The New Creation in Christ - The Restoration of Zion, Part I

The Scripture is clear that sacred space is both fulfilled in Christ and has its foundation in Him. But however glorious these realities may be, they fall short of the biblical promise of the restoration of sacred space if they aren't also ultimate and final. For Jesus to be the promised Servant of Yahweh and Branch of David, the work He accomplished must be comprehensive and consummate, for this is the way the prophets spoke of Him. In measuring Jesus of Nazareth against this criterion, arguably the best place to begin is with the biblical concept of Zion. For it embraces virtually every theme and component associated with the Bible's theology of the kingdom as it predicts and portrays the final and full recovery of sacred space. This sermon is the first of two examining that topic, and it focuses on the development and significance of the concept of Zion in the Old Testament salvation history.