Mt. Sinai or Zion?

"For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched (Mt. Sinai), and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:) But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel." (Hebrews 12: 18-24)

"Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory." (II Corinthians 3: 6-9)

"Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all." (Galatians 4: 21-26)

Two mountains, connected with two testaments (covenants), are contrasted in these passages. The Old Covenant is connected with Mt. Sinai and the New Covenant is connected with Mt. Zion. Those who attempt to come to God and find peace with him through the law, come to Mt. Sinai. Those who attempt to come to God and find peace with him through the gospel come to Mt. Zion. Mt. Sinai is connected with the earthly Jerusalem, while Mt. Zion is connected with the heavenly Jerusalem.

The result of trying to find salvation through keeping the law is "condemnation" and "death." The result of trying to find salvation through the gospel is "justification" and "life."

Those who come to meet God at Mt. Sinai will find him unapproachable, will find him only a God of wrath and awful judgment. Those who come to meet God at Mt. Zion, through the gospel, through the work of Christ, through his grace and mercy, will find him a God of forgiveness and salvation.

There is no peace to be had with God through law keeping, but only through the righteousness of Christ imputed to those who come to God by him and the "blood of the new testament." (Matthew 26: 28)

"Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them." (Romans 10: 1-5)

No one can be saved and justified by keeping the law. The law demands perfection. So said James - "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law." (James 2: 10,11)

"This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." (Galatians 3: 2,4, 8-14)

Sinner, are you under condemnation? Does your conscience smite with guilt and shame? Are you trying to find peace with God by your own efforts to keep his law? Are you "going about to establish your own righteousness" or have you in faith submitted to the righteousness of God in Christ?