Hebrews 12:23a
"To the general assembly and church of the firstborn,…"
When we see people in the store or while shopping it’s as if we’ve known each other all our lives. Why? Is it because we’re like-minded believers? Or is it because we have the same Holy Spirit? Or is it because of the ontological essence of the Spirit of Christ within each of us? We’re not strangers. And Paul is expressing that, and this is the difference. I hope you’re catching it now. What a difference from the fear and the admonition of the roaring God on the top of Mt. Sinai compared to our relationship as members of the Body of Christ - and we enter into the heavenlies constantly in the realm of the spirit, without fear, without trepidation. And we’re immediately in consort with like-minded spiritual believers. What a difference, can you see it or get what I'm trying to relate too? We've passed through what can be called the death process or the crisis after redemption and passed into the beginning of our salvation. The promised New Covenant, "the church of the first born from the dead", wherein God undertakes to do all that which He has promised within His receptive ones ie...Christ-like-ones....Christians.
Hebrews 12:23a
"To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all,…"
For the unbeliever and the religious that would be frightening - to have God one day judging their life. But not for us as believers. Because we're one in Christ we've passed through God's judgment in Christ on the cross, in His blood, burial, resurrection and ascension. Now let me take you back to II Corinthians chapter 5 and let’s just drop down to verse 9.
II Corinthians 5:9-10a
"Wherefore (Paul says) we labour, (as believers now. Not for redemption or salvation, but rather because of it, we're energized, compelled by His Love to do so) that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted (because we're not doing it in our own sufficiency but His) of Him. For we must all (believers) appear before the judgment seat (now in the Greek I like it better. It’s the Bema Seat. The seat of the judges for reward, as in the Olympic games as having run the race and stayed the course) of Christ;…"
Now there won’t be any unbelievers at this judgment. This is strictly for the believers and members of the Body of Christ. Those realizing that they've stayed the obstacle course of life's hardships, there by default or by what ever means they come. We do not loose sight of Christ and we rely on His sufficiency in Grace activity within us. For this has been the teaching of Paul throughout this Epistle, keep the faith, stand strong in Christ and His Grace activity within you.
I Corinthians 5:10b
"…that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad."
Now, the consoling thing here is that never, when we come before the Lord Jesus as our judge, will we be confronted with our old nature of sin. Never again will we have to meet Him in our sin. That’s been forgiven, that's been dealt with in death of it. It’s been placed under the blood. And in Micah, our sins have been what? They’ve been buried in the deepest sea, never to be brought back up to us again. But we will come before Him to be judged for our rewards according to what we have done as a believer. From the first of our redemption onward. Have you been wasting your time or have you been out there doing the things of Christ's direction which is for all the right reasons? Or have we fallen pray to religions snare and trap and back-sliden into religious practices? Let’s go back to I Corinthians chapter 3, and here is just another view of that same event when we’re going to come before the Lord Jesus, not as our judge concerning eternal doom or eternal life (that’s settled), but we will come before Him to determine our reward. What have you done as a real and true Christian to gain reward?
I Corinthians 3:12-13
"Now if any man build upon this foundation (which of course is Christ and His finished work) gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble: Every man’s work (as a believer) shall be made manifest: for the day (this judgment day for the believer at the Bema Seat) shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; (that is the fiery eyes of the Lord Jesus) and the fire shall try (test) every man’s work of what sort it is."
Is it gold, silver, and precious stones which fire can’t touch because its the Lord's work as directed by God Himself. Or would it be wood, hay or stubble which will go up in a puff of smoke, the works of religion as lawlessness, because its a work of the flesh. Well, that’s obvious, then, that if you have works that are counted as gold, silver and precious stones, they will abide and you’re going to receive reward for all eternity. We'll receive a crown or wreath as an athlete gets when they finish the course. The book of Revelation as we've stated elsewhere reveals the nature of religion and the course which it takes because of the one who is its true federal-head.
Remember, we pointed out that there were seven things that pertained to the physical and the visible aspect of Mt. Sinai. And the flip-side are these seven that are associated with our spiritual relationship and position in the heavenlies. The Mt. Zion of God. Which speaks of His divine right and Authority. And so we came through verse 22 where we have come to the city of the Living God, "the heavenly Jerusalem," not the earthly one, and "to an innumerable company of angels" which is part of the heavenly abode:
Hebrews 12:23a
"To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven,…" Which of course in Paul’s language is a reference to those of us in the Body of Christ. And this just fits so well with John's Revelation figure and picture language which he employees so well. As a not so polished writing of events as seen from two or three different angles as a movie in the round and written without the aid of a secretary or to make use a proofreader. As given by the Spirit of Christ as the Prophet and prophecy of ongoing actions in the enigma of the interim, between His first and His second coming, the prophecy that no one can change or add to. Though many a religious person by the spirit of religion have tried to do or force it to mean or say something of mans desire or as we know is Satan's influence on them.
Hebrews 12:23b
"… which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all,…"
Now we covered that - how that every believer will come before the Bema Seat to be judged for reward. Remember that Revelation records that Christ will set as the judge in the finial judgment because He earned the right or Authority to do so (Revelation 6:10, 19:11).
Hebrews 12:23c
"…and to the spirits of just men made perfect."
I couldn’t just pass that part up. We have to stop for this. Who are the spirits of just men made perfect? Well, let’s go back to Romans chapter 3 so that we pick up the scriptural account of what Paul is talking about. We'll drop down to verse 23 where we have, what shall I say, the culmination of everything that has been building in the first three chapters here in Romans - and that is the conclusion that all mankind are sinners, with none excepted - Hebrew or Gentile, rich or poor, good or bad, the religious person and religion itself; it doesn’t make any difference.
Romans 3:23
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God:"
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