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The Daily Word of Righteousness
How We Are Set Free, #7
He is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites—all their sins—and put them on the goat's head. He shall send the goat away into the desert in the care of a man appointed for the task. The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a solitary place; and the man shall release it in the desert. (Leviticus 16:21,22—NIV)
The significant fact, in my point of view, is that both goats were considered to be a sin offering and atonement was made with both goats, even though the one goat was not slain.
From the Israelite community he is to take two male goats for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. (Leviticus 16:5—NIV)
But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the LORD to be used for making atonement by sending it into the desert as a scapegoat. (Leviticus 16:10—NIV)
Since a sin offering and atonement must be made with blood, and since both the slain goat and the living goat were referred to as a sin offering and an atonement, we conclude that the action was one whole. Forgiveness of sin, gained by the blood of the slain goat, and removal of sin, gained by the removal of the living goat, constituted one sin offering, one atonement.
This being the case, we see that the atonement made by the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary includes both forgiveness and removal.
There are passages that suggest the removal of our sins will occur in the last days.
For example:
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30—NIV)
Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. (Hebrews 9:27,28—NIV)
Who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. (I Peter 1:5—NIV)
It is clear that there is coming a day of redemption, a day of salvation, for those who are waiting for Jesus. We do not consider this to be the second coming of Christ, because in that day every eye shall see Him, not just those who are waiting for Him.
I would like to venture an opinion based on my limited understanding of the Scriptures plus fifty years of thinking about, experiencing, and ministering moral deliverance.
The New Testament, in numerous passages warns Christian people about the peril of continuing in sin—sin being disobedience to the commandments of Christ and His Apostles. The entire Book of First John, for example, warns Christians concerning continuing in sin.
The Book of Hebrews contains several severe warnings addressed to believers who continue to sin. The Apostle Paul in his Epistles warns us that if we do not put to death the actions of our body we will die spiritually, we will not inherit the Kingdom of God, we will reap corruption.
To be continued.