“As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12).
Have you ever hurt someone and wished you could take it back? A harsh word, a broken promise, a moment of betrayal—once it’s done, the damage is often permanent. Think of how one act of infidelity can hurt a marriage forever. As the saying goes, “Trust takes years to build, seconds to break, and forever to repair.”
That’s the heavy weight of guilt, and it can linger like a stain on your soul.
You can try to forget it or live differently, but nothing seems to take it away. You can't bear your own guilt away.
That’s why the message of the Day of Atonement in Leviticus 16 matters so deeply. As we prepare our hearts for Easter, it helps to meditate on Old Testament passages that foreshadow the cross. The Day of Atonement is one such passage, and it shows us that we can't erase our guilt on our own—but God can.
Once a year, the high priest would enter the Most Holy Place to make atonement for the sins of the people of Israel. But he couldn’t just enter on his own terms, any more than anyone can be saved on their own terms. He had to follow God’s specific instructions—first purifying himself with sacrifices and ceremonial washing, and then offering two goats for the sins of the nation. Each goat represented a different aspect of one sacrifice for sin.
One goat was sacrificed, its blood sprinkled in the Holiest of Holies to cleanse it from the pollution of sin. This represented the need to satisfy the claims of God, such as for justice. Sin requires a penalty, and that cost is death. But instead of demanding sinners to pay that price themselves, God, in His mercy, accepted a substitute. One animal life was substituted for the sins of the whole nation. In that way, Israel was being trained to expect a sin-bearing Messiah who would die for the sins of the world (John 1:29). This act was done privately, by the high priest, in the Tabernacle, and not in view of the people.
The second goat—the scapegoat—wasn’t killed. Instead, the high priest would lay hands on it, confess Israel’s sins, and symbolically transfer them to the goat. Then, in view of all the people, the goat was sent away into the wilderness, never to be seen again. It was a vivid picture of what God does with our guilt: He removes it completely. The scapegoat was also God’s assurance to the people that the sacrifice had been accepted and their sins were atoned for.
Are you tormented by guilt? “All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand,” said Lady Macbeth, imagining that her hands were still covered with King Duncan’s blood. She couldn’t clear her conscience no matter how hard she washed. No one can remove their own guilt. But God can. He doesn't just cover sin—He removes it. And when He removes it, it’s gone for good.
This Day of Atonement foreshadowed the work of Jesus Christ.
If you’re carrying guilt today, hear this: Jesus already carried it for you. You can’t undo your past, but you don’t have to. Jesus is your atonement. He’s your righteousness.
And when He takes away your sin—it’s gone for good.
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Send your questions or comments to shawn@freegrace.in.
Read his latest book, The Myth of Tithing and the Joy of Grace Giving by getting it from us or from Amazon.
