What we want to discover today is how the Day of Atonement sacrifices relate to the crucifixion, the resurrection, and our eternal salvation. Ultimately, we want to more fully comprehend how Christ secured our freedom, once for all!
The Slain and Living Sacrifices
In Part 1, we learned that on the Day of Atonement, God instituted a sacrifice in two parts, with one animal being slain and the other being set free to go into the wilderness.
The slain sacrifice was the goat “for the Lord,” the one designated to pay for the offense with its life.
The living sacrifice was the “escaped goat” or the “goat that departs,” the one whose release was secured by the sacrifice of the first goat.
The second sacrifice depended on the first. The second goat could not go free had the first goat not paid the price.
Please turn in your ESV to Leviticus 16. When the second goat was sent away bearing all the people’s iniquities, it symbolized the carrying away of all that separated man from God — all our iniquities, our transgressions and our sins.
Leviticus 16:21 and 22: And Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the people of Israel, and all their transgressions, all their sins. And he shall put them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who is in readiness.
The goat shall bear all their iniquities on itself to a remote area, and he shall let the goat go free in the wilderness.
Of course, God knew all along that ultimately, our complete redemption could only be accomplished with the coming of the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 10:1 and 4: For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near.
For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
A Better Covenant
Clearly a new and better covenant would one day be required. When Jesus Christ came, his perfect sacrifice would take care of sin, once and for all.
Hebrews 7:22: This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.
Hebrews 10:9-10: He does away with the first in order to establish the second; and by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Like the Day of Atonement offerings, Christ’s offering of himself would be composed of both a slain and a living sacrifice.
1 Peter 3:18: For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh [the crucifixion] but made alive in the spirit [the resurrection].
The Meaning of the Crucifixion and the Resurrection
Christ was to embody both the slain and the living sacrifices by means of his crucifixion and resurrection.
First, let’s consider the significance of Christ’s crucifixion. This is Christ as the slain sacrifice — the one who made satisfaction for our sin. By his death Christ secured the atonement.
Isaiah 53:6 and 7: All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.
Acts 2:23: this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.
Romans 5:11 (KJV): And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
The word atonement means “making at one”— literally, “AT-ONE-ment.” Atonement re-establishes the unity between man and God.
Wherever there is atonement, there must be forgiveness. By his atoning sacrifice, Christ turned away the wrath that man deserved and procured the forgiveness that man didn’t deserve. What a great and glorious Savior we have!
Next, let’s consider the significance of Christ’s resurrection. This is Christ as the living sacrifice — the one who carried away all our sin by rising from the dead Christ secured man’s eternal life.
Acts 2:24, 31 ,32: God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. He [David] foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.
John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Eternal life isn’t just for the future; it begins now! That is why it is sometimes called everlasting life: it starts today and continues on into eternity. Having been reconciled, we walk with our heavenly Father.
Romans 6:4: We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
Romans 6:11: So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Thanks to the resurrection and the new birth it made possible, we are now free to live in renewed intimacy with God. Christ Jesus has made us alive to God!
What God Wrought For Us In Christ
Exactly what did Christ accomplish for us by first dying and then rising again?
The slain sacrifice (the CRUCIFIXION) secured our atonement.
In the place of judgment and wrath, we have instead received mercy and forgiveness.
Recognizing what God in Christ accomplished for us by the crucifixion, our declaration of freedom is: “IT IS FINISHED!”
The living sacrifice (the RESURRECTION) secured our eternal life.
In the place of bondage and death, we have instead received release and rebirth.
Recognizing what God in Christ accomplished for us by the resurrection, our declaration of freedom is “HE IS RISEN.”
Propitiation and Expiation: Forgiven and Forgotten
Because our redemption was based on legal grounds, it is incontestable and unassailable. This is why Christ is called the source of eternal salvation. The actions he took on our behalf were once and for all, settled for all time.
Hebrews 5:9: And being made perfect, he [Christ] became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him.
Christ’s two-part sacrifice secured man’s eternal salvation by means of propitiation and expiation.
Let’s define these legal terms:
PROPITIATION: Settling all accounts
– Satisfaction made for the offense
– Price paid in full
Think of propitiation by remembering the word “pro” — in favor of. A judgment has been rendered in favor of the guilty party. By an act of grace, deserved anger has been turned aside and in its place, peace prevails. The Judge FORGIVES.
EXPIATION: Wiping the record clean
– Offense and consequences extinguished
– Offender’s guilt completely and forever removed
Think of expiation by remembering the letter X — like crossing out a mistake. Sin and guilt have been so completely wiped out that they are eternally banished, never to return. In the new heaven and earth, there will be no remembrance of man’s offense. The Judge FORGETS.
The truth of our propitiation and expiation is summed up in Hebrews 8:12: For I will be merciful toward their iniquities [propitiation — God forgives], and I will remember their sins no more [expiation — God forgets].”
Surely, this is great cause for rejoicing on our parts. Not only has God forgiven us in Christ, He has also forgotten all that was against us.
Revelation 21:4: He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
In the new heaven and earth where we are bound, not a trace will remain of sin and death. Truly we have been set free for eternity!
Oh what a wonderful Father, and oh what a wonderful Savior!
FAQ
How do the Day of Atonement sacrifices point to Christ?
One goat was slain to secure atonement and the other was released to carry sin away. Christ fulfilled both roles himself: the crucifixion as the slain sacrifice that settled the account, and the resurrection as the living sacrifice that secured eternal life.
Why was a new covenant necessary?
Hebrews states plainly that it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. The old sacrifices were a shadow, so a better covenant guaranteed by Christ was always going to be required.
What does the word atonement mean?
At-one-ment. It describes the restoring of unity between God and man, which is why forgiveness always accompanies it.
Scripture References
Leviticus 16; Leviticus 16:21; Hebrews 10:1; Hebrews 7:22; Hebrews 10:9; 1 Peter 3:18; Isaiah 53:6; Acts 2:23; Romans 5:11; Acts 2:24; John 3:16; Romans 6:4; Romans 6:11; Hebrews 5:9; Hebrews 8:12; Revelation 21:4
This text was prepared from the teaching audio and notes. Please verify scripture references against your own Bible.
