Tag: Day of Atonement

Bring Two Live Clean Birds

On By TimIn Jesus, Leviticus 14Leave a comment

Then the priest shall command that two live clean birds and cedar wood and scarlet fabric and hyssop be brought for him who is to be cleansed.

Leviticus 14:4 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Remember, this is not a ritual to perform that cleanses leprosy. It is one performed to show that one who had leprosy is now clean.

As in the previous post, there are important typologies presented. In this case, there is a similarity that will be echoed later in Leviticus involving Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement.) Two offerings are presented there, one died for the presence of God, and the other to carry away sins. We have a likeness with two clean birds.

Accompanying the birds were cedar, scarlet cloth, and hyssop. Perhaps this was used as an applicator for sprinkling. It could have had some medicinal properties, but I think that is precluded by the purpose of the rite. It could even be to foreshadow Jesus… As much as this does… Particularly the events at Calvary.

The priest shall command that one of the birds be slaughtered in a clay vessel over running water. As for the living bird, he shall take it, the cedar wood, the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water.

Leviticus 14:5–6 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Just as on the Day of Atonement, one animal was sacrificed by killing it. The other by letting it go. This ritual introduces the idea. One dove was killed, representing the death of Jesus. The other let go, demonstrating His resurrection.

For the previously leprous person, the priest had these things brought out of the camp. These had to be brought to the individual. Just as Jesus would leave heaven to die on Earth and rise again.

That clay vessel is a typification of us. The running water typifies the life that the Spirit gives. It is a perfect representation of the condition of humanity, made of clay with the breath of life.

One bird is slaughtered in this vessel. Its blood would mingle with the water. We talk of putting things under the blood, but I don’t think many of us take this literal picture to mind. It is ourselves we put under the blood, too.

The living bird is then plunged into the vessel with the other three items. This is to unify them, to identify all of them with the blood offered.

Then he shall sprinkle it seven times on him who is to be cleansed from leprosy, and he shall pronounce him clean and shall let the living bird loose into the open field.

Leviticus 14:7 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

I think the sequence is important. The cedar, a symbol of incorruptibility is used as a handle, too which scarlet cloth is used to tie a just branch to it. The scarlet cloth represents faith and the hyssop purging. This is used to sprinkle the bloody water onto the already cleansed person. This unified the person to this law of the leper in his cleansing.

The live bird is then set free!

This elaborate rite is for the already clean person.

That clay vessel is forever altered by that blood and water. Parts of that would mingle with the earthenware and always remain with it. The bird that is set free is no longer hindered. The entire rite shows how a saved person is forever altered by the blood of Jesus. And just as Jesus rose again, is forever freed by His life.

Denying the Lord Who Bought Them

On By TimIn 2 Peter 02, Apostasy, Atonement, Eternal SecurityLeave a comment

But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.

2 Peter 2:1 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Even denying the Lord who bought them.

Why make such a statement about false prophets and false teachers?

This isn’t about losing salvation as if such a thing were possible. A false teacher or a false prophet, by definition, are not ones who have lost salvation. Those would be persons who did not have it at all.

And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with deceptive words. Their judgment, made long ago, does not linger, and their destruction does not slumber.

2 Peter 2:2–3 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Just in the same way as saying their judgment was made long ago isn’t to advocate that God made people reprobate destined for perdition.

Let’s focus on “denying the Lord who bought them.” We do that by establishing a foundation.

Aaron shall bring the goat on which the lot of the Lord falls and offer him for a sin offering.

Leviticus 16:9 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

In the instruction for the once-a-year atonement, there were two offerings, one was killed satisfying the demand of death for sin and its blood sprinkled in the presence of God. The other released alive and carried sin away.

But the goat on which the lot falls to be the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the Lord to make atonement with it, that it may be sent away as a scapegoat into the wilderness.

Leviticus 16:10 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

When Paul wrote about the first part of this, he said it this way.

God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

2 Corinthians 5:21 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

That is, Jesus didn’t become sin, He became the sin offering. Just like the young goat offered in the tabernacle didn’t have sin. Goats don’t have sin. Nor are they made sin to die. The blood gave us a pattern, one that wild have its ultimate satisfaction in Jesus.

But only the high priest went into the second part once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins of the people, committed in ignorance.

Hebrews 9:7 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

But Christ, when He came as a High Priest of the good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation, neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood, He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.

