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"Because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their
transgressions in all their sins" (Lev. 16: 16).
"In all their sins." This must not be minimized.
Atonement has been made
concerning all the sins of the people.
Secondly we read:--
"And when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy place" (Lev. 16: 20).
This is a reference to verse 16, and assures us that the work of atonement was
"finished", "ended", "accomplished", as the word kalah is translated. Even in dealing
with types of the offering of Christ, it is a serious thing to introduce any measure of
uncertainty.
Thirdly:--
"When he hath made an end of reconciling the holy place . . . . . he shall bring the live
goat . . . . . and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their
transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat" (Lev. 16: 20, 21).
By comparing verse 16 with verse 21 we find that atonement was made for Israel's
transgressions in all their sins, and confession was made of all these transgressions in all
their sins. These confessed sins were forgiven sins, and the whole point of the passage
turns upon confession. Psa. 32: and Psa. 51: bear eloquent and moving testimony to
the need for the confession of sins, even though they be atoned for.
"When I kept silence my bones waxed old . . . . . I acknowledged my sins . . . . . I said
I will confess my transgressions" (Psa. 32: 1-5).
"Wash me . . . . . cleanse me . . . . . for I acknowledge my transgressions" (Psa. 51: 2, 3).
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us
from all unrighteousness" (I John 1: 9).
Some have asked whether, if the epistles assure us that God has forgiven us all
trespasses, it is of faith that we ask to be forgiven. The Scriptures written for our learning
do not teach us to ask for forgiveness, but it is for our moral good that, while rejoicing in
the freedom of His grace, we nevertheless confess our sinnership. It is just as true for us
as for Israel that we should both confess and forsake all known evil (Psa. 28: 13),
otherwise we may come under the judgment of Rom. 6:, and be found teaching that,
because we are under grace, we may continue in sin.
Fourthly, these atoned-for and confessed sins are now sent away:--
"Confess over him . . . . . and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the
wilderness . . . . . unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness"
(Lev. 16: 21).
Jewish tradition has unwarrantably mutilated this part of the inspired law. We read in
their account that the live goat was taken to some precipitous place and there dashed to