All Sins Are Forgiven 02.07.08

Hello My Friend/Guest,

It is Thursday February 7, 2008 and today we are continuing our studies on the book of Leviticus, please read Leviticus 16 -- 18. In today's lesson we will read and learn about the Day of Atonement and the scapegoat.

The Day of Atonement was the most important day in the He brew calendar. On the Day of Atonement. "And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you: For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the LORD. It shall be a sabbath of rest unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls, by a statute for ever. And the priest, whom he shall anoint, and whom he shall consecrate to minister in the priest's office in his father's stead, shall make the atonement, and shall put on the linen clothes, even the holy garments: And he shall make an atonement for the holy sanctuary, and he shall make an atonement for the tabernacle of the congregation, and for the altar, and he shall make an atonement for the priests, and for all the people of the congregation. And this shall be an everlasting statute unto you, to make an atonement for the children of Israel for all their sins once a year. And he did as the LORD commanded Moses." (Levitivus 16:29-34).

In addition, on this day, two goats were brought for the corporate sin offering. The high priest received them at the Tabernacle Door where he cast lots to select one to be sacrificed and the other to be released into the desert. The first was sacrificed as a sin offering and the second was the scapegoat. The peoples' sins for the past year were transferred to this scapegoat by the high priest laying hands on the goat. It was then led into the wilderness beyond the camp. It then departed from human view, symbolically carrying the sins of the congregation away. "And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat. And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD's lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering. But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness." (16:7-10). The sacrificed goat represents the sufficiency of a blood sacrifice for it is the blood that makes an atonement. Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin. The scapegoat represents the fact that all our sins are forgiven and forever removed as far as the east is from the west. Jesus Christ became the blood sacrifice that cleanses all our sins.

We need to realize that these two goats represent the two-fold purpose of our Lord's death on the cross. Our sins are forgiven and forever removed from God's sight. Our peace and fellowship with God are restored by the blood of Christ. Many have confessed their sinful past lives. However, not realizing this fact, many Christians continue to pray for God to forgive them many times and continue to carry the unbearable guilt of those past sins. He does not want us to carry the guilt of confessed sins. In fact, it is an insult to God as it infers we don't really believe He has forgiven us.

In today's lesson Jesus Christ is revealed through the two goats used on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:. The slaying of the first goat signifies that our peace with God was restored by the blood of Christ. The scapegoat signifies that our sins are carried away and forever forgotten by the Lord.

Today's Psalm: 103:12
"As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us."

Today's Prayer: From Psalm 25:1-7
Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me. Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause. Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old. Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O LORD.

Have a great and wonderful day/night.
God Bless you,
Christina

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