Hebrews 9:11–12 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Note exactly what is said, that Jesus obtained eternal redemption. That was by His blood. It is for the people… All of them. They’ve been redeemed… Bought… Already.

Let’s go back to that verse. Pay particular attention to the structure of the statement. God made Him to be sin. That is explicit. There is no wiggling there. There is no condition. That is because the dead offering is for the people. All of them without distinction or exclusion. The blood of the dead offering is sprinkled in the presence of God.

God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

2 Corinthians 5:21 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

That we might become the righteousness of God. That is the second part of that verse… The conditional part.

Much hay is made about choice and choosing. Clearly, Paul is saying that God chose and did make Jesus the sin offering for every human. Every human has already been redeemed by His blood. But not every human will become the righteousness of God in Him.

It is hard to think of every human being bought. I understand. Nevertheless, it’s the truth. The context that preceded what Paul says clearly establishes the idea.

All this is from God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their sins against them, and has entrusted to us the message of reconciliation.

2 Corinthians 5:18–19 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

God is reconciled to the world. By use of the word their, world is personified as humans… Meaning all of them. That’s because they’ve been redeemed, purchased by the blood price paid.

But that might be part. That we might become the righteousness of God. That’s the condition.

So we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us. We implore you in Christ’s stead: Be reconciled to God.

2 Corinthians 5:20 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

The veil is removed, there is no partition or separation. God has indeed become reconciled to all humans, and some of you hate that He is imploring folks to be saved. But that is the truth.

That we might become the righteousness of God. It comes through believing.

This righteousness of God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all and upon all who believe, for there is no distinction. For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith, in His blood, for a demonstration of His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins previously committed, to prove His righteousness at this present time so that He might be just and be the justifier of him who has faith in Jesus.

Romans 3:22–26 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Even in the midst of falling short, people are being justified freely. That is what propitiation does and we have it through a choice offered to us.

See… To not believe is to deny the Lord that bought you. How does one neglect so great a salvation?

The Two-Fold Atonement

On By TimIn 1 Corinthians 15, Atonement, Jesus, SalvationLeave a comment

If Christ is not raised, your faith is vain; you are still in your sins.

1 Corinthians 15:17 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Paul makes a surprising claim. If Jesus Christ is not risen and alive, we Christians are still in our sins.

Wait, what about that hymn, “What can wash away my sins?”

We sing in answer, “Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”

If the blood of Jesus washes away sins, where does the resurrection fit in?

Paul is well-acquainted with the Old Testament. He participated in the annual ritual that is Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement. The types and foreshadows of Jesus Christ would be plainly evident. The law is called a schoolmaster intent on bringing folks to Jesus.

On the Day of Atonement, two goats were chosen. (The ceremony for the Day of Atonement is in Leviticus 16.) Lots were cast and one of those goats was slaughtered and burned, with its blood sprinkled in the Holy Place. The Holy Place in the sanctuary is where the presence of God dwells. That blood of the goat was sprinkled in the presence of God. We also know that the priests of Israel couldn’t enter the presence of God without blood.

Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests would regularly go into the first part, conducting the services of God. But only the high priest went into the second part once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins of the people, committed in ignorance. The Holy Spirit was signifying through this that the way into the Most Holy Place was not yet revealed, because the first part of the tabernacle was still standing. This is an illustration for the present time, showing that the gifts and sacrifices offered could not perfect the conscience of those who worshipped, since they are concerned only with foods and drinks, ceremonial cleansings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.

Hebrews 9:6–10 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

At Jesus’ death, the veil of separation was torn in two. It opened the Holy Place to all. It signified that anyone could enter the presence of God.

The book of Hebrews also shows the reason for that.

But Christ, when He came as a High Priest of the good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation, neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood, He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.

Hebrews 9:11–12 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

This is saying that Jesus Himself entered the presence of God as a Priest with His own blood on behalf of the people. It was for eternal redemption.

The blood did wash away sin, but not in the manner immediately thought. It was the first part of removing the enmity between God and the sins of humans. Since the presence of God was redeemed with blood, it was open for humans to boldly enter in.

It’s that two-fold idea in the atonement. There were two goats. One offered for God to make atonement in His presence. The second was led away into the wilderness and let go, to make atonement for itself.

