Deep Dive into An Old Testament Theology by Bruce K. Waltke - The Gift of Land, Part 3: The New Testament

The Land of Canaan and its associated covenant promises are fundamentally redefined in the New Testament, shifting from a physical, geopolitical territory to a spiritual reality centered entirely in the person of Jesus Christ. This process is called "Christification," a term used to describe how the promised land is replaced by the Living Lord. The key theological concept "in Christ" represents the massive fulfillment of the land promise, signifying that the promises are now personalized and universalized, making territory insignificant.

The Land is spiritualized by redefining holy space. The physical Temple of stones in Jerusalem is replaced by the person of Jesus Christ, who stated that the temple he spoke of was his body. This sacred space is further relocated in the community of believers, who, through baptism, become the holy temple where God lives by his Spirit. Consequently, worship is transformed, shifting from an earthly locale to the Father "in spirit and truth," meaning reality, as the earthly Zion is only a type or symbol of the heavenly reality.

Furthermore, Old Testament motifs associated with the Land are replaced by Christ: the expected manna is replaced by Christ's flesh and blood as the true Bread, and the temporary physical rest in the Land is replaced by God’s lasting Sabbath-rest achieved through belief in the gospel.

The ultimate fulfillment of the Land promise is heavenly and eschatological. The church's citizenship is reckoned to be in heaven, where Christ currently reigns from his true throne. The final inheritance is realized in the palingenesia, or the renewal of all things, referring to the everlasting End in the regenerated cosmos. The Book of Revelation portrays this ultimate goal as the New Jerusalem, the heavenly country, coming down to earth from heaven, rejecting any continuing future role for earthly Jerusalem in the final plan of salvation.

Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologian

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