Sermon # 681 Leviticus Sermons

Title: The Scapegoat

Text: Leviticus 16:8

Introduction:

(Leviticus 16:8) "And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat."

The most important and most instructive of all the typical ceremonies of the Old Testament was The Day Of Atonement.—The day of atonement pictured, foreshadowed, and typified the sin-atoning work of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is our great High Priest, our substitutionary Sacrifice for sin, our Scapegoat, our Altar, and our Mercy-Seat, through whom alone sinners have access to and find acceptance with the Holy Lord God.

What the prophets proclaimed, the psalmists sang, the apostles preached and what the Savior did, here takes a shape, and through the eye impresses the soul. Faith looks at each type and event sees our Savior. Each sight gives being to some text.

Mercy and Truth

In order for the holy Lord God to deal with sinful men in mercy, grace, and peace, without compromising his character and violating his justice, there had to be a day of atonement. A holy, just, and true God could never allow fallen, sinful man to live before him, unless a suitable atonement is made for man’s sin. Justice must be vindicated. Sin must be punished. Else, God and man can never come together in peace. Therefore, God ordained that a day of atonement be observed in Israel once a year, as a picture and pledge of the great day of atonement to be accomplished at Calvary by the slaying of the Lamb of God for the redemption of God’s elect.

The Lord God gave Moses meticulous, detailed instructions about how the Day of Atonement was to be observed in this 16^th chapter of Leviticus.

1. The Day of Atonement was ordained and initiated by God himself – No human invention (Job 33:24).

(Job 33:24) "Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom."

2. The Day of Atonement was set for a specific time each year (v. 29) - “The seventh month, on the tenth day of the month.” God’s great day of atonement was set, fixed, appointed, and determined by God himself – “Mine hour.”— “When the fullness of time was come.”—“Father, the hour is come.”—Nothing was left to chance!

3. There was only one day of atonement each year.—Christ was to make only one offering for sin.—“Now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself…Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many” (Heb. 9:26, 28).

4. The sacrifices offered on the Day of Atonement were only typical. They could never put away sin. Hebrews 10:1-4.

5. All these typical, ceremonial sacrifices were fulfilled by Christ and have ceased because Christ fulfilled them. Hebrews 10:11-14, 18 – “No more offering for sin.”

6. All was done for a specific, chosen people and resulted in God’s blessing upon those people.

Two Victims

On this day many victims died. The stream of blood flowed deep. Each holy altar and each holy place received the reconciling sign. This visible display attests, that death is the dread curse of sin. Each sacrifice proclaims, that substitute’s sufferings are effectual and satisfying. Sounding this truth, they are as heralds that precede the Lord. If such be not their intent, they would only puzzles to perplex and confuse.

But year after year these shadowy rites recurred. Their note was to predict. They were as morning stars of a far brighter sun. The law and its types are now dead. They have now vanished. The cross of Christ dug their grave. Their need is past. The temple’s veil is rent. The way into the most holy place is open.

Christ, their full truth, has once laid down His life. That once is all-sufficient for all the sins of all His happy flock. That once fills to the full the cup of satisfaction. That once seats all the ransomed on the high rock of everlasting pardon. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus.” There is no more offering for sin, no more sacrifice, no more curse, no more condemnation!

Two Goats

But in the service of the atoning day, one part stands singularly forth, and singularly asks survey. Two goats are brought for a sin offering. The priest receives them at the tabernacle door. Then lots are cast. No man makes the choice. By his unseen hand of choice in the lot, the Lord God takes one for death, and bids the other live as the Scapegoat.

The scene reveals the council of eternal love.—Before the worlds, God's will called his own dear Son to the saving work. Each portion of the scheme was resolved and fixed by divine purpose and arrangement. Each was consigned to His receiving hands. This truth is precious comfort. They, who feel sin, need much to win their trust. They will not grasp a straw. Without credentials, Christ seeks their heart in vain. But when the Father ushers in the Son—when His voice seals the chosen Lamb—then pyramids of doubt sink low and dissolve. He, whom God sends, is able for God's work. This rock is raised by God. It is enough. It must stand firm. What sinner can ask more? Let’s look at the work of this great day.

