"Keeping Mercy for Thousands, forgiving Iniquity, Transgression, and Sin"
Summary
The atonement is the supreme act in which God’s mercy and truth met. This chapter traces the atonement from the covenant confirmed with Abraham by the smoking furnace and burning torch, through the Passover, the Day of Atonement, and Isaiah 53, to the apostolic proclamation in Acts and the epistles. Christ the High Priest now intercedes on the basis of his own blood, making it possible for all nations to draw near.
Zechariah's prophecy at the birth of John the Baptist captures the whole redemptive arc: God has visited his people "to remember His holy covenant, the oath which He swore to our father Abraham." (Luke 1:72–73)[1] Everything that follows — cross, resurrection, Pentecost, the worldwide mission — is covenant-keeping mercy in action.
The foundation was laid in Genesis 15. When Abraham saw the smoking furnace and burning torch pass between the pieces, God bound himself by covenant to give his seed the promised land. (Genesis 15:17)[2] Paul interprets these symbols through Christ: the smoking furnace pointed to the sufferings he would endure; the burning torch to the Spirit-light that burst from his resurrection. He became a curse for us so that "the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:13–14)[3]
Isaiah described the Servant's sacrifice: "He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him." (Isaiah 53:5)[4] The Passover lamb typified this: Paul writes, "For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us." (1 Corinthians 5:7)[5] Peter confirmed the cost: "You were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." (1 Peter 1:18–19)[6]
The letter to the Hebrews shows Christ as the fulfilling High Priest: "Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come... Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption." (Hebrews 9:11–12)[7] He is now "able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them." (Hebrews 7:25)[8]
The apostles in Acts proclaimed this mercy to all nations. Peter at the temple gate: "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out." (Acts 3:19)[9] Before the council: "There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)[10] Paul in the synagogue at Antioch: "Through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins." (Acts 13:38)[11] Peter to Cornelius: "Through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins." (Acts 10:43)[12]
The result is a royal priesthood drawn from every nation. John heard the elders sing before the Lamb: "You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God." (Revelation 5:9–10)[13] Zechariah had seen the Messiah combining both offices: "He shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule on His throne; so He shall be a priest on His throne." (Zechariah 6:13)[14] Mercy kept for thousands finds its ultimate expression in a kingdom of priests serving the King of kings.