God’s ancient display of His rectitude, namely, His forbearance in passing over the Israelites’ penalties for their sins (αμαρτημα) throughout the Old Covenant era, is matched and overmatched by His now not only being right, but in addition actually rectifying all who are of the faithfulness of Jesus, throughout the current era. This God can do because the rectification called for in order to “give Jesus his just due” (δικαιωμα) was so overwhelming in view of the injury done him, that from his great love, he gives away the contents of his award to all sinners who enter by baptism the faithfulness of Jesus via their own exertion of a like faith.
Thus God’s ancient forbearance was a foretaste and parallel expression of His later full unveiling of restorative rectitude for Messiah’s sake in his historic resurrection, DUE TO HIS AGELONG COVENANTAL FAITHFULNESS THAT SPANS BOTH ERAS. THIS IS THE REASON WHY PAUL BRINGS UP THESE MATTERS IN THE CONTEXT OF THE “MERCY SEAT” (ιλαστηριον), SINCE THIS WAS THE OLD COVENANT LOCUS OF INDEMNIFICATION WHEREBY SINNERS WERE HELD HARMLESS FOR THEIR ACTUAL HARMS, AND JESUS BECOMES THEIR INSURANCE AGENT AND SURETY. The fact that he only showed up rather late in history to perform the necessary rites of indemnification is of no consequence. Their out-of-pocket cost for this policy was simply faith, since the graciousness (including forgiveness of harms) provided in the policy originated in the goodness and love and rectitude of God, and so was literally priceless! Yet the exceedingly greater outflow of blessing in the current era in comparison with the former is a consequence of the fulfillment of Scripture promises that steadily accumulated in the ancient era in order to raise expectations. This was surely a test of faith for them—the Israelites—but the consummation would entail incorporation of peoples from all nations into the policy. This present fulfillment is fodder for yet later and greater fulfillments until the final Consummation and restoration of all that the ancient prophets foresaw and foretold. [8/09/07]
Jesus never “made satisfaction” for sins. We know this because the Scriptures never teach that he did. And we know they don’t teach it because the Holy Spirit refused to employ any such terminology (although it would have been very simple to do so!). And if the Bible refuses to teach it, we ought to refuse to believe it. Bottom line: SOLA SCRIPTURA! [8/09/07]
The Premial Atonement 