Jim, in response to yesterday's entry. You mentioned Colossians 3:2. I like to do Bible Memorization so I'm going to add that one to my collection of verses.
Everyone: Keep your AWESOME COMMENTS coming in! Leviticus chapter 16.
A specific atonement was to be done by the priest once a year for the forgiveness of sins for all of Israel. Specific instructions were given on how it was to be performed. A bull, two Rams and two goats were presented before the Lord. All animals were sacrificed before the Lord except for one goat. It was called the scapegoat. The priest was to confess all the sins of the Israelites upon it, then it was to be released in the wilderness. The goat carried the sins of the people into a remote place. Never to be seen again. What a picture of Jesus we have with the scapegoat because Jesus took on the sins of the world. He made a sacrifice once and for all for the forgiveness of sins: forgiven and removed as far as the East is from the West. Hebrews 8:12 says for I will forgive their wickedness and remember their sins no more. Hebrews 10:17 says then the Lord adds, their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more. Psalm 103:12 says as far as the East is from the West, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
How many times have we heard someone say, or maybe we have said it ourselves, “God won't want me.” “You don't know what I've done.” Or perhaps we have struggled with an addiction or a repeated sin for so long, we listen to the lies that God has had enough of us. He's tired of us. Once we listen to the lie, we quit trying. We quit confessing our sins and we just give in to temptation thinking there's no hope. We have two options:
- Believe the lies of the enemy that we are no good and we are horrible people full of terrible sins with no hope of forgiveness, and therefore no hope of life with Christ in heaven. Or
- We can believe that God's love is greater than anyone, anything, any thought and any sin. That because of his great love, forgiveness is available to ALL despite the sin. We have to receive it. Forgiveness is powerful and gives us hope for eternal life with God in heaven.
What do we tend to believe each day? What message of Hope are we presenting to those around us?
I think that Colossians 3:2 would be a good verse to memorize.
I don’t ever remember hearing about Azazel ever before until reading about him this morning and the connection somehow with the scapegoat. I’m thinking about John 8:36 today. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
I love getting educated with the bible. That being said, I have heard the term “scapegoat” before, but didn’t realize that it came from the bible. I learned something interesting today, how what & why is a scapegoat.