Who
Is
The Scapegoat of The Lord?
In our society, we use the term “scapegoat” to refer to someone who takes responsibility for the wrongdoings of a group. For example a group of persons might have worked together to embezzle money from a company they own or work for (actually stealing discretely). If the theft is discovered, one of them may elect to admit to committing the crime, but not mention the other people involved. In this way, many guilty people may go free while only the scapegoat is punished.
The word “scapegoat” comes from the following scripture:
Leviticus 16:7-10 And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 8 And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the Lord, and the other lot for the scapegoat.
9 And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the Lord's lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering.
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.
The Hebrew word translated scapegoat means “the goat that left” (the goat that escaped death). So we see that the people that escaped are actually the “scapegoats”.
The word “atonement” means to cover or bring reconciliation; to bring peace.
Jesus used this law of reconciliation to make peace possible between us and God. Let’s consider what happened when Jesus was brought before Pilate:
Mark 15:6-15 Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired.
7 And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection.
8 And the multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them.
9 But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?
10 For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy.
11 But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them.
12 And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews?
13 And they cried out again, Crucify him.
14 Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him.
15 And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.
-Barrabas, the wicked man, was released to go free.
-Jesus, the innocent man, was tortured and killed.
Isaiah 40:1-2 Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.
2 Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins.
-We have received DOUBLE (a substitute) for our sins!
1 Peter 2:21-25 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree (the cross), that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
Isaiah 53:3-6 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
We know that Jesus died for our sins, yet we are warned that most of us will die in our sins. Most of us will finally be cast into Hell… How do we let Jesus take our place at the judgement? How do we find this peace that we read about? How do we receive His salvation and His Holy Spirit?
Galatians 3:6-14 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree (the cross):
14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
To believe means to be convinced. Are you convinced that Jesus died to save you? Are you convinced that Jesus wants to save you?
Isaiah 53:3 says that you’ve been hiding your face from Him… You’ve been living in dark places and trying to keep secrets from God.
You’ve been living in sin and selfishness. Intentionally staying away from God and His people. Would you like things to change?
When someone is born again, they don’t go back to the beginning of their “old” life. God does not offer you a “do over”. The scriptures say that you’ve been living under the law. Jesus wants you to live a NEW life under His Grace.
FAITH is trust. Jesus wants you to trust Him with your life. Will you TRUST Him with your future?
That change of heart: deciding to seek God, deciding to live FOR God, deciding to LOVE God… Changing your heart toward God is Repentance.
If you repent, Jesus will pay off your old “law” account with God and open a new “Grace” account!
-Your sins (and the guilt they bring you) will be washed away!
-You will receive PEACE with God!
-You will receive God’s Helper for you; the Holy Spirit.
If you are SERIOUS about SERVING God, you will declare it PUBLICALLY.
-You will tell others what Jesus has done for you.
-You will be water baptized to tell everyone that you have decided
to live for Christ.
It is a wonderful thing to turn to God without fear of His wrath and judgement! I know because I have done that years ago.
-Jesus the Son of God died to remove God’s wrath from you.
-God the Father declared that His wrath was gone when He raised
Jesus from the dead.
-God the Holy Spirit is touching hearts every day to convince them
that each one of us should put our faith in Jesus to save them.
Will you trust Jesus today?
The Scapegoat of The Lord?
In our society, we use the term “scapegoat” to refer to someone who takes responsibility for the wrongdoings of a group. For example a group of persons might have worked together to embezzle money from a company they own or work for (actually stealing discretely). If the theft is discovered, one of them may elect to admit to committing the crime, but not mention the other people involved. In this way, many guilty people may go free while only the scapegoat is punished.
The word “scapegoat” comes from the following scripture:
Leviticus 16:7-10 And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 8 And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the Lord, and the other lot for the scapegoat.
9 And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the Lord's lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering.
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.
The Hebrew word translated scapegoat means “the goat that left” (the goat that escaped death). So we see that the people that escaped are actually the “scapegoats”.
The word “atonement” means to cover or bring reconciliation; to bring peace.
Jesus used this law of reconciliation to make peace possible between us and God. Let’s consider what happened when Jesus was brought before Pilate:
Mark 15:6-15 Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired.
7 And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection.
8 And the multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them.
9 But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?
10 For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy.
11 But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them.
12 And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews?
13 And they cried out again, Crucify him.
14 Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him.
15 And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.
-Barrabas, the wicked man, was released to go free.
-Jesus, the innocent man, was tortured and killed.
Isaiah 40:1-2 Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.
2 Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins.
-We have received DOUBLE (a substitute) for our sins!
1 Peter 2:21-25 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree (the cross), that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
Isaiah 53:3-6 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
We know that Jesus died for our sins, yet we are warned that most of us will die in our sins. Most of us will finally be cast into Hell… How do we let Jesus take our place at the judgement? How do we find this peace that we read about? How do we receive His salvation and His Holy Spirit?
Galatians 3:6-14 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree (the cross):
14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
To believe means to be convinced. Are you convinced that Jesus died to save you? Are you convinced that Jesus wants to save you?
Isaiah 53:3 says that you’ve been hiding your face from Him… You’ve been living in dark places and trying to keep secrets from God.
You’ve been living in sin and selfishness. Intentionally staying away from God and His people. Would you like things to change?
When someone is born again, they don’t go back to the beginning of their “old” life. God does not offer you a “do over”. The scriptures say that you’ve been living under the law. Jesus wants you to live a NEW life under His Grace.
FAITH is trust. Jesus wants you to trust Him with your life. Will you TRUST Him with your future?
That change of heart: deciding to seek God, deciding to live FOR God, deciding to LOVE God… Changing your heart toward God is Repentance.
If you repent, Jesus will pay off your old “law” account with God and open a new “Grace” account!
-Your sins (and the guilt they bring you) will be washed away!
-You will receive PEACE with God!
-You will receive God’s Helper for you; the Holy Spirit.
If you are SERIOUS about SERVING God, you will declare it PUBLICALLY.
-You will tell others what Jesus has done for you.
-You will be water baptized to tell everyone that you have decided
to live for Christ.
It is a wonderful thing to turn to God without fear of His wrath and judgement! I know because I have done that years ago.
-Jesus the Son of God died to remove God’s wrath from you.
-God the Father declared that His wrath was gone when He raised
Jesus from the dead.
-God the Holy Spirit is touching hearts every day to convince them
that each one of us should put our faith in Jesus to save them.
Will you trust Jesus today?
