

Acceptable Service: Gratitude

Thanksgiving honors and magnifies God, showing salvation.

Psalm 50:14, 23

Offer to God thanksgiving... He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me... To him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God.

Psalm 69:30

I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving.

Psalm 100:4

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise.

Ingratitude disrespects God; remove it.

Acceptable Service: Transformation

Romans 12:1-2

...present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind...

Serve by rejecting worldly conformity, renewing your mind with Scripture—removing sin, pursuing holiness. Serve with reverence (profound respect, wonder) and godly fear (awe of the sovereign Creator).

View God highly, as consuming fire: destructive to the refuse-able, purifying for the obedient. Expect Him to remove hindrances, leaving unencumbered embrace of Christ for eternity.