(28) Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: (29) For our God is a consuming fire.
In relation to the first of these verses, let the child of God take to himself all the comfort the Holy Ghost designed the Church, from the assurance of belonging to an immoveable kingdom, amidst all the moveable and dying circumstances of everything here below. And let him take to himself the further comfort, that this kingdom, and the interests in it, he hath received, not for merit, neither working, but from the free gift of God. This sweet scripture saith to the Church, that it is receiving a kingdom, which cannot be moved. All the blessings connected with the subject confirm it, Fear not, (saith Jesus to his people), little flock, it is your heavenly Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom, Luke 12:32. And how fully all the scriptures of our God, bear testimony to the same. The kingdom of grace, and the kingdom of glory, are both originating in the Father's love by gift; in receiving all the blessings for time and eternity, from the fullness that is in Christ Jesus; being brought into an happy, an blessed participation, by the Holy Ghost. Well therefore might the Apostle add; let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear, Let us have it? But how? By receiving it, as we receive the kingdom, which is immoveable. The citizenship of this kingdom, ensures all the privileges of it. We already have it in Christ our head; and from him, we are brought into the enjoyment of it, from day to day:
The last of these verses, and with which the Chapter ends; is a striking one indeed. None more so in the Bible. It hath been commonly paraphrased by saying, God out of Christ is a consuming fire. But this according to my apprehension, is an unwarrantable alteration of the word; and not strictly true. It is very certain, that without an eye to Christ, we could have no to do with God in the essence of his divine nature alone, than with a devouring fire, Exodus 3:6. But we have no authority, from all eternity, to consider Jehovah, but in Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:19. And all the Persons of the Godhead are included, in this mysterious union. The figure therefore of fire, is here evidently meant to express God's nature, and essence, as he is in himself; and in his threefold character of Person; in which God the Son, as God, is as inaccessible without a Mediator, as either the Person of the Father, or of the Holy Ghost. Upon so solemn a subject, I presume not to speak, but with the greatest humility and reverence; but I venture to conceive, that the Holy Ghost as pleased by this expression, after the many blessed and gracious things which he had been bringing before the Church, in the former part of this Chapter, to shew the vast privileges in Christ. And as such, nothing could impress the mind of the Lord's people so solemnly, as the sacred truth with which the Apostle hath closed; For our God is a consuming fire.