Salvation’s Cost, Part 5 A Three-minute Bible Study Print, Study and Apply Title: Salvation’s Cost, Part 5 Keyword: "atonement” Welcome to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand strong in the face of sexual temptation. Passage: Leviticus 16:7-10* 7. And he shall take the two goats and present them before the Lord at the doorway of the tent of meeting. 8. "And Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats, one lot for the Lord and the other lot for the scapegoat. 9. "Then Aaron shall offer the goat on which the lot for the Lord fell, and make it a sin offering. 10. "But the goat on which the lot for the scapegoat fell, shall be presented alive before the Lord, to make atonement upon it, to send it into the wilderness as the scapegoat. Questions 1. The verses above describe the ritual of the Jewish Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). How many animals were involved in the offering?   2. What happened to each of the animals involved?   Practical help The various observances of the Day of Atonement all had to do with the forgiveness of sinners. Sinners were forgiven when a sacrifice "bore their sin." Now, to "bear sin" does not mean that the sin-bearer sympathizes with the sinner. It does not imply that the sin-bearer "felt the sinner's pain." To "bear sin" means simply this: The sin-bearer actually endured the penalty that was due the sinner. The sin-offering of the Day of Atonement is described in terms of sin-bearing. On the Day of Atonement, the High Priest would take two male goats for a sin offering in order to atone for the sins of the people of Israel. One of the goats was to be sacrificed on the altar in the usual way. The second goat was treated quite differently. This sacrifice was not killed. Instead, the High Priest laid both his hands on this goat and then confessed all the sin of the Israelites. He then drove the goat away into the desert, and it would "carry on itself all their sins to a solitary place" (Leviticus 16:22). Some who read this passage make the mistake of driving a wedge between the two goats and referring to them as separate offerings. The Bible doesn't separate them, but refers to the two together as one "sin offering." Only when both goats were dealt with — the shed blood of the one and the sin-bearing goat being driven into the wilderness — was there full and complete redemption. Amazing. The concept of the "scapegoat" dates back to about 1500 B.C. in the Sinai Peninsula under the Law of Moses! And, just as amazing, the New Testament writers pick up this theme in their description of Jesus, and describe Him as our Scapegoat! Peter says, "....and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross" (1 Peter 2:24). That's Jesus taking the role of the goat that was offered on the altar. But, when the author of the book of Hebrews talks about Jesus' sacrifice, he says, "Therefore also Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate" (Hebrews 13:12). That's Jesus playing the role of the Scapegoat. Today, we stand amazed at the work of our Savior, Jesus. He offered Himself as our Substitute when He suffered and died for our sins. Such a sacrifice merits our worship, our deepest gratitude, and our obedience. eXXit homepage Index of three-minute studies Copyright 2004 by eXXit *Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission. ----