The Summation of All Things in Christ

Studies in Ephesians with a Local Church Emphasis

Lesson 120 : Excursus : The Doctrine of the Church in Hebrews 12:23 (Heb 12:14-29)

EXCURSUS – ‘TO THE ECCLESIA OF THE FIRSTBORN’ : HEB 12:23 – INTRODUCTION – FLOW OF THOUGHT – BE AWARE OF THE PERIL OF FALLING AWAY – BELIEVERS DO NOT HAVE AN UNAPPROACHABLE GOD – THE SINAI EVENT – MOUNT ZION, CITY OF THE LIVING GOD, HEAVENLY JERUSALEM – AN INNUMERABLE COMPANY OF ANGELS – THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY (NOT ECCLESIA) – THE ECCLESIA OF THE FIRSTBORN WHO ARE REGISTERED IN HEAVEN – THE ECCLESIA OF ISRAEL? – IS THIS AN INSTANCE OF THE ‘GRANVILLE SHARP’ RULE? – GREATER PRIVILEGE INVOLVES GREATER RESPONSIBILITY – IT IS GOD SPEAKING – ‘IT IS AXIOMATIC THAT THE RESPONSE TO ANY MESSAGE MUST TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE DIGNITY AND COMPETENCE OF THE ONE WHO IS SPEAKING’