But he must present alive ⌊before⌋ Yahweh the goat on which the lot for Azazel fell to make atonement for himself, to send it away into the desert to Azazel.

Leviticus 16:10 — The Lexham English Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012)

I used a different translation for clarity. Note the phrase make atonement for himself. This goat was used differently.

The first goat did a one-way adjustment for God. It reconciled Him to us humans opening up His presence whereby we may enter.

That live goat was led away, but not before the sins of the people were confessed in it by the priest pressing into the head of the goat. That offering took away those sins forever.

That is what Paul is saying. Without a live offering… There is nothing to confess our sins upon and have them remitted. We would still be in our sins. That’s how the statement reads make atonement for himself.

The two-way work is God has done His part to be reconciled to each of us. We must do our part to be reconciled to Him. We do that by confessing our sin on the live offering. Jesus lives today!

Sins confessed to Him are removed forever. Just as Paul said, if there is no resurrection, we are still in our sins. Because there is no live offering to remove them.

He Did it All

On By TimIn Atonement, Hebrews 01, Hebrews 09, JesusLeave a comment

When He had by Himself purged our sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

Heb 1:3b — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

When He had by Himself purged our sins.

This sentence has a significant meaning. Most times we might just pass by it. Continuing from the previous post, we find the writer of Hebrews is giving us a brief outline of what he is going to say. Much of this will be elaborated on later in the epistle (Chapters 9 and 10.) What is offered here, is the Son is performing a multi-faceted dual role.

The first portion of that role is as Priest.

In Leviticus 1 and on, we see the role of the priest is doing the work of making an offering for sin. This priest was the one who slaughtered the offerings after laying hands on its head. Those who laid hands on the offering were the ones responsible for the party who sinned. If an individual, it was the individual, if a congregation, it was the elders. This act of laying hands on the head was an imputation or transfer from one party to another. It is still practiced today in churches when people are ordained. This is patterned for us, in like manner the sacrifice became the substitute of the sinning party. The sin guilt was transferred to the sacrifice. I would also extend, that given the practice outlined in Leviticus 16, the sin was confessed while hands were laid.

Nevertheless, It was always the priest who was present. It was the priest that performed the ceremony. It was the priest who slaughtered the sacrifice. It was the priest who went before the presence of God with the blood as an intermediary between the one who sinned and God. It was the priest who prepared and burned the offering. It was the priest who lit the fire. It was the priest who arranged the wood on the altar. It was the priest who did the work as an intermediary in the atonement.

The second portion of that role is as High Priest.

The Day of Atonement was for the entire congregation. It was a day for making atonement of all the sin of the people. It is established in Leviticus 16.

There was an inner sanctum behind the veil. Entering the presence of God was a certain death sentence.

The LORD said to Moses: Speak to Aaron your brother so that he does not come at any time into the Holy Place within the veil before the mercy seat, which is on the ark, so that he will not die, for I will appear in the cloud on the mercy seat.

Leviticus 16:2 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

The priest could only go in once a year. It wasn’t just any priest, but the High Priest.

He couldn’t just go in, either. There was much preparation to the ceremony. Rituals of purification, washing and changing garments.

Thus Aaron shall come into the Holy Place with a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. He shall put on the holy linen tunic, and he shall have the linen undergarment on his body, and shall be girded with a linen sash, and shall be wearing the linen turban. These are holy garments. Therefore he shall wash his body in water and then put them on. He shall take from the congregation of the children of Israel two male goats for a sin offering and one ram for a burnt offering.
Aaron shall offer his bull for the sin offering, which is for himself, and make atonement for himself and for his house. Then he shall take the two goats and present them before the LORD at the entrance of the tent of meeting. Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats: one lot for the LORD and the other lot for the scapegoat.

Leviticus 16:3–8 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

It was the privilege of the High Priest to enter the presence of God on behalf of the entire congregation. He did it with blood, to purge sins.

The third portion of that role is as that Sin Offering.

In the case of the High Priest, his role is to select the offerings for the people. What is alluded to here is that the Son gave Himself as that offering. Blood is needed to purge sins.

Aaron shall bring the goat on which the lot of the LORD falls and offer him for a sin offering.

Leviticus 16:9 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Sin offerings are treated a bit differently. The priest would not take a portion of the sin offering whose blood was sprinkled in the Holy Place, but it would be completely consumed in the fire on the altar.

