Christ The Greater Scapgoat

Reasoning The Scriptures

The Greater Scapegoat By M.S.Mariadas and Y.R.Dinakaran Bible Students, M.B.S.A

The scapegoat is a type or figure of Christ’s atonement to save mankind in the Old Testament Sanctuary service. When our first parents sinned in Eden. Divine Judgment was pronounced, and also a hope and a way of escape was also delivered (Gen 3:15 NIV) "And I will put enmity between

you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel."" God speaks to Satan, telling him that there will be hatred between him and the woman and between her children and the Devil’s children. The outcome will be that Christ would crush Satan’s head, and Satan will strike at Christ’s heel. The fulfillment of this prophecy was when Satan and his children, the ungodly Pharisees and the Romans bruised Jesus’ heel by putting Jesus to death on the cross. At the end of thousand years Jesus will crush Satan’s head by casting him in the fires of Ghenna and totally destroying him. God commanded animal sacrifices to illustrate the consequences of sin. It was to show them that the Lamb of God would have to bear their sins and die to save them. Up until the time that Israel became a nation, the Patriarchs, built altars and sacrificed animals for the atonement from sin. After God called his people out of Egypt, he instructed Moses to build a sanctuary that he could dwell among them. Moses was to build the sanctuary after the pattern shown him on the mount. Exodus 25:40. It is important to note that this was not patterned in every detail after the one in heaven. For example, the Heavenly Sanctuary does not have animals to be slain or brass basins for the priests to wash or have animals waiting to be slaughtered or walls made from dyed animal skins. The Day of Atonement Atonement Every day animals were sacrificed for the sins of Israel. But once a year on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) a special service was held. It was to be on the 10th day of Tishri, coming on different days of our calendar. It came in the month of September to early October. The Day of Atonement was the only day of the year that the priest entered the holy of holies to make sin offerings for himself, his family, and the "assembly of Israel." After making these offerings, the nation’s sins were symbolically laid on the scapegoat and it was led out into the wilderness and released. Before the sacrifice of the two goats, the High Priest was required to make a sin offering for himself. (Lev 16:11 NIV) ""Aaron shall bring the bull for his own sin offering to make

atonement for himself and his house and he is to slaughter the bull for his own sin offering."

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Reasoning The Scriptures After completing his sin offering the High Priest was to take two goats provided from the Israelite community and he is to cast lots for them. The term scapegoat or Azazel depending on the Bible translation you are using is found three times in Scripture in Leviticus 16.
(Lev 16:8 NIV) "He is to cast lots for the two goats—one lot for the LORD and the

other for the scapegoat." scapegoat
(Lev 16:9 NIV) "Aaron shall bring the goat whose lot falls to the LORD and

sacrifice it for a sin offering."
(Lev 16:10 NIV) "But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be presented







alive before the LORD to be used for making atonement by sending it into the desert as a scapegoat." (Lev 16:20 NIV) ""When Aaron has finished making atonement for the Most Holy Place, the Tent of Meeting and the altar, he shall bring forward the live goat." (Lev 16:21 NIV) "He is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites—all their sins—and put them on the goat’s head. He shall send the goat away into the desert in the care of a man appointed for the task." (Lev 16:22 NIV) "The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a solitary place; and the man shall release it in the desert." (Lev 16:26 NIV) ""The man who releases the goat as a scapegoat must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water; afterward he may come into the camp." The Azazel Controversy

The term Azazel has created a controversy among Bible translators as to what or who is Azazel. Some Bibles do not use the term Azazel while some use scapegoat or other terms as shown. This is a sample of different Bible translations and how they translated Azazel from Leviticus 16:8:
The Septuagint Bible: "one lot for the Lord and one lot for the escape."
NKJV: "one lot for the Lord and the other lot for the scapegoat."
KJV: "one lot for the Lord and the other lot for the scapegoat."
The New English Bible: "one to be for the Lord and the other for the Precipice."
RSV: "one lot for the Lord and the other lot for the scapegoat."
The Amplified Bible: "one lot for the Lord the other lot for Azazel (or removal).
New American, Catholic: uses azazel.
Holy Scriptures, Jewish: uses azazel. The Hebrew term for scapegoat from Strongs is: 5799. 'aza'zel, az-aw-zale'; from H5795 and H235; goat of departure; the scapegoat:--scapegoat.