The Priest

The atonement was made by a specifically appointed man, Aaron, the great high priest of Israel—The great high priest (v. 3).

(Leviticus 16:3) "Thus shall Aaron come into the holy place: with a young bullock for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering."

A. He was a chosen man.

(Psalms 89:19) "Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people."

(Isaiah 42:1-4) "Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. (2) He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. (3) A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. (4) He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law."

B. He was robed in garments of humility (v. 4).

(Leviticus 16:4) "He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: these are holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on."

On this great day Aaron laid aside his gorgeous, glorious garments and put on the garments of humility.— No Bells And Pomegranates!

(2 Corinthians 8:9) "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich."

(Philippians 2:5-11) "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: (6) Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: (7) But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: (8) And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (9) Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: (10) That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; (11) And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

C. Israel’s great high priest was a ceremonially holy man (vv. 3, 4, 6, 11, 12).

(Leviticus 16:3-4) "Thus shall Aaron come into the holy place: with a young bullock for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering. (4) He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: these are holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on."

(Leviticus 16:6) "And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement for himself, and for his house."

(Leviticus 16:11-12) "And Aaron shall bring the bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and shall make an atonement for himself, and for his house, and shall kill the bullock of the sin offering which is for himself: (12) And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the LORD, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the veil."

Though Aaron was a sinner like us, he had to be a ceremonially holy man to act as God’s high priest, picturing the Lord Jesus Christ. In order to approach God as the high priest of his people, Aaron had to have in type, and Christ had to have in reality, these four things…

1. Personal cleanness – Aaron bathed his flesh in water. Christ had no sin.

2. Holy garments – Linen garments, garments woven by the hands of a man. Christ’s righteous obedience to God as our Representative (John 17:4).

3. Divine approval – The incense smoke pictures Christ is a sweet-smelling savor to God – Meritorious! – This incense also portrays Christ’s intercession1 for us (Rom. 8:34). We are accepted because of God’s approval of our Substitute!

4. Blood atonement – Aaron could not come into the Holy of Holies without blood. – Christ could not obtain eternal redemption for us without his own blood (Heb. 9:12).

D. In all his work on the Day of Atonement Aaron acted alone (v. 17).

(Leviticus 16:17) "And there shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement in the holy place, until he come out, and have made an atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel."

No one else was present. No one was allowed into the holy of holies but Aaron. Aaron was alone with God to make atonement for the people. The whole nation was entrusted to one representative man. The whole nation rested upon the shoulders of one man. If that man succeeds, the nation shall live. If he fails, the nation must die!

(Psalms 69:20) "Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none."

(Isaiah 63:3-5) "I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. (4) For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come. (5) And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me."

In all things, Aaron, the high priest, typified our great, sin-atoning High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Lord’s Goat

Next, let’s read verses 5, 7-10. We will consider the meaning of the scapegoat in a few minutes. Right now I want you to get a picture of the goat that was slain as a victim for a sin-offering to God.—This goat represents the Lord Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God. Christ is both our High Priest and our Sacrificial Lamb, the victim, not of man’s will, but of God’s justice!

(Leviticus 16:5) "And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering."

(Leviticus 16:7-10) "And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. (8) And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat. (9) And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD'S lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering. (10) 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."

A. It was an innocent victim.

B. It was taken from among the people.

Divine justice must be avenged upon and compensation must be made by man, for man sinned.

C. It was chosen and ordained by God (vv. 7-9—Pro. 16:33; Acts 2:23; 4:26-28; 13:29).

(Leviticus 16:7-9) "And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 8 And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat. 9 And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD'S lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering."

