The two ceremonies I wish to emphasize involve two goats.
The two ceremonies I wish to emphasize involve two goats.
One goat was slain and its blood was sprinkled upon and before the Mercy Seat, in the Holy of Holies. The purpose was to make an atonement for the Most Holy Place, for the people, for the tent of meeting, and for the Altar of Burnt Offering, located in the Courtyard.
In this way he will make atonement for the Most Holy Place because of the uncleanness and rebellion of the Israelites, whatever their sins have been. He is to do the same for the tent of meeting, which is among them in the midst of their uncleanness. (Leviticus 16:16)
The sprinkling of the blood of the first goat brought forgiveness of sin.
It is the second goat that is of special interest to us. It also was a goat of atonement. But it was not slain. Rather it was brought into the Courtyard. Then the High Priest laid both his hands on the head of the goat and confessed the sins being committed by the Israelites.
After the confessing of the sins of Israel, the second goat, the Scapegoat, was led out of the camp into the wilderness. This is a portrayal, not of the removing of our guilt but the removing of the power and presence of sin itself.
While the guilt was atoned for by the blood of the first goat, and the Scripture declares that the shedding of animal blood brought forgiveness, the permanent forgiveness of necessity awaited the removal of the power of sin. Otherwise we keep on sinning.
The Lord told us if we do not bear the fruit the Father is looking for we will be cut out of the Vine, that is, out of Christ.
Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. (John 15:2)
If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. (John 15:6)
To continue to abide in Christ after we have first received Him requires the utmost diligence on our part. There are numerous deceptions and pressures that seek continually to remove us from our position in Christ.
To be eternally effective, forgiveness must be accompanied by a cleansing from all unrighteousness.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (I John 1:9)
The first goat brought forgiveness . The second goat brought deliverance , looking to the first goat for its authority.
Nothing could be of greater significance to the Christian Church at this time than the fact that now our redemption is not confined to forgiveness. It includes deliverance from every behavior that is not in God's image.
It is the spiritual fulfillment of the Year of Jubilee---a return to fellowship with God, and freedom from a sinful nature, as was true of Adam and Eve.
I suppose we never thought we actually would be in God's image. Well, that is what God announced in the beginning. To be in God's image is to think, speak, and act as God thinks, speaks, and acts, in concert with Him. It is the fruit of the indwelling Spirit of Christ.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22,23)
In addition to deliverance from sin and self-will, Christ is being formed in us. When our inner nature has been formed in the Nature of Christ, then the Father and the Son will come and make us Their home and resting place.
We are delivered from the compulsions of sin by the power of the Holy Spirit, as we confess and renounce our sins. We are delivered from self-will by our personal cross. Our most fervent desires are withheld from us, and we are placed in situations we do not enjoy, until the self-will is burned out of us.
When we have been delivered from the compulsions of sin, and self-will, and Christ has been formed in us, and the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are dwelling in us in Their fullness, then we truly will be in the image of God and a house in which God can find rest.
And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. (Ephesians 3:19)
The Lord Jesus told us that in the Father's house there are many dwelling places. Jesus Christ Himself is the eternal House of God. In Him dwells all the Fullness of God in bodily form.
Now we are being made rooms in that House, rooms in which God and people, as well as we ourselves, may find rest.
It is my personal point of view that the celebration of the Day of Atonement will take place from today throughout eternity. This is because Christ's Kingdom is going to be enlarged for eternity. This means people continually will be being born into the Kingdom.
It will be the task of the Royal Priesthood to reconcile these people to God, teaching them how to avoid sin and self-will.
The Day of Atonement is the Day of Reconciliation, a highway that leads to God. The Lord Jesus is the Way to the Father.
Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. (II Corinthians 5:20)
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