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Reasoning The Scriptures From the Hebrew definition of azazel, the meaning is "goat of departure." Leviticus 16:8 should then read: "one lot for the LORD and the other for the goat of departure." Because the first goat called "a lot for the Lord," the translators wanted the Hebrew word Azazel, to be a representation of someone. Therefore some translators have concluded that Azazel must represent an evil spirit or Satan. Other translators see the scapegoat being sent to a place where Azazel, or evil spirit is located in the wilderness. Keeping in mind from Leviticus 16:10, that the scapegoat is for making atonement to God because of their sins. This atonement has to be made to God. It would be a sin to make atonement to Satan. Satan cannot remove sin nor would he want to. Some translators saw that the scapegoat represented Christ. Those that thought the scapegoat represented Satan or an evil spirit did not understand that this goat was a representation of the Living Christ that has removed the sins of God’s people. They failed to see that after the shedding of blood by the first goat the second goat demonstrated the removal of sins. Both goats were representing the completed atonement. Without the shedding of blood there cannot be forgiveness of sins. (Mat 26:28 NIV) "This is my blood

of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." From, Hard Saying of the Bible: "The Greek translators did not regard azazel as a proper name, but connected it with, ‘a z’zel a verb that does not appear in the Old Testament. The meaning they gave it was "to send away." Hence the full meaning of the Hebrew expression would be "in order to send away." The Latin translation followed this same understanding. The most adequate explanation is to view the term ‘aza’zel as being composed of two words: the first part, ‘ez, meaning "goat," and the second part, ‘azel, meaning "to go away." With recent evidence from the Ugaritic (the language of ancient Canaan from which Hebrew is derived), compound names such as this one are turning up more frequently than what we had expected based on evidence from the Hebrew alone. This is how the rendering "scapegoat" came to be... Originally, however, the King James translators meant "the goat that was led away." Hard Sayings of the Bible by Walter C. Kaiser Jr. Peter H. Davids, F.F. Bruce and Manfred T. Brauch INTER VARSITY PRESS Downers Grove, Illinois. Two Goats One Atonement From Students Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: "The two goats set out the death and victory of Christ, thus furnishing a complete salvation. The one goat was for Jehovah, the other for Azazel. The goat for Jehovah was slain, and its blood sprinkled upon the Mercy Seat, thus making atonement: the goat for Azazel, that is for Satan, the Adversary, was sent out in the desert as the living one to challenge and put to silence that Accuser, and all accusers. The one is Rom. III., i.e. every sin covered; the other, Rom. VIII. every accuser silenced." Students Commentary on the Holy Scriptures." 4th edition, published in 1932, by Thynne & Co.

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Reasoning The Scriptures Notice that the Students Commentary says "the goat is for Azazel that is for Satan," not the goat is Azazel. Also it purpose is to put to silence the accuser. From this interpretation the sins of God’s people are not transferred from the scapegoat to Satan so that he can be punished for them but a witness that God's people have been vindicated. There was another service where two birds were required for the cleansing of a person with an infectious disease. The priest was to take two birds, and slay one of them and the other was dipped in its blood and then released. Lev. 14:114:1-7. There are differences in the two services. For example the scapegoat was not dipped in the blood of the slain goat. However there are similarities, as one bird being slain and the other released. There is no doubt that the slain bird represented Jesus’ shed blood setting people free from the condemnation of sin and forgiveness through the shed blood. The bird set free represents Jesus removing the sins and setting people free from the penalty of sin which is death. The two goats make a complete atonement as well as the two birds birds. This is made clear: (Lev 16:10 NIV) "But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the LORD to be used for making atonement by sending it into the desert as a scapegoat." Only Jesus Bore and Removed Our Sins (Psa 103:12 NIV) "as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our

transgressions from us." (1 Pet 2:24 NIV) "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed." (Isa 53:6 NIV) "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all." all (Isa 53:11 NIV) "After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied ;

by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities." Both goats represent the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the basis that both goats are a sin offering (Aaron shall take two kids of the goats as a sin offering, Lev 16:5). The big question rarely answered is: How are both of these goats sin offerings? Sin offerings, (because the wages of sin is death, Rom 6:23) are acceptable in the eyes of God, as Scripture shows, by the shedding of blood:
Lev 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.
Matt 26:28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Rom 5:9 5:9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

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Reasoning The Scriptures
Col 1:20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.
Heb 9:7 But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people’s sins committed in ignorance
1Jn 1:7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
Rev 5:9 And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed them to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation."