(Proverbs 16:33) "The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD."

(Acts 2:23) "Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:"

(Acts 4:26-28) "The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. 27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, 28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done."

(Acts 13:29) "And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre."

D. It was slain by Divine order as a sacrifice for sin (v. 15; Zech. 13:7).

(Leviticus 16:15) "Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the veil, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat:"

(Zechariah 13:7) "Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones."

Thus the Lord Jesus Christ our Substitute, the Lamb of God, was sacrificed for us…

1. A Sacrifice of infinite merit.

2. A Sacrifice for a particular people – “The Israel of God.”

3. A Sacrifice that actually made atonement and put away sin.

(Galatians 3:13-14) "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith."

(Hebrews 10:11-14) "And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. 14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified."

E. The blood of this slain goat was sprinkled upon the mercy seat seven times (vv. 14-15)

(Leviticus 16:14-15) "And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times. 15 Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the veil, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat:"

· A Covering—To Hide

· A Propitiation—To Cancel

· A Reconciliation—To Unite

Having died in our place, the Lord Jesus Christ entered immediately into heaven itself and offered to God the merits of his own precious blood, obtaining eternal redemption for us!

1. His sacrifice was perfect and complete.

2. His sacrifice was final and accepted.

3. His sacrifice made a way of access for sinners to come to God.

(Hebrews 9:12) "Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us."

(Hebrews 10:19-22) "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21 And having an high priest over the house of God; 22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water."

Illustration: The Rent Veil (Matt. 27:50-51).

(Matthew 27:50-51) "Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. 51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;"

4. His sacrifice is of infinite, perpetual merit.

· Romans 8:32-35

· 2 Corinthians 5:18-21

· 1 John 2:1-2

Both the high priest and the slain victim represent the Lord Jesus, who is both our Savior Priest and our Sacrifice, the Lamb of God sacrificed for us.

The Blood

The sentenced goat died. It was violently slaughtered. Its blood was spilt at the altar, caught in a bowl, carried by the holy hands of a holy man into the holy place, and sprinkled upon the mercy-seat. Now mark, my soul, the uses of its blood. With this the high-priest ventures within the mystic veil. The mercy-seat receives the drops. The holy tent is also strewn throughout. Seven times the golden altar's horns are touched.

· Seven times, portraying our great need.

· Seven times, portraying God’s infinite perfection.

· Seven times, portraying God’s fulness of grace.

· Seven times, portraying complete atonement.

Our Great Need

How fearful, yet how comforting, this sight! Great is our need! Greater is Christ’s fulness! Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound! Man cannot move, but sin moves with him. Yet, man cannot move beyond the reach of Christ’s blood. There is wide remedy for the wide malady.

God’s Great Provision

Hear the Gospel of this blood-red scene. Blood is our purchase-price. Justice has claims. The law has dues. Our debts are countless. Every breath swells the amount. How can we buy our souls from wrath? Our best is only sin. But let all creditors bring forth their books. Christ sprinkles every page. The dreadful writing disappears. Let heaven suspend its scales. Sin's load is an exceedingly great weight. But here is blood—Divine Blood!—Precious Blood!—Christ’s Blood! It outweighs the debt!

(1 Pet 1:18-20) "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; (19) But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (20) Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you."

Praise the Lord for full salvation!

God still reigns upon the throne!

And I know the blood still reaches

Deeper than the stain has gone!

Reconciliation

The blood is our peace. Sin seen in its true light—sin felt in its strong, damning power—is misery's misery, and anguish more than scorpion's sting. The broken heart is a dungeon of woe. The wounded conscience writhes, and cannot rest. But when the Spirit sprinkles the blood, all dread forebodings cease. It proves, that peace is signed in heaven. It waves an olive-branch throughout the soul. It places pardon in the happy hand.

