Work Shop The Day of Atonement

The main ceremony of the Day of Atonement involved two goats. One goat was slain and an atonement was made with its blood.

The second goat was also a goat of atonement, or reconciliation, but it was not slain. Rather sins of Israel were confessed over this goat and it then was led away into the desert.

These two goats portray an extremely significant truth. It is that the Divine salvation includes not only the forgiveness of sins but also the removal of sins from us. I do not mean the removal of the guilt of our sins but of the sin itself—the body of sin of which the Apostle Paul speaks.

The Day of Atonement follows the feast of Pentecost. This means that after we receive the Holy Spirit, God will begin to deal with us concerning worldliness, the lusts and passions of our sinful nature, and our self-will. We must be reconciled to God in these three areas before we can be considered to be in the moral image of Christ and in the rest of God’s complete will.

Primary Scriptures

But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the LORD to be used for making atonement by sending it into the desert as a scapegoat. (Leviticus 16:10)

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (I John 1:9)

For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, (Romans 8:13 )

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. (Galatians 6:7,8)

Essential Points of Emphasis

It is your job to walk in the Spirit of God each day. It is the Spirit’s task to bring your sins to your attention. It is your responsibility then to cooperate with the Spirit as He enables you to put to death the sin or rebellion under scrutiny.

This process is an eternal judgment of sin. Once you confess your sin and turn away from it with the Lord’s help, it never again will be mentioned to you. It is an eternal judgment.

But if you ignore the Spirit’s warning and do not confess your sin, do not seek the Lord’s help in turning away from it, you will be judged for your disobedience at the Judgment Seat of Christ. Do not let anyone deceive you.

Suggested References

The Day of Atonement; The Judgment Seat of Christ; Purifying the Church from Sin

Follow up Activities

Answer Review Questions for this topic. 16

List additional Scriptures which support this concept.

Summarize this topic in your own words in one paragraph.

Read further on this concept in Fifty-two Kingdom Topics.

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