Atonement Covers Sins
It is such a common thing for so many to believe that the word "atonement" is directly related to Jesus and salvation. The truth of the matter is the word atonement and the Day of Atonement has nothing to do with Jesus being the Messiah or the "salvation" that comes through Jesus. A very clear understanding of the Biblical term "atonement" is a primary need. The Bible is the "word of God" and it is there where we can find the definitions for the words or terms that originate in the Bible. I think that truth is worthy of being repeated. We are required to go to the Bible for Biblical definitions.
The word atonement has a very, very clear definition. Strong's shows the KJV used the word in 65 verses and had 76 matches. The word atonement was used 71 times and given Strong's number of "H3722". The word atonement was also used 5 times and given Strong's number H3725 and its definition is related to the definition for H3722. The following is Strong's definition for H3722.
H3722 A primitive root; to cover (specifically with bitumen); figuratively to expiate or condone, to placate or cancel: - appease, make (an) atonement, cleanse, disannul, forgive, be merciful, pacify, pardon, to pitch, purge (away), put off, (make) reconcile (-liation).
Genesis 6:14 shows us that the arc was covered with pitch or bitumen. This was the only time H3722 was used other than to be used to cover sins spoken of in the Old Testament.
The New Testament is complete regarding the need of the sacrifice of Jesus the Christ. That need requires the acceptance of the way of Jesus, repenting of our past life, being baptized to begin a new life and then have hands laid on to receive God's Spirit. That Spirit making it possible to grow in the way of God.
In the Old Testament God made it possible for his chosen people to have a relationship with Him by having their sins "covered over". Hebrews 10:4 is very clear in its statement. It makes it plain that this covering of sins, through sacrifices, can not take sins away. The reason Jesus gave up his life, was to take sin away. The sacrifices of animals resulted in shed blood but only covered sins.
.
Heb 9:25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;
Heb 9:26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
Heb 10:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
Heb 10:11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
Heb 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
Heb 10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
This is clear. It is how the sacrifices that were made on the Day of Atonement should be understood.
Even though the Bible clearly defines the term atonement, people have been mislead by two verses in the KJV and other translations relating to the Day of Atonement. The first one is the use of the term "kids of the goats". The second one is "for the Lord".
KJV: Lev 16:5 And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kidsH8163 of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.
Lev 16:8 And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat.
It has caused one to think of an association with the Passover lamb of the first year, of Exodus 12:5. According to many, the blood of this "lamb", representing Jesus, is taken into the Holy of Holies of Israel's temple. The following are separate statements of ministers of a prominent Church of God relating to the Day of Atonement.
"We have already seen that the slain goat represented the sacrifice in our place of Jesus Christ"
"One goat represented the Messiah to come, who would be the atonement and forgiveness of sin for the people."
"WE deserve death and we can be at one because Christ atoned, paid the penalty for our sins".
"and true atonement with God will be realized."
There are significant problems with this thinking. First, we have seen what the true Biblical definition of "atonement" is. Secondly, we have to examine the true definition for the term "kid of the goats". This term is a blatant mistranslation by the KJV and other translations. There are those who almost get it right --- The American Standard Version being one of them.
ASV: Lev 16:5 And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two he-goats for a sin-offering, and one ram for a burnt-offering.
In addition to the more accurate ASV, the kids spoken of is a shaggy male goat. The Strong's number for kids is H8163.
H8163 saw-eer', saw-eer' From H8175; shaggy; as noun, a he goat; by analogy a faun: - devil, goat, hairy, kid, rough, satyr.
Daniel confirms this Strong's number. Dan 8:21: And the roughH8163 goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.
Jesus is always represented by the term "lamb" not a shaggy he goat. Also, the killing of the lamb when the death angel passed over the homes with blood on the door frames was not deemed a sacrificial offering. And, Jesus died once for our sins. That one death is commemorated yearly by eating the unleavened bread and drinking the wine. It is not commemorated by the killing of a shaggy he goat on the Day of Atonement that is representative of Jesus.
Next, I would like to elaborate on the terms "before the Lord" and especially "for the Lord".
Lev 16:7 And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
Lev 16:8 And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat.
In the book of Leviticus there were several sin offerings that were given "before the Lord". In other words, the Lord applied the offerings that were made to cover or atone for sin. I see that the Lord was personally involved with the atonement for sin by the offerings being given "before the Lord".
I have found that the Day of Atonement was the only time that a sin offering was determined by lot. The shaggy goat was selected by the Lord, for the purpose of atoning or covering the sins of Israel. That goat was "for the Lord" to apply an atonement for the people, for the holy place and for the tabernacle of the congregation. The term "for the Lord" has been taken out of context and applied in such a way that it made it most difficult, if not impossible, to understand the details of the prophetic nature of the Day of Atonement. God used one whole chapter, in the Old Testament, to provide insight for the transition from the world under Satan's rule to the world ruled by God.
It is very important to understand that all of the animals that are offered on the Day of Atonement are prophetic in nature. All of the Holy Days are prophetic revealing the progressive plan God has for mankind. The paper "The Day of Atonement" details the prophetic nature of those sacrificial offerings.
There is something that I would like to elaborate on though. In the Day of Atonement paper I made a point that the carcass of the sin offerings was the only time that that a whole sacrificial carcass was burned outside the camp. I didn't point out that the verses that show the parts that are normally taken out of the carcass before they are taken outside the camp to be burned.
Lev 4:3 If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people; then let him bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto the LORD for a sin offering.
Lev 4:8 And he shall take off from it all the fat of the bullock for the sin offering; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards,
Lev 4:9 And the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away,
Lev 4:10 As it was taken off from the bullock of the sacrifice of peace offerings: and the priest shall burn them upon the altar of the burnt offering.
Lev 4:13 And if the whole congregation of Israel sin through ignorance, and the thing be hid from the eyes of the assembly, and they have done somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which should not be done, and are guilty;
Lev 4:14 When the sin, which they have sinned against it, is known, then the congregation shall offer a young bullock for the sin, and bring him before the tabernacle of the congregation.
Lev 4:20 And he shall do with the bullock as he did with the bullock for a sin offering, so shall he do with this: and the priest shall make an atonement for them, and it shall be forgiven them.
The proceedings for the Day of Atonement do not show those entrails being taken out.
Lev 16:27 And the bullock for the sin offering, and the goat for the sin offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the holy place, shall one carry forth without the camp; and they shall burn in the fire their skins, and their fleshH1320 (body), and their dung.
I did fail to include the fact that the fat of the animals was burned on the altar on the Day of Atonement.
Lev 16:25 And the fat of the sin offering shall he burn upon the altar.
I do hope this provided enough information to prove the fact that the Day of Atonement has nothing to do with Jesus being the Messiah and the "salvation" that comes through Jesus. Prophetically, it is all about the sins of the remnant Israelites that return to Israel, being covered over. They receive atonement on the Day of Atonement to begin their glorious future under God's rule.