Hello My Friend/Guest,

Today is Saturday February 7, 2009 and we are continuing our studies on the book of Leviticus.

Today's Message:Our Scapegoat
Jesus became the scapegoat (a person taking the blame)whom atoned for all of our sins.

Today's Bible Reading: Leviticus Chapters 16-18
You can read the chapters by clicking on the link above, if the link does not work you can copy and paste this link into your browser: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus%2016-18&version=9

On the annual Day of Atonement, the high priest, beginning with Aaron, was first required to present a young bull as a sacrifice for his own sins before he could proceed with the sin offering for the people. "And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.Thus shall Aaron come into the holy place: with a young bullock for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering.He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: these are holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on.And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement for himself, and for his house.And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat.And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD's lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering.But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness." (Leviticus 16:2-10).

The two goats were necessary to express our Lord's twofold atonement. One goat was sacrificed upon the altar for a sin offering. Then the high priest laid his hands upon the head of the remaining goat, the scapegoat, and confessed the sins of the congregation, thereby transferring their sins to the scapegoat which was then let go into the wilderness where it disappeared from sight, never to be seen again.This was not justification, but merely a covering of another year's sins. "And the priest, whom he shall anoint, and whom he shall consecrate to minister in the priest's office in his father's stead, shall make the atonement, and shall put on the linen clothes, even the holy garments:And he shall make an atonement for the holy sanctuary, and he shall make an atonement for the tabernacle of the congregation, and for the altar, and he shall make an atonement for the priests, and for all the people of the congregation.And this shall be an everlasting statute unto you, to make an atonement for the children of Israel for all their sins once a year. And he did as the LORD commanded Moses." (16:32-34).

This is symbolic of Jesus Christ,who not only became the ultimate sin offering, He also became our scapegoat. A scapegoat is a person who takes the blame for others faults and receives the consequences for them. When we call on Jesus to forgive us, all of our sins are transferred onto Him for an atonement. Then they are carried away into the wilderness, never to be seen again. This time we receive justification and not only are we free, we are also made new and righteous before God. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (II Corinthians 5:17-21).

Today's Psalm: 4:4-5
"Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD."

Today's Prayer:
Dear God,
I glory in the Cross of Calvary from which Your Son, my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, died for my sins.I boast only in Him who lifted the heavy chains from my enslaved soul freeing me to soar in newness of life.Thank You, God, for demonstrating Your love toward me in that You gave Your one and only Son to die for me. At just the right time while I was still powerless, Jesus died for me, while I was unlovely and unable to save myself.Because of this incredible act of love and forgiveness I have reconciliation with my Father in heaven.In Jesus' name...............Amen.

Have a wonderful day/night and enjoy the rest of your weekend.
God Bless,
Christina

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