Crossing Over to Zion (2)
Theme: Living a life of hope awaiting Zion
INTRODUCTION
A. In the previous lesson we looked at the word Hebrew.
1. We saw that from word usage in the Old Testament the word possibly meant either 1) descendent
of Shem; One crossing over; or the description of one who crossed over as a foreigner or
sojourner.
2. More importantly, we noted how this word usage brings about a true meaning of what a Hebrew is
for New Testament Christians.
B. In this lesson we:
1. Move to another word – Zion – and how this affects Christians today.
2. Combine the words (Hebrew and Zion) which should exhort us to live a life of hope until we reach
heavenly Zion.
I. ZION – A FORTIFIED CITY
A. Word meaning.
1. Like the word Hebrew, there is no definite origin of Zion.
2. It generally refe rred to a fortress or citadel (stronghold).
B. How the word was used in the Old Testament.
1. The word was a description of the Jebusite fortress and later evolved to include the hill on which
the fortress stood. 2 Sam. 5:7
2. Synonymously, Zion came to be known as the “City of David.”
3. When Solomon built the temple on Mount Moriah, Zion expanded its usage to include this area,
but also took on a religious connotation. Psa. 2:6; 9:11; 76:2
4. Soon, it included the entire city of “Jerusalem”. 1 Ki. 8:1; 2 Ki. 19:21, 31
5. Finally, the word later referred not just to the location, but the people itself. Zech. 9:9, 13
C. It is the spiritual application of this word that is amplified in the New Testament.
1. As Jesus enters from the eastern side of Jerusalem He quotes the prophets Isaiah and Zechariah
(Isa. 62:11; Zech. 9:9). Matt. 21:5
2. Referring to the very heart (people) of Israel the apostle Paul says they will reject the Messiah
(Rom. 9:9), but later says that the Messiah would remove ungodliness from Zion/Jacob. Rom.
11:26
3. The Hebrew writer says that Christians (the true Jews/Hebrews) have come to “Mount Zion”: the
city of the living God; the heavenly Jerusalem…synonyms for heaven itself. Heb. 12:22
D. Summary: this Zion – heaven itself – is the spiritual fortress upon whom is God’s security and the
Christian’s permanent dwelling place.
II. CROSSING OVER TO ZION
A. Zion is our fortress of hope.
1. Just as Zion served – geographically – as a hill of fortress, likewise is spiritual Zion the zenith of
our eternal fortress of safety. Cp. Heb. 12:22
2. Just as David conquered his enemy to claim Zion as his city, so did the Messiah conquer his
enemy and claim the “city of God” as His dwelling.
3. It is this very concept of Zion, as laid out in the New Testament, which provides all Christians a
living hope. 1 Pet. 1:3-5
B. This hope translates into the kind of “crossing over” lifestyle we live. 1 Pet. 2:1-12
1. We cross from a life of the flesh to one that desires the pure milk of the word. Vs. 1-3
2. We come to Zion – where the temple of God resides – as that which is valuable and precious in
our eyes. V. 4
3. We – the church, as Zion itself – are built up as a spiritual house that is precious to those who
believe and a “rock of offense.” Vs. 5-8
4. We have crossed over from being enemies of God to being people of God. Vs. 9-10
5. As noted in the previous lesson, the result of who we are and where our hope resides should
enforce within us a desire to live lives as sojourners on earth…waiting to cross over into Zion. Vs.
6, 11-12
CONCLUSION
A. Hebrew, Zion: two powerful words not often studied or used by Christians today.
B. Yet, the very concept of these words should spur us on to live as sojourners here on earth while we
look toward heavenly Zion.
