ATONEMENT FOR SIN

TOPIC:    ATONEMENT FOR SIN

TEXT:   leviticus 16:1-34; Hebrews 9:11-14

CENTRAL TRUTH. 

Atonement for sin redeems from the authority of sin and God's wrath.

MEMORY VERSE:

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; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

1 Peter 1:18,19

INTRODUCTION

From the time of the fall, it had been repeatedly demonstrated that an innocent substitute must bear man's guilt and punishment. God's law, standard of holiness and divine justice demand death for every sin, for the soul that sins must die (Ezek. 18:4.20)

The Lord Jesus "the Lamb of God" (John :29) is the consummation of all sacrifices for sin as He shed His precious Blood once and for all, for the sins of many (Heb. 9:22,28).

1. SIN ATONED: Leviticus 16:1-9; 15,16

Prior to the giving of the moral law, individuals and families offered sacrifices for their sins (Judges 6:21; Job 1 :4,5). 3ut with the institution of the priesthood, the offering of sacrifices for an atonement for the sinful soul became the responsibility of the Priest office.

The two sons of Aaron, Nadad Abihu had died for self exaltation, pride, drunkenness, violating the sacred office and for failure to sanctify themselves before the Lord and the congregation (Lev. 10:1-3; 9; 9:24; Num. 3:4) And so God had to give further instructions to the Priest office especially on the great day of atonement. There was to be careful preparation by the high Priest. He was not to come into the holy place" and appear "before the mercy seat" carelessly. He should come into the most holy place after sacrificing a young bullock for a sin offering and a ram for a burn offering, for himself and his family Verse 3, 6,11). The high Priest was to wash himself with water before putting on his holy garments (vs. 4) With the atonement made for himself and his house, the high Priest had to take two goats for the congregation before the Lord at the door of the tabernacle (vs. 7). The goats were separated, one for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat (vs. 8). The Lord's goat was sacrificed and offered for a sin offering for the people, and its blood brought into the most holy place (within the veil), sprinkled upon the mercy seat. Thus making atonement for the congregation, the holy place and the tabernacle of the congregation because of uncleanness transgressions and sins of Israel (vs. 9,14-17)

The preparation expected of the Priest before appearing before the Lorod an indication that every heaven-minded person must be prepared to meet the holy God: heaven is a prepared place for the prepared people

SIN REMOVED: Lev. 16:10,21,22

The atonement made did not remove the sins of the people, there had to be a sin-bearer, a substitute.

The scapegoat was presented alive before the Lord at the brazen altar (vs. 20)

At the brazen altar, the high Priest laid his hands on the head of the goat, confessing his sins the sins of his family, and the sins of Israel, to signify the transference of guilt to a substitute. The life-goat bore all the sins transferred to him for all Israel into an uninhabited land where he was let go into

the wilderness by the hand of a responsible man. The atonement was incomplete without the removal of the sins

This explains why Jesus had to be crucified by someone, forsaken by the Father while on the cross and be buried in a covered sepulcher.

3. THE ETERNAL REDEMPTION: Heb.9:11-14

God cannot justify the wicked (Exodus 23:7), the only way a person could come to God, reconciled to Him, was to have the guilt of sins removed and the penalty paid for. The Old Testament rites, ceremonies and sacrifices were carnal, temporary and powerless to cleanse from sin. They were only a type, a shadow of the realities of the better covenant and therefore could not remit sins (Heb. 9: 10; 10:1-4). None but a sinless, spotless, perfect person could make an eternal atonement for and remission of sin. Man needed a mediator who would die as his substitute and yet live again to intercede for him. To effect payment for man's sins, Jesus Christ, the second person in Trinity, volunteered to become man, lived the perfect life according to the law, gained the righteousness which is of God and then give it as a gift to the believing. The perfect sacrifice of Jesus provides the atonement that reconciles the fallen man to the living God. Jesus, the acceptable Lamb of God, became the Divine Provision of a perfect substitute and sin-bearer for man. His perfect, sinless blood has provided for man complete removal of the guilt and condemnation for sin. (1 Peter 1 :18-21; 2:24); complete protection from the consequences of the fall and the curse of the broken law (Exodus 12: 13). The suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ have made available FULL REDEMPTION for whosoever will.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

1. Why must sins be paid for and how?

2. What do you learn from the preparation expected of the high Priest before making atonement?

3. Why was it necessary for Jesus to be crucified, forsaken on the cross and buried?

4. What has the vicarious death of Jesus accomplished for man?

5. What have you done with Jesus?