~ The Atonement of Christ
Foreshadowed ~
Jesus
Christ—The Messiah—is clearly seen throughout the Old Testament (i.e., see the
Messiah series of ALN posts which are currently occurring each Saturday).
For your
personal studies are some examples to consider in your own personal studies:
Examples of
prophecies of Christ (Isaiah 53: 4-12; Daniel 9:26; Zechariah 13:7)
Examples of
foreshadowings of Christ (Genesis 22:8-10; Exodus 27:1; Leviticus 1:3-5)
Examples of
types of Christ of Christ (Genesis 3:21; 4:4; 8:20; Numbers 21:9)
Examples of
types of Christ’s atoning death (Genesis 6:14; Exodus 12:6; 30:16; Leviticus
16:19)
Jesus
Christ—The Messiah—is the fulfillment—the completion—of what was predicted in
the Old Testament through prophecies, foreshadowings, and types. For this closing post of this series we will
consider some aspects of the foreshadowing in Leviticus 16 and compare them
with what we find in Hebrews 10 where the reality is presented.
In Leviticus
one of the first things we see is that the High Priest could not enter the holy place at any time—at
the time of his choosing (16:2). Every
year the priest would have to again enter the holy place to provide blood
sacrifices for the atonement of sin. Also,
he was given very specific instructions about his personal preparation before
We read about his personal preparation before entering the holy place (16:4).
We must also
note that there were four sacrifices (16:3, 6-7). As you read the chapter it is clear that
everything must be atoned for. The bull
was a sin offering to be sacrificed for the priest and his family, and there
was a ram to be sacrificed, as well as two goats. One of the goats was for the Lord and the
other goat was the “scapegoat” (16:8).
This scapegoat is led out into the wilderness (16:10).
This
scapegoat will never be seen again—a beautiful
picture of what God does with our sin. “You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea” (Micah
7:19b). “I, even I, am He who blots out your
transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins” (Isaiah
43:25). “You have cast all my sins
behind Your back” (Isaiah 38:17b). “As
far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our
transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12). Aren’t you glad He didn’t say “as far as the
north is from the south”! “Blessed are they whose
transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered [atoned for]. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will
never count against him” (Romans 4:7-8).
When your sin
has been atoned for it is gone forever—you don’t need to bring them up to Him again.
Your sin was put on the ultimate scapegoat—Jesus Christ—who went outside
the city wall to be crucified for you and for me. Your atoned for sin is under the blood of
Christ. It’s been forgiven. It’s been atoned for. God cancels, cleanses, pardons and forgets
our sins. That’s atonement. That’s reconciliation.
Now
consider Hebrews 10. The opening verses
summarize it all: “For the law, having a
shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can
never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year,
make those who approach perfect. For then would they not have ceased
to be offered? For the worshipers, once
purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of
sins every year. For it is not possible
that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins” (Hebrews
10:1-4).
Consider
this rendition: “The old plan was only a
hint of the good things in the new plan.
Since that old ‘law plan’ wasn’t complete in itself, it couldn’t complete
those who followed it. No matter how
many sacrifices were offered year after year, they never added up to a complete
solution. If they had, the
worshipers would have gone merrily on their way, no longer dragged down by
their sins. But instead of removing
awareness of sin, when those animal sacrifices were repeated over and over they
actually heightened awareness and guilt.
The plain fact is that bull and goat blood can’t get rid of sin. That is what is meant by this prophecy, put
in the mouth of Christ: ‘You don't want sacrifices and offerings year after
year; you’ve prepared a body for Me for a sacrifice. It’s not fragrance and smoke from the altar
that whet Your appetite. So I said, ‘I’m
here to do it Your way, O God, the way it’s described in Your Book.’ When He
said, ‘You don't want sacrifices and offerings,’ He was referring to practices
according to the old plan. When He
added, ‘I’m here to do it Your way,’ He set aside the first in order to enact
the new plan—God’s way—by which we are made fit for God by the once-for-all
sacrifice of Jesus” (Hebrews 10:1-10, The Message).
summary: The human race could not be saved by the
sacrifices of the Old Testament, but only by The Messiah’s sacrifice. “And all that dwell
upon the earth shall worship Him, whose names are not written in the book of
life of the Lamb of God slain from the foundation of the world. If any man have an
ear, let him hear” (Revelation 13:8-9). God
does not operate in time like we do—He is eternal—He has always known that His
Son would be the ultimate atonement for sin.
The Old Testament gives hints, shadows, types, and prophecies about the
coming of the Son of God, as Messiah, to earth.
But
God demonstrated His own love on our behalf, in that while we were still
sinners, Christ died as a substitute for us.
Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be
saved from wrath through Him (Romans 5:8-9).
note ~ This
series about atonement includes:
1. The
Concept of the Atonement of Christ for Your Sin
2. The Basics
of the Atonement of Christ for Your Sin
3. The Facts of the Atonement of Christ for Your
Sin
4. The Results of the Atonement of Christ for
Your Sin
5. 7 Benefits of Christ’s Atonement for Your Sin
6. The Atonement of Christ Foreshadowed
the key question:
“Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15). This is the most important
question you will ever answer. If you do not answer it, or answer it
incorrectly, you have made the biggest mistake anyone can make!
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW
NOTES:
(1)
The
current
TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very
bottom of this home page.
(2)
There
is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the
left column.
(3)
You
may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website.
(4)
You
may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by
prominently displaying the following statement: Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free
blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid
Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/
.