Any sin offering where blood is brought into the tent of meeting to make atonement in the holy place shall not be eaten. It shall be burned up in the fire.

Leviticus 6:30 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

As seen previously, the offerings for specific sin always involved a laying on of hands. There was an imputation from the sinning party to the sacrifice. But this one day, this one offering was different.

Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering, which is for the people, and bring its blood within the veil, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it over and in front of the mercy seat. And he shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel and because of their transgressions in all their sins, and so he shall do for the tent of meeting that remains among them in the midst of their uncleanness. There shall be no man in the tent of meeting when he goes in to make atonement in the Holy Place, until he comes out and has made atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel.

Leviticus 16:15–17 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

This offering is for all the people and all their sins. It is comprehensive in scope, meaning that there isn’t a limit to it. I know folks may object, as it was for the congregation of Israel, and in that context it was comprehensive. There was nothing left out. In Israel’s calling, they were to be a light to the Gentiles, to show that salvation reaches everywhere.

He says, “It is a light thing that you should be My servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also make you a light to the nations so that My salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”

Isaiah 49:6 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

I do know that this verse of Scripture has a dual purpose and is fulfilled in the Son. It suffices to show the entire scope of the sin offering here as comprehensive, and for the benefit to the people of the whole world; Israel being a light to the nations.

This idea will also be elaborated upon in later portions of the epistle.

Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests would regularly go into the first part, conducting the services of God. But only the high priest went into the second part once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins of the people, committed in ignorance. The Holy Spirit was signifying through this that the way into the Most Holy Place was not yet revealed, because the first part of the tabernacle was still standing.

Hebrews 9:6-8 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

We see that the roles are clearly established. Priests do the daily ministering; the High Priest has an established role to do once for the people into the very presence of God. And not without the blood of the sin offering.

The fourth portion of that role is as that Scapegoat.

It is in this offering that sin is confessed. It is also significant that the sin is transferred and taken away forever.

When he has made an end of atonement for the Holy Place, and the tent of meeting, and the altar, then he shall bring the live goat. And Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them on the head of the goat, and shall send it away by the hand of a designated man into the wilderness. And the goat shall bear on it all their iniquities to a desolate land, and he shall let the goat go free in the wilderness.

Leviticus 16:20–22 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

For the studious, in Leviticus, we see the ordinance of sacrifice for unintentional sin. But what of the intentional?

The writer of Hebrews shows the sin offering is for sin committed in ignorance. Here is where the High Priest would lean onto the head of that goat confessing all the iniquities and all transgression in their sins. These are transferred to that sacrifice, but it isn’t killed. It’s led away, into the wilderness… To never come back. Effectively carrying away all sin.

This is the exact thing being told to us in a small number of words. “When He Himself had purged our sins.” All of the work to purge sins is accomplished in Him alone.

He sat down.

This ought to be the thing that we rejoice over most!

All the work is done. He knew it when He selected and gave Himself. He cried “Tetellisti!” (It’s finished.)

The work in the tabernacle was never done. It was a perpetual thing. The fire had to be constant, it needed fuel. Ashes needed to be carted away. There was always a priest on duty never sitting down.

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: Command Aaron and his sons, saying: This is the law for the burnt offering. The burnt offering shall be on the hearth upon the altar all night until the morning, and the fire of the altar shall be kept burning on it. The priest shall put on his linen robe, and his linen undergarments on his body. Then he shall remove the ashes from the fire of the burnt offering on the altar, and he shall put them beside the altar. Then he shall take off his garments and put on other garments, and he shall bring the ashes outside the camp to a clean place. The fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it. It shall not go out. The priest shall feed it with wood every morning. He will arrange the burnt offering on it, and he shall burn the fat of the peace offerings on it. A perpetual fire shall be kept burning on the altar. It shall never go out.

Leviticus 6:8–13 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

He sat down. There is no more perpetual work.

At the right hand of the Majesty on high

This is the place of honor. The author of the epistle will go into greater detail

He was made so much better than the angels as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.

Hebrews 1:4 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

It’s not that Jesus is made or created. This is stating His position of honor. His is detailed in the portions immediately following.

In this introduction to the epistle, many things are established in such few words. My hope is that as you read further, you understand what is being said in the entire epistle. It is one of my favorite books in all of the Bible.