SSalvation 101: The Scapegoat That Carried It All Away
Key Text: “And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities… and the goat shall carry upon him all their sins into a land not inhabited.” Leviticus 16:21-22
On the Day of Atonement, God introduced a picture of forgiveness that went beyond sacrifice. Two goats were presented. One was killed, and the other was released. This already tells us something important. Forgiveness is not just about paying a price; it is about removing a burden. The priest placed his hands on the living goat and confessed all the sins of the people over it. In that moment, guilt was transferred. The goat became the carrier, not the people. Salvation has always involved substitution.
The scriptures made us understand that the scapegoat was not killed near the camp. It was sent far away into the wilderness, to a place where no one lived. God was making a statement. Sin was not to be recycled, revisited, or remembered. It was to be removed. The people watched the goat walk away until it disappeared. When it was gone, the sins were gone. This was not symbolic drama. It was divine reassurance. Mercy wanted the people to see forgiveness happening.
Most of us believe God has forgiven us, yet we still carry guilt like an unpaid debt. We remember what God has chosen to forget. But the scapegoat teaches us that salvation includes distance. Christ did not just die for your sins; He carried them away. They are not waiting in storage to be used against you later. Grace has removed them completely. Freedom begins when your conscience agrees with what the cross has accomplished.
Prayers and Confession
Father, thank You that Jesus carried my sins away. I confess that I am forgiven, cleansed, and free from guilt and condemnation. I release the past and receive peace. Amen.
Reflection
Are you still carrying guilt that Christ has already removed? What would change if you truly believed your sins are gone for good?
Further Reading: Leviticus 16, Psalm 103:11-12, Isaiah 53:6, John 1:29, Hebrews 10:17-18
