[u][b]1. THE EXAMPLE OF THE SCAPE GOAT:
In this illustration the scape goat would bare the sin of the people away into the wilderness.
[b]Because the scape goat would bare the sins of the people many assumptions have been made. But the text does [u]NOT
- punishment was transferred: the goat did not go to hell.
- moral guilty was transferred: the goat was not a moral agent and guilt cannot be transferred. Guilty has to do with personal actions. Nowhere does the text say that the goat was guilty of anything.
- moral character or moral identity was transferred: Moral character cannot be transferred but can only be developed. Character is not a commodity that can be bought and sold, transferred or inheritted.
The goat did not become a sinner neither did the priest become a goat. God did not see the goat as a sinner but rather as a goat. And God did not see the priest as a goat but rather as a priest.
[u]Sin[u]represented[u]punishment[u]guilt[u]character[u]transferred
[b]What does the scape goat illustrate:
- an atonement is made on behalf of sins: the purpose of the atonement is that it is done for sins. Sacrifices are done [i]for
- an atonement substitutes our punishment: an atonement is always an alternative to punishment, which makes it possible for God not to execute the punishment. The scape goat was an alternative (substitute) to the peoples punishment.
- an atonement bares away sins (takes away sins). The effect of the atonement is to lead sinners to repentance. The atonement is to take away the actual sins of the people.
The scape goat would bare away the sins of the people, [b][u]symbolically
[b]JESUS CHRIST:
------------------------------------------------------------
[u][b]2. THE EXAMPLE OF THE PASSOVER LAMB:
In this story, a lambs blood was to be put on the door of the house for the plague to passover instead of being poured out.
[b]It must be noticed that
- the passover lamb did not receive the plague instead of the Israelites
- the passover lamb did not become guilty of anything
- the passover lamb did not become a sinner
- the Israelites did not change identities with the lamb
[b]The passover lamb:
- Was an [i]alternative
- Made it possible for the plague to passover instead of poured out.
[b]JESUS CHRIST:
------------------------------------------------------------
[u][b]3. THE EXAMPLE OF THE SERPENT IN THE DESERT:
As a punishment for sins, God sent serpents to bite the Israelites. To "take away the serpents from among us" Moses, as instructed by God, lifted up a serpent upon a pole so that all who look to it would be healed.
[b]It should be understood that
- The serpent on the pole was not bitten by the other serpents
- The Israelites did not exchange identities with the serpent on the pole
- The serpent on the pole did not become guilty of any sin
- The serpent on the pole did not become a sinner
[b]The serpent on the pole:
- Made it possible for the Israelites to be healed (forgiven: escape further punishment). All they had to do with to look to the Serpent on the pole and they would cease from being bitten and would be healed of their wounds.
[b]JESUS CHRIST:
------------------------------------------------------------
[u][b]4. THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF ANY ATONEMENT:
There are other accomplishments of an atonement but these are the major ones: Righteousness imparted and righteousness imputed:
[b]- FORGIVENESS:
Romans 3:24-26 says that the blood atonement makes it possible for God to graciously forgive our sins (instead of punish them) and that the blood atonement makes it [b]JUST
[b]- REPENTANCE:
------------------------------------------------------------
[u][b]5. ATONEMENT INSTEAD OF PUNISHMENT:
The scriptures represent an atonement as an alternative to punishment, or as a substituted for punishment, which makes it possible for God to forgive instead of punish.
[b]AN EXAMPLE:
------------------------------------------------------------
[u][b]6. FORGIVENESS OF SINS INSTEAD OF PUNISHMENT OF SINS:
[b]It should be understood that:
- Sins that are punished are not sins that are forgiven.
- Sins that are forgiven are not sins that are punished.
[b]The bible says:
- that God actually forgives sins: Mat 9:6, Mark 2:7, Mark 2:10, Luke 5:21, Luke 5:24, Luke 11:4, 1John 1:9.
- that the atonement makes it possible for God to forgive (remission) sins: Mat 26:28, Luke 24:47, Acts 2:38, Acts 10:43, Heb 10:18)
Because of the atonement of Christ, God can actually forgive our sins instead of punish our sins, God can actually be just in setting aside our punishment.
------------------------------------------------------------
[u][b]7. PARDON OF DEBT INSTEAD OF PAYMENT OF DEBT:
[b]It should be understood that:
- A debt paid is not a debt pardoned
- A debt pardoned is not a debt paid
- Pardon and forgiveness are synonymous
- Payment and punishment are synonymous
[b]The bible says:
- God actually pardons the debt: Mat 6:12, Matt 18:27, Luke 7:42.
These are examples of unpaid debts being forgiven. Only unpaid debts can be forgiven, since paid debts are not forgiven but paid.
Matthew 18 particularly makes payment and pardon an antithesis.
God can only pardon our debts, when an atonement is made. An atonement is a substituted for our payment. An atonement is the price of blood to substituted for the payment or penalty of hell.