____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ October 8, 2000 ____________________________________________________ The Scapegoat by Maurice Barnett The ``cross'' is used literally in scripture to refer to the actual wooden beams on which Jesus was killed. But, it is also used as a symbolical figure of speech of the sacrifice of Jesus that involves more than just the literal crucifixion. It is used figuratively in various passages, such as I Corinthians 1:18-23, to stand for the entire gospel, all that was necessary for our salvation; when they ``preached the cross'' they did not just talk about the literal wooden beams. This is made clear by I Corinthians 15:16-17, which says, ``For if the dead are not raised, neither hath Christ been raised: and if Christ hath not been raised your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.'' If Jesus had just died only, there could have been no salvation. Just His death was not enough to accomplish reconciliation with God. This is why the heart of gospel preaching is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. We must also add the thought that He had to ascend to heaven to complete the offering for sin; He had to be raised from the dead in order to do that. The death of the goat and the sprinkling of his blood by the High Priest on the day of Atonement, Leviticus 16, was but a shadow pointing to this role that Jesus would play in our reconciliation with God. Two essential acts were performed at that point on the day of Atonement. First, the animal was slain by taking its blood, its ``life.'' This goat was designated ``for Jehovah,'' as an ``offering for sin.'' Second, the High Priest took the blood of that animal into the Holy of Holies to sprinkle there for atonement. Both acts were essential to making that atonement! This shadow of what was to come is clearly indicated in Hebrews 9. That chapter begins with describing these two acts and then says in verse 9, ``which is a figure for the time present.'' In verse 22 it emphasizes, ``apart from shedding of blood there is no remission.'' Jesus was, first, the sacrifice slain: He shed His blood on the literal cross, gave His life. Following His resurrection, He ascended into heaven, and, acting as High Priest, offered His own blood before God in the heavenly Holy of Holies to complete the offering for sin. Hebrews 9:23-26, speaking of the necessity of blood shed, ``It was necessary therefore that the copies of the things in the heavens (earthly Holy of Holies, MB) should be cleansed with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ entered not into a holy place made with hands, like in pattern to the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear before the face of God for us: nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place year by year with blood not his own; else must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world but now once at the end of the ages hath he been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.'' This is why just the death of Jesus on the literal cross was not sufficient to bring remission of sins. For us to focus all attention and emphasis involved in redemption at the time of the death of Jesus is to ignore the scheme of redemption, nullify the gospel, violating scripture. But, where does the scapegoat enter the picture? It is usually used to support the substitution theory that Jesus took our place on the cross, and that it refers to Jesus literally ``bearing'' our sins while on the literal cross. None of this is true. As the first goat is designated ``for Jehovah,'' the second goat is designated ``for Azazel.'' There has been some controversy over the meaning of Azazel. Its most likely meaning is in keeping with what was done with the scapegoat, it means ``removal.'' That is, it symbolized the removal of the sins of the people. Indeed, the word ``scapegoat'' comes from the old English ``escapegoat,'' that is, the goat ``escaped'' into the wilderness. Let's look at some facts concerning the scapegoat to help us put it in its proper place. First, Jesus is never likened to the scapegoat! He is connected only to the first goat, the one for Jehovah, the one whose blood was shed and then sprinkled in the Most Holy Place, as we have already seen. Second, the scapegoat appears in the scenario only after the offering for atonement in the Holy of Holies, Leviticus 16:20, that furnishes the shadow of what Jesus did. If one should say that the scapegoat was also chosen to ``make atonement'' as was the other goat, keep in mind that when the poor offered fine flour for a sin-offering it was also referred to as ``atonement,'' Leviticus 5:11-13; no blood was shed. The fact that the English word ``atonement'' was used does not establish that the scapegoat's place was in the death of Jesus on the cross. The scapegoat was not slain, none of its blood was shed; it could not have portrayed any of what Jesus did on the literal cross. Remember that only by blood that is shed and offered can there be remission of sins. Third, if the scapegoat enters the picture at all in the New Testament order, it would have to be after Jesus ascended into heaven and completed His offering for sin. If the scapegoat has any counterpart in what Jesus did for redemption, it could only have come after He sat down at the right hand of God, ``when he had made purification for sins,'' (Hebrews 1:3). It could only be a symbol of the ``removal'' of sins just as it was on the day of Atonement. -- The Gospel Anchor, January 1999 ___________________________________________ ''Rejoice in the Lord Always'' by Leon E. Cathey 4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:4-7, NASUpdated). Paul's tenth letter could be called the ``Epistle of Joy'' for this epistles has very little censure, mostly encouragement, and the words joy or