Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - ATONEMENT

ATONEMENT

Atonement is defined as “the doctrine concerning the reconciliation of God and Humankind;”* the reparation for a wrong or injury. In the Old Testament, the Day of Atonement involved a number of steps and rituals as outlined in the book of Leviticus, chapter 16. Essentially, however, there were three main actions involved. 

Aaron, or the subsequent priest, would have to sacrifice a young bull as a sin offering to atone for his own sin and the sin of his house. This had to be done before he could do any offering on behalf of anyone else.

Aaron shall offer the bull was a sin offering, 

which is for himself, and make atonement for himself and for his house. 

(Leviticus 16:6)

Then he would take two goats and present them before the Lord.

Then Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats: 

one lot for the Lord and the other lot for the scapegoat. 

And Aaron shall bring the goat on which the Lord’s lot fell, 

and offer it as a sin offering.

(Leviticus 16:8-9)

So he shall make atonement for the Holy Place, 

because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, 

and because of their transgressions, for all their sins, 

and so he shall do for the tabernacle of meeting 

which remains among them in the midst of their uncleanness. 

(Leviticus 16:16)

So, the priest (Aaron or someone subsequent) would sacrifice a bull to atone for his own sins and those of his household and sacrifice a goat to atone for the Holy Place and the uncleanness of the children of Israel. 

But the other goat was kept alive and sent into the wilderness believing that it carried away with it the sins of the people as the scapegoat - a person or animal made to bear the blame for others or to suffer in their place.*

Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, 

confess over it all the iniquities of the children of Israel, 

and all their transgressions, concerning all their sins, 

putting them on the head of the goat, 

and shall send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a suitable man. 

The goat shall bear on itself all their iniquities to an uninhabited land… 

(Leviticus 16:21-22)

It’s interesting that a sacrifice had to be made for the atonement of both the priest and his household, and the Holy place in accordance with the statement

For the life of the flesh is in the blood, 

and I have given it to you upon the alter to make atonement for your souls; 

for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.

(Leviticus 17:11)

But for the sins of the people no blood was offered, only that they would be transferred to a scapegoat and abolished to the wilderness; without even a guarantee that it would not return and bring back the sins with him. 

Isn’t it good to know that, in our case today, there is no chance of a scapegoat returning and bringing back our sins with him? We have a God who sacrificed Himself for us and shed His blood for our atonement and remembers our sins no more.

But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, 

sat down at the right hand of God…

For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.

But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us…

“Their sins and lawless deeds I will remember no more.”

(Hebrews 10:12,14–15,17)

It is certainly something to think about and remember.

* Definition taken from Dictionary.com