The goat for whom the casting of the lot made it "for the LORD" (v 8) is the one killed and represents the sacrifice of Christ for the sins of the world (1Jn 2:2). The goat for whom the casting of the lot allocated it "for Azazel" (or as some translations put for the scapegoat, v 8) is the one that supposedly represents the taking away, or the putting away of sins. An aside question: How is this goat, for Azazel, a sin offering, for it is not killed and its blood is not shed? Generally, the Scriptures used to back this thought include:
Rom 11:27 For this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.
Jn 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
Is 53:6 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.

"LET IT BE ON YOUR HEAD!" HEAD!" What can we find in Scripture about laying the sins of all on the head of the goat? Is this concept addressed elsewhere and how? Anointing, by the laying on of hands, is widely mentioned in the Scriptures and there are many examples: Gen 31:13; Ex 25:6; Jgs 9:8,15; 1Sam 9:16; 16:12; 1K 1:34; Ps 2:2; 45:7; Isa 45:1; Ezk 28:14; Dan 9:24; Amos 6:6; Zech 4:14; Matt 6:17; Acts 10:38; Heb 1:9: Rev 3:18 and more). However, examples closer to the notion of putting something on the head of someone else are: Lev 20:9 For everyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death. He has cursed his father or his mother. His blood shall be upon him. The principle expressed here is clear and consistent as the following verses show:

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Reasoning The Scriptures
In Josh 2:19 (The two spies said to Rahab in Jericho) "So it shall be that whoever goes outside the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we will be guiltless. And whoever is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head if a hand is laid on him."
In 2Sam 1:16 David said to (the Amalekite who killed Saul), "Your blood is on your own head, for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have killed the Lord’s anointed.’"
In 2Sam 3:29 we read David’s response to Joab’s revenge murder of Abner: "Let it rest on the head of Joab and on all his father’s house; and let there never fail to be in the house of Joab one who has a discharge or is a leper, who leans on a staff or falls by the sword, or who lacks bread."
In Ezk 33 we read of the responsibilities of God’s watchman to warn: vv 4-5 then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, if the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be on his own head. 5 He heard the sound of the trumpet, but did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But he who takes warning will save his life.
And in Acts 18:6 we read: But when they [Jews in the synagogue in Corinth] opposed him [Paul] and blasphemed, he shook his garments and said to them, "Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles." The following also express the same concept: Deut 5:9; Lam 5:7; Ezk 18:13; Hos 12:14; Matt 23:35-36; Acts 5:38. So it would seem reasonable to suggest that the laying of the sins of the nation upon the head of the goat for Azazel, for removal into the wilderness, signifies removing the guilt and blame from the congregation and putting it upon the goat for Azazel.christ’s responsibility was to be the Lamb of God, the sin offering, the willing sacrifice and bear the sins of the world . It is impossible for the great multitude to become the scapegoat , bear the sins of the congregation and make atonement for the people of the world ( Israel) Apostle Paul clearly unfolds the type and the antitype of the Atonement sacrifices ,that the blood of the BULLS (for Arone and his family) and GOATS ( for the nation of Israel) can Justifiy typically the nation of Israel once a year then HOW MUCH GREAT IS THE BLOOD OF CHRIST THE ANTYTYPE OF ALL THE SACRIFICES WHICH IS ABLE OT JUSTIFIY REALY, ALL WHO COME UNDER IT ETERNALY

Hebrews 9:13.Neither by the blood of goats and calves, 9:13 calves but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption [for us].14.For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh 15.How How much more shall the blood of Christ, Christ who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? Hebrews 10:4For [it is] not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away 10:4 sins. 5.Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me (the antitypical Goat and the bull) The Greater Scapegoat

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Reasoning The Scriptures It is evident and clear from the scriptures that JESUS CHRIST ALONE is the sin offering, Atonement, Ransom for all

