8th February 2025

8th February 2025


Pray (ACts)


Read (Leviticus 16v20-22)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


Christ is the propitiation of our sins, He is the sacrifice that turns away the wrath of God. Additionally in Christ we can speak of the expiation of our sins. What do we mean by expiation? Jesus has removed our sins from us as far as the east is from the west. Does the Lord keep our a record of our sin to hold against us at a later stage? By no means! Christ’s sacrifice is the means by which full amends has been made for our sin.


Consider the second goat of Leviticus 16. Aaron would take this goat and lay his hand upon it’s head, then he would confess over it all of the sins of the people of Israel. Once this act had been completed the second goat would exit the camp and be set free in the wilderness. This symbolic act attested to the people that just as the goat could no longer be seen, God would no longer hold their sin against them. They were gone. They were no more.


This “scapegoat” was not the Saviour of God’s people but years later Christ would carry our sins outside the city and make an end to them at the cross (Hebrews 13v12-14). The expiation of our sin took place at Calvary where Christ was put forward as our propitiation. That’s a wordy sentence but full of truth. Christ’s work turns God’s wrath away from us (propitiation) and His work makes an end to our sin (expiation).


This is entirely good news! Have you ever been forgiven by someone only to have your deeds thrown back in your face years later? Forgiven but not really? The Lord does not play these foolish games. By Christ’s passive obedience you and I will not perish, we will not experience the wrath of God and we will not see hell.


Christ descended into the pains of hell so that you and I never will. Glorious propitiation. Awesome expiation. Christ has done it all. Praise God! 


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC


Q2 What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him? The Word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him.
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