Hebrews 12:23

To the general assembly: other inhabitants of this heavenly city and polity with whom believers are incorporated, are such, into whose communion they have admittance here below, viz. to the catholic assembly of Christ, his whole body, the fulness of him who filleth all in all; all assembly gathered out of all nations, Revelation 5:9, Revelation 7:9, throughout the world, extended to all times and ages, especially to that part of it which is on earth, sojourning here, fitting for heaven; the other part is triumphing in it. They are not called or incorporated only into a particular national assembly, a straitened society, as the Old Testament church was; the general assembly of saints are more helpful to holiness than a lesser, Psalms 22:27,28 Ga 4:25-27. And church of the firstborn: this general assembly is not a rout, but a church, such as are called out of the world with a holy calling, subjecting themselves to Christ as their Head, and are, as quickened, so ordered and ruled by him: it is not a weak or an infant church, but strong and perfect, come unto maturity, in respect of the great discoveries of the mysteries of God made by Christ to them, Hebrews 5:12,13 Hebrews 6:1 Galatians 4:1,3,4. This chosen, called, and well ordered society, were only of such persons who were the first-born of God, and partners of Christ's sonship and primogeniture, being regenerated by him, and dignified with his birthright privileges, Romans 8:17,29. They are the might and excellency of Christ; whereas the church at Sinai, for the body of them, were but typically, literally, and externally so, Exodus 4:22 Colossians 1:15,18, and did not universally enjoy, as those do, the strength and fulness of grace from God, 1 Thessalonians 1:16 Galatians 3:26,29; are joint-heirs with Christ, Romans 8:17, and made by him kings and priests to God and his Father, 1 Peter 2:5 Revelation 1:6. Which are written in heaven: they were not, as the church at Sinai, of an earthly enrolment, registered here to know their families and descent, whether right Jews and priests or no, whose genealogy was preserved to that end, Ezra 2:43, &c.; but had their register in heaven, were written in the Lamb's book of life, to be of heavenly descent, born of God, partakers of the Divine nature, and who had a right and title by faith in Christ to the heavenly inheritance, and were free denizens of it, Luke 10:20, and have all heavenly privileges derived to them, Luke 20:12,19 Luke 21:27. How obliging, influencing, and promoting are these privileges of every Christian's pursuit of holiness! And to God the Judge of all; they were as Christians privileged with an access, not as Israel had at Sinai, with fear, and terror, and trembling, so as to fly from the great Author, Lord, and Judge of the covenant, lest they died, as Exodus 20:18; but with liberty and boldness of faith, in the strength of love and with firmness of hope, they come now in Sion, Isaiah 59:20 Hebrews 10:19, unto God in his being and sovereignty, who ruleth all, and who giveth to all according to their works, and in a most eminent manner ruleth them; who, as he is their Judge, hath not, as at Sinai, any bars to keep them from him, Exodus 19:12 Ephesians 2:18, nor is terrifying and consuming, as then, Deuteronomy 5:24,25, but justifying them; full of grace and love to all approaching him in Christ, his throne is a throne of grace to them, he comforting and encouraging them to make home to him, 1 Thessalonians 5:22 Acts 10:22 Romans 3:6. So as they have boldness in the day of judgment, and stand unshaken before their Judge, and are strengthened by him, Romans 8:1,33,34 1 John 4:17. He rewards them gloriously, 2 Timothy 2:8, perfecting holiness in them beneath, and crowning them with glory above. What a help is this to pursue holiness! And to the spirits of just men made perfect: the perfect state to which the gospel covenant leadeth is promoting holiness, for they have an access to the same lot, and are come into the same way of being perfected in holiness, which the spirits of the righteous, separated from their bodies, enjoy in heaven; and have a right unto, and shall have the certain enjoyment of, the same privilege, which carrieth through all difficulties in the pursuit of it, expecting themselves by death to be put in possession with them of the same state, Romans 8:22,23 2 Corinthians 5:1,2,8; compare Philippians 3:12.