Hebrews 10:6 In burnt offerings and [sacrifices] for sin(ie sin offerings and burnt offering) thou hast had no pleasure. Hebrews 10:7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God ( Christ alone come to do the will of God as a sin offering and burnt offering with the perfect Human body Hebrews 10:8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and [offering] for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure [therein]; which are offered by the law (as in the day of atonement) Hebrews 10:9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.(in the first advent took away the law covenant and established a New covenant ratified by his own blood Luke 22:20-22) Hebrews 10:10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once [for all] the body here referred is not the Church the Symbolical body AS SOME SUPPOSE but the real fleshly BODY OF CHRIST OFFERED ON THE CROSS ONCE AS A SIN SIN OFFERING AND RANSOM SANCTIFIETH ALL THE HUMAN BEING Hebrew 7:27Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself It refers to the typical atonement sacrifices in both its parts, and then in no uncertain words describes their antitype, telling what was done, who did it, when it was done, and what it was that represented by the bullock and the goat: and summing up is "this he did once, when he offered up himself' analyze these last words, comparing them with that which you try to explain, and note the explicitness with which the apostle states himself in this subject-

"THIS:"THIS offering sacrifice for the whole world including those who would become his joint heirs "HE":"HE" Jesus, himself, our high priest. "DID':"DID' past tense, action completed some time before A.D. 64, when the book of Hebrews is believed to have been written "ONCE;"ONCE Greek ephapax means "once for all no repetition required. "WHEN HE OFFERED UP HIMSELF":HIMSELF" no supplements or additional required. Christ is the antitype in his own person of the typical bullock and the typical goat. It was " The Greater Scapegoat

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Reasoning The Scriptures finished" on the Calvary, as proven buy the miraculous rending of the temple veil at the time of our lord’s death, this showing that the typical usefulness of that veil and if the typical mercy-seat behind it was not past- mark 15;38, Lk 23:45. In Hebrews 9:13,14 reference is again made to the typical bullocks and goats and to them are added the ashes of an heifer used to accomplished the typical cleansing that might required by individuals from time after the atonement for the past sins had been made. The blood of Christ who offered himself( note again the past tense and the reference to Jesus’ finished offering), is set forth as the antitype of all these; thus showing its efficacy, not only to atone for past sin, but also to clean from the present transgressions 1john 1;7-9, Paul not only attempted to encourage the Jews to come into Christ fully, but also attempted and proved that Christ’s sacrifice is the REAL ANTITYPE of the all the sacrifices offered in the Law that is the reason he compares the old and the new covenant and explains its contrasts Apostle Paul tells what sort of offering the church has to offer in Heb 13;13-16 'By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of [our] lips giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased' the sacrifices which we offer are not in the nature of offering FOR SINS, but rather the thank offerings of prayer and praise from grateful hearts, "by him, therefore let us offer the SACRIFICE OF PRAISE TO GOD CONTINUALY, THAT IS THE FRUIT OF OUR LIPS GIVING, let us then with all our hearts appreciate the privilege if bearing reproaches similar to those happened upon him, in the hope that we shall in the end be made partakers of his glory. Apart from the offerings mentioned by Paul I think there is nothing to offer for the little flock.

Leviticus 16:10: 16:10 “ 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.” (KJV) Leviticus 16:2016:20-22: 22 “When Aaron has finished making atonement for the Most Holy Place, the Tent of Meeting and the altar, he shall bring forward the live goat. He is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites -- all their sins -- and put them on the goat's head. He shall send the goat away into the desert in the care of a man appointed for the task. The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a solitary place; place and the man shall release it in the desert." desert. (NIV) Because the Lord’s goat had been slain and its blood had satisfied God’s Justice and prepared the way for men to have access to Him, we now have another aspect of Jesus’ sin offering which shows how the personal sins of the people have also been removed. The “scapegoat, as verse 10 clearly states, is used to “make an atonement.” We see in the Scapegoat a beautiful picture of how the effect of the atonement and the removal of all our sins is viewed by the Lord. As mentioned earlier, it is important to recognize the significance of the description of "A A sin offering" of the two goats as being but one "sin The Greater Scapegoat