rejoice occur fourteen times. The thread of commonality running through the three Greek words translated as the English words joy or rejoice is more than just being happy, cheerful, and jolly on the outside but an inside attitude producing an outside action. Paul's attitude is a joy based on hope; a future joy experienced as joy in the present, even in the face of death and hardship. When Paul tells his readers to rejoice it is more than be cheerful when things are going your way or if those around you are cheerful; he is telling them to ``rejoice always,'' regardless of the circumstances. At the time Paul writes this letter, he is a political prisoner in Rome--a prisoner for Jesus Christ. (What he preaches concerning the plan of salvation and the Lord's kingdom is contrary to the politically correct doctrine of the time.) Thus, we find Paul, a man behind bars, writing to the saints at Philippi, who are not prisoners, encouraging them to not to be burdened down with the cares and anxiety of this world. As with the saints in Philippi many today required this encouragement from Paul the prisoner. Which generates this question: What was there in Paul's makeup enabling him to encourage others when he should, so it would seem, require encouragement from those on the outside? Our study shall be to ponder what enabled Paul, while in prison, to rejoice, and encourage others to rejoice. We shall consider Paul's three attitude builders. The Study: Faithful Saints 3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, 5 in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it unto, the day of Christ Jesus. 7 For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you are partakers of grace with me. 8 For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment (Philippians 1:3-9, NASUpdated). This passage informs the Christians in Philippi they are one of Paul's attitude builders, they were his occasion of joy. Paul was thankful for their fellowship and confident that they would remain faithful until the day of Christ Jesus. Their fellowship with Paul was no small effort for later in this same letter he again mentions their participation in the gospel: 14 Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction. 15 You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone; 16 for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs (Philippians 4:14-16, NASUpdated). Paul's love for them and their growing love for the Word and its spreading, as seen by their actions, caused Paul to rejoice. As with Paul, our love for those growing in love for the Lord and those having a desire to know more is reason for us to rejoice always. Bad Is Good 12 Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, 13 so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else, 14 and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear (Philippians 1:12-14, NASUpdate). What appeared to be an action harmful to the gospel, Paul's imprisonment, was in reality good for the gospel's spread. Paul's imprisonment enabled him: 1) tell those he would normally not reach about the gospel and 2) help others see standing up for Christ and his gospel is not greater than their ``pain threshold.'' Paul's point: Enemies of the gospel felt they hindered the proclaiming of the gospel message, but just the opposite happened. Paul's injustice at the hands of the Jews [Acts 25:1-11] caused Caesar's household to learn the truth [Philippians 4:22]. Paul was able to rejoice, thinking about all the good coming from his adversity. As with Paul, knowing others are encouraged by our confidence in God's ability to use adverse situations to spread the gospel is reason for us to rejoice always. Unity 1 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interest, but also for the interest of others (Philippians 2:1-4, NASUpdated). Unity of saints in Philippi proved they were worthy of Paul's love for them and joy in them. As with Paul, efforts (striving) of saints in Christ Jesus to love one another and have the same regard (be of the same mind) for serving God is reason for us to rejoice always. Conclusion and Application Paul's outward man was in a Roman prison but his inward man was among those who loved the Lord. From Paul's statements it is obvious he made an effort to think on things enabling him to rejoice, not in spite of his adverse situation, but because of the positive consequences of his adverse situations. Paul makes two statements expressing the fruit of his rejoice-always-attitude builders: Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things (Philippians 4:8, NASUpdated). Rejoice always demands we determine to think, as did Paul, on things of God: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13, NASUpdated). Paul knew he was not alone. God was still on his throne; Jesus was still at His right and ruling His kingdom. Lack of rejoicing is the fruit of allowing, in our thinking and attitude, the things of the world to crowd out the things of God. Peruse, Ponder, and Practice -- Via The Nobel Search ___________________________________________ NEWS & NOTES Let us be praying for Mae Cornette, for she has not been feeling well. The Gospel Meeting in Gettysburg with Melvin Curry begins today and will run through Friday. I enjoyed preaching last night in Bethlehem, PA. Everything went well, and there were several visitors from elsewhere. ________________________________________ Avondale CHURCH OF CHRIST P.O. Box 421 1606 Glen Willow Rd., Avondale, PA 19311 (610) 268-2088 Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Bible class 11:00 A.M. Worship 6:00 P.M. Worship Wednesday: 7:00 P.M. Bible study evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (610) 925-3567 e-mail: tedwards@onemain.com web site: http://www.mypage.onemain.com/tedwards/avondale ________________________________________