Sin Slain

The blood has a sin-killing power. It disarms Satan and slays sin. Sin is a weed with many roots. They spread everywhere, and ever strive to rise. But touch them with the blood. Let the heart feel, that sin slew Christ, and nailed the God-man to the accursed tree. How can that now be loved, which pierced that brow, those hands—those feet—that side? A holy feeling shudders at the thought. It clasps the Savior, and treads down His foe.

Accuser Silenced

The blood drives Satan back. There is no place impervious to his tread. There is no moment free from his approach. No palace, and no hut exclude. He has a key for every chamber—every pew. No busy hours are too full for him; no stillness is too still. Nothing can daunt him, but this blood. The messengers of wrath passed not the lintels marked from the paschal lamb. So when this ensign is displayed, temptation starts and flees. The fiend of hell is a vanquished foe. The dragon is slain. The roaring lion has no power to hurt.

(Rom 8:28-33) "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (29) For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (30) Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. (31) What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? (32) He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? (33) Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth."

Law Silenced

The blood silences the law and the tormenting conscience of guilty souls, and bars hell. Those cells cannot admit a blood-washed soul. If it be possible, let such approach. The chains refuse to touch. The fires curl back abashed. The gnawing worm can find no prey. The jailor drops his keys. My soul, see to it, that this blood is yours. It is sure safeguard against hell-pains.

(Rom 8:34-39) "Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. (35) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (36) As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. (37) Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. (38) For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, (39) Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

(1 Pet 4:1) "Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin."

Heaven Opened

The blood removes the hindrances to heaven, opens a Door in heaven, robs the grave and hell of its prey, and brings ransomed sinners to glory. Behold the countless multitudes before the throne. All nations, kindreds, people, and tongues swell the vast throng. But every robe is white, and every hand uplifts a palm. The question was raised, "Whence came they?" The answer tarried not. "They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." My soul, is not your one desire to join this company, and share their joy? See to it, that this blood is yours. No other cleansing can remove the heaven-expelling guilt.

The blood fills heaven with songs. The ransomed fall before the Lamb. This is the substance of their mighty song. "Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood." Angels swell the strain, "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain." My soul, is time fast bearing you to raise this chorus higher? It is so, if this blood is yours. They cannot sing above, who have not washed on earth.

The Scapegoat

Look at the scene again. It changes. There is a great message in the lost scapegoat.

(Leviticus 16:20-22) "And when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy place, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat: 21 And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness: 22 And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness."

The other goat appears. This goat also portrays our Savior. The other goat portrays him as the Lamb slain. This scapegoat portrays him as the buried Substitute. The scapegoat is a picture of the complete removal of our sins by Christ. The first goat, the Lord’s goat, the slain victim gave us a picture of the atonement. The second goat, the scapegoat gives us a picture of the result of the atonement.

With anxious eye the multitude intently gaze. It is a moment big with results. The high priest comes. His outstretched hands are pressed upon its head. This gesture is token of transmitted guilt. He then tells out the fearful catalogue of Israel's sins. In sign the substitute receives the mass of sin. What a deep feeling would pervade the camp! How many lightened hearts would say, 'My burden leaves me. The Scapegoat takes it, and I am relieved.'

A Fit Man

The laden victim is then led away by a fit man. That fit man is the Judge of all the earth who must do right, the very justice of God. The scapegoat is borne beyond the camp—beyond all sight—beyond the track of man—to the far borders of a desert wild. Released, it disappears in rocks and thickets of an uninhabited desert. Unseen, unknown, forgotten, it departs from mortal view. It is now buried in oblivion's land.

Full Pardon

There is no brighter picture of the full pardon of all sin in Christ. Faith knows this Scapegoat well. Daily it uses the relief. It hides no sin. It cloaks no guilt. It tells out all upon the head of Christ. Thus have I done. Such is my wretched state. But I cast all on one, who waits to bear, and bears it far away. Christ hastens away with the accursed load, and God's all-searching eye can no more find.