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Reasoning The Scriptures offering", but showing two aspects of the sin offering “for the people.” The casting of lots (vs. 8) to determine what each goat would be used for in no way negates the fact that both goats are but one sin offering shown in two parts. If this were not not the case, we should find some kind of statement to that effect, and since there is none, it would be an assumption to say that after the casting of lots, the live goat was now no longer a part of that one "sin offering". Let us now consider the significance of the Scapegoat further. The reason that two goats were used to represent one sin offering is that it would have been impossible to show both aspects with a single animal. The purpose of the "live goat" or "scapegoat" was to show the effect of the atonement as viewed by God. It most beautifully shows how God forgives and forgets the sins of the people because of Jesus’ sacrifice. This "live goat" pictures the effect that Jesus' sacrifice has in regard to man's sins. Jesus bore away all the sins of all mankind on the cross. As the scapegoat was led into the wilderness, a place not inhabited, to suffer and die there, never to return, so Jesus was led away, bearing all the sins of all mankind into death (a place not inhabited) on Calvary's Cross. Jesus only was worthy to bear or carry out this grand feature of God's plan for the redemption of man.. The "fit fit man" man that led the scapegoat into the wilderness, a place not inhabited, was required to wash himself when he returned (vs. 24), inferring that no trace was to be left of the sins that were borne away. Isaiah 53:8: 53:8 “He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: living for the transgression of my people was he stricken. “ (KJV) Isaiah 53:12: 53:12 “ Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” transgressors (KJV) Heb. 10:17: 10:17 "And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more." more. (KJV) Psalm 103:12: 103:12 “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he transgressions from us.” (KJV)

removed our

Our sins are remembered no more because Jesus, as our Saviour, has borne them away, as well as any memory of them, into "a place not inhabited". By God's grace, and by the sacrifice of Jesus' shed blood, they are forever dead. In Christ's earthly Kingdom, natural Israel and the rest of the world will also have their sins "remembered no more", when they too recognize Jesus as their ransoming Saviour, for all men's sins and transgressions were borne away by Jesus on the Cross of Calvary. Hebrews 9:28: 9:28 "So Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him." (NIV)

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Reasoning The Scriptures Hebrews 2:17: 2:17 "For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people." (NIV) 2 Corinthians 5:185:18-19: 19 "All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation." (NIV) Hebrews 9:12Neither by the blood of goats and calves, 9:12-14: 14 “Neither calves but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies to the purifying of the flesh: 14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, urge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (KJV) Please note: It is only Jesus’ blood that Paul contrasts to all the blood of the animals and even to the heifer of Num.19:2 which also was to be “without spot or blemish.”

Hebrews 13:13 " Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach." (KJV) Many applications have been made in regard to this text. This is possible if it is taken out of its context and a meaning is assigned to it other than that which the writer intended. Two thoughts in this text must be considered in our pursuit of a proper understanding. First, what does it mean for us "to go to him outside the camp?" Second, how can we "bear his reproach?" "Let Let us, then, go to Him outside the camp" Jesus bore the ultimate reproach or disgrace on the Cross where He was crucified by wicked men as a blasphemer of His beloved Father. Golgatha, (the place of the skull) where Jesus died, was outside the city gates of Jerusalem. The camp, in the Old Testament types, was where the Israelites lived when they rested from their wanderings. The "camp" in our text is figurative of the city of Jerusalem where many Jews lived. To "go to him outside the camp" is directing us to go outside the confines in which the world lives. Here, outside the camp, is where Jesus left behind the world's sin and traditional religion. Christ was not of the world (John 8:23). His life and testimony were a constant protest against conformity with the world. While his affection for the people was overflowing, he still was "separate from sinners." (Hebrews 7:26) This life of separation was a way of mingled sorrow and joy for our Savior. Sorrow because "He trod the winepress alone" (Isaiah 63:3) and "endured such contradiction of sinners against himself". (Hebrews 12:3) Jesus was repeatedly tested by the Pharisees whose determined goal was to entrap him in

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Reasoning The Scriptures some way, so that they could have him put to death. Joy was our Lord's, because he was continually pleasing to his Father, delighting in His fellowship and the doing of His will perfectly. " Bearing His disgrace " It is when we go "outside the camp" of the world's domain, and associate ourselves with the Cross of Jesus Christ that we begin to bear "His disgrace". How does this come about? We find the answer to this question in the same context just two verse later. Hebrews 13:15 tells us how the world's scorn will come upon us just as it did upon Jesus. "Through Jesus,

therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise -- the fruit of lips that confess his name." It is when we acknowledge, confess and proclaim Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior to the unbelieving world, urging them to repent of their sins and to encouraging them to lay hold of Jesus as their personal Saviour, that we are very apt to bear his scorn and disgrace. It is also by the life we live that we "confess" we are Jesus' followers and that we are pilgrims and strangers in this world. We are to bear witness to Jesus and the truths that he proclaimed. We are to walk the straight and narrow path just as he did. We must have bold and lion-like hearts, putting the love of Christ first and His truth next. These go well beyond all the world has to offer with it's 'empty pride'. The life of separation may be a path of sorrow but it is also a path of spiritual safety. When we are obedient in "offering the sacrifice of praise", there will be a cost to our reputation, but it is, nevertheless, a joyful experience because we know that it is pleasing to God. A sacrifice always has a cost attached to it. Something must be given up. Jesus gave himself as a sacrifice for our sins. We sacrifice by giving verbal praise to his name whatever the cost might be to us personally. It is with his heart that a man believes and then confesses his beliefs with his lips. (Rom. 10:10) Yes, we are to offer up continually this sacrifice of praise regardless of the reaction that might result from those who would belittle or heap scorn upon us. We should, as the Apostles did, count it a great privilege and honor to suffer with Jesus. No joy could be greater than that of being a Soldier of the Cross. Jesus, our Captain, reveals himself so graciously to us, giving us all the instruction, loving support and encouragement we need. So much so that even as his warriors we can feel more calm and peace in daily strife than sinners in their hours of rest. This narrow way of life and fellowship with Jesus is a most precious one. We will win the

"crown of life" if we are enabled by divine grace to follow Christ "outside the camp bearing His reproach." This crown of glory will follow the cross of separation. A moment's shame will be well compensated for in our Eternal Home, where we shall see Him "face to face" and "be forever with the Lord!" We Are Fools For Christ's Sake The Apostle Paul was not concerned for his reputation as long as it did not reflect adversely upon the name of Jesus. In 1 Corinthians 4:10 he says, "We are fools for Christ's

sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we The Greater Scapegoat

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Reasoning The Scriptures are despised." Our concern should not be that the world think highly of us. If need be, let us be fools for Christ's sake, for that will be well-pleasing to Him. Let us not be like the man in this following story. "A young man was looking for work during his summer break from college. He had the opportunity to work in a logging camp in northern Maine. The last Sunday before leaving he attended church as usual and after the service he mentioned his plans to his minister. The minister tried to talk him out of his decision for he had heard of the rough reputation of these camps and felt it was certainly not a place for a young Christian to spend his summer. He told this young man that when these men found out he was a Christian they would devour his Christianity. The young man would not be dissuaded, so the minister told him that he would pray for him while he was away. Upon his return home at the end of the summer, he attended the Sunday service. The minister saw him sitting in one of the pews and could hardly wait to talk with him. After the service the minister asked the young man how he had fared and if his faith had held up under the onslaught. The young man responded, 'Oh, I had no problem at all. They never asked me if I was a Christian and I never told them!'" This young man never went "outside the camp" and never offered the "sacrifice of praise" spoken of in Hebrews. The result was that he never bore the disgrace of his Saviour being fearful of what his testimony would bring. This young man lost the privilege of suffering for Christ. He did not confess a good confession before men. The only 'confession' he made was that of a spiritual Sphinx! Not Ashamed Jesus said in Mark 8:38 " If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels." Let this not be so of us. Let us always be willing to offer the sacrifice of praise. May we be like the prophet Jeremiah, who said that God's word was like a fire in his heart and bones and he had to tell it out. (Jeremiah 20:9) Let us emulate Peter and John, who when the Pharisees commanded them not to speak anymore in the name of the Lord, responded with, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard." (Acts 4:18-20) May we, like these faithful 'Hero's of Faith of bygone days, rejoice to be counted worthy to bear the reproach of Christ before men. "Blessed are you when men shall revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in heaven...." (Matthew 5:11,12) Why Jesus is Our Scapegoat 1. Jesus bore our sins at Calvary. 2. Jesus died in our place the death we deserved to die. 3. Jesus’ death on the cross fulfilled the figure of the atonement of the two goats. Our sins were atoned by the shed blood of the Lord’s goat and removed from us completely by the Living Scapegoat, Jesus. 4. Jesus, in bearing the sins of God’s people makes our salvation a reality even though we are not worthy. 5. Great Multitude has no part in bearing the sins of God’s people and can never be the scapegoat. The Greater Scapegoat

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