Oh precious tidings! Oh heart-cheering truth. The spirit wills, that this full comfort should most largely flow, and hence by frequent testimony He confirms the truth. Is the east distant from the west? Can we move through the intervening space? As we advance the horizon still recedes. Infinite separation infinitely separates. Thus far our Scapegoat bears our guilt away (Ps. 103:12; Mic. 7:19).

(Psa 103:12) "As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.”

(Micah 7:19) "He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea."

Can we recover what the ocean buries? No line can reach to the unmeasured depths. It has sunk downward, never to arise. Deep waters hide it, and it must be hidden. Such is the grave of sin. Our Scapegoat drowns it in a fathomless abyss. The word is sure. "Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea" (Mic. 7:19).

Can that be seen, from which the eye is turned? Are objects visible, when the front shuns them? Our Scapegoat hides transgression in the distant rear. Is it not said, "You have cast all my sins behind your back?"

(Isa 38:17) "Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back."

Who has not seen a mass of blackening clouds? They threaten to wrap all the skies in one vast midnight of darkness. But suddenly the rays of sun dart forth. The darkness melts, the gathered mists are gone, and one clear robe of transparent blue decks the pure arch of heaven! Thus when Christ shines upon the mountains of our guilt, they vanish, and no eye can behold them. It is so. Hear the Spirit's voice, "I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, your transgressions, and as a cloud your sins" (Is. 44:22). The thick cloud of my guilt is gone, for the Sun of Righteousness has risen upon my soul with healing beneath his wings!

The tender Shepherd seeks each straying sheep. He never rests, until all are found. But no search finds His people's sins. A land of infinite forgetfulness conceals them. Mark well the word, "In those days, and in that time, says the Lord, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none: and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found, for I will pardon the remnant I spare" (Jer. 50:20).

The covenant of grace has precious articles. They are all wonder, wisdom, and love. The Father plans them—the blood of Christ obtains—the Spirit is the seal. This code declares, "I will remember their sin no more" (Jer. 31:34). The Scapegoat ordinance confirms the truth. Redemption is holiness imputed—sins forgotten.

Do you need comfort. Drink deeply of this stream of joy. Live pondering this gospel type. Lie down in pastures of delight. Your sins, so many, vile, and hateful, pass to your Scapegoat, and so pass away. God has thus transferred them. Christ thus removed them. God sees you in the glories of His Son, and thus sees no defect.

(Psalms 32:1-2) "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile."

(Romans 4:8) "Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin."

The People’s Response.

At the close of the day, when the work of atonement was finished, Aaron took off his linen garments and put on his glorious, gorgeous garments again. Then, on the basis of atonement made, he lifted up his hands and blessed the people (Numbers 6:24-26).

(Numbers 6:24-27) "The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: 25 The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: 26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. 27 And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them."

When the people saw what God did for them, they had a threefold response.

A. They repented – “Ye shall afflict your souls” (v. 29).

· Psalm 51:1-5

B. They rested – “Ye shall do no work at all” (v. 29).

Illustration: The Sabbath (Heb. 4:9-10).

C. They rejoiced (Lev. 25:9). Jubilee proclaims…

(Leviticus 25:9) "Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubilee to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month, in the day of atonement shall ye make the trumpet sound throughout all your land."

· Liberty!

· The Clearing Of All Debt!

· Restoration!

Now, let us each perform The Act of Faith symbolized in verses 21 and 22.

I call upon each of you to join me in the act of faith symbolized on the Day of Atonement. – Lay your hands upon Christ the Scapegoat’s head, confess your sins. Now, watch them go away!

Illustration: Charlotte Elliot – “Just As I Am”

Have your hands touched the Scapegoat's head? If not, your loathsome load remains. Christ, and Christ only can relieve. But Christ neglected is all sin retained. And sin retained is filth and shame. What if death finds you so? What! Oh! learn not the reply in hell.

Amen.

1 (Romans 8:34) "Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us."