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The first place in the Bible where the phrase “shall be forgiven” is used is in Leviticus 4:20 Thus shall he do with the bull. As he did with the bull of the sin offering, so shall he do with this. And the priest shall make atonement for them, and they shall be forgiven.

Of course there is discussion and processes for atonement in Genesis and Exodus, and Moses intercedes for Israel asking for forgiveness in Exodus, but God’s promise of forgiveness isn’t promised until Leviticus. The promise of forgiveness is huge here because the Messiah won’t atone for sins for centuries.

There are several things we know about forgiveness from scripture:

Sin separates Mankind from God. Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.

Forgiveness belongs to God: Daniel 9:9 To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against Him. Only God can forgive sin. This is why the Pharisees were so shocked when Jesus told the man on the pallet to “get up, your sins are forgiven.” (Luke 5:21)

There is no forgiveness without bloodshed: Romans 3:25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed… That word “propitiation” basically means reconciliation to God, or justified, or atonement. In the Hebrew we receive the word picture “mercy seat” it was what stood between mankind and God, protecting mankind from God’s wrath.

But the blood of goats and bulls cannot take away sin: Hebrews 10:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. It had no power to remove sin, only to atone for it as an appeasement to hold back the wrath of God. Animal blood, just the same as the Law, never had the power to circumcise the hearts of man. Neither ever changed the hearts of Israel.

The Law illustrated the perfect life lived according to God’s prescription. While animals were innocent of mankind’s sin, the animals never had the opportunity to live as man with the opportunities for succumbing to temptation as mankind did nor did the animals have a choice whether to give their life for sin or not. Therefore the innocence of animals and their lack of willingness did not equal even one sin, much less the sins of an entire nation.

First there was perfect union with God in the Garden. Then came disobedience, and then separation from God. Reconciliation only became possible when God slew the animals to cover Adam and Eve’s nakedness (read that sin). But, they were forever physically banned from His presence (and the ease of life of the Garden). The blood of the animals could not bridge that gap between the physical presence of man to the glorified presence of God; it couldn’t shield the way past the mighty angel and his sword guarding the entrance to the Garden (read that presence of God). Therefore, God in His magnificent mercy passed over the sins committed (Romans 3:25). Sin was not removed but judgment passed over the sin illustrated by the last plague in Egypt when the Angel of Death passed over the homes of the Israelites who had the blood on their door ways.

That leads to the illustration of where that blood was on the doorways. The top, bottom and each side which is where Jesus’ blood flowed from His body while on the cross. Only that blood was powerful enough to remove sins, to sanctify the believers into the presence of God. Without the perfect blood sacrifice, there was no door into Heaven. Jesus proclaimed Himself the Door (John10:1-9) which also harks back to that first Passover.

It was only by faith Abraham was justified, and only by faith the Israelites’ first born were saved from the Angel of Death, and by faith all the other Old Testament saints were saved from torment (Luke 16). If they would offer sacrifice their sins were forgiven.

It is all God’s work.

But the Israelites had to participate in God’s work. They had to willingly offer the bull or goat or lamb. They also participated in the killing of the animal (women, too). It was an outward recognition of a supposedly inward truth of heart circumcision. All the prophets testify however that the hearts of Israel did not permanently change.

Praise God for the Mercy Seat for without it we would not be meeting the OT saints in Heaven.

Revelation 9:13, where a voice is heard from the four horns of the golden altar; that is, an answer of peace is given to the prayers of the saints, which are acceptable and prevalent only by virtue of the blood of the sin-offering put upon the horns of that altar; compare Revelation 8:3. 4. When the offering is completed, it is said, atonement is made, and the sin shall be forgiven, Leviticus 4:20.

What a glorious promise of our complete forgiveness.

"Inspiration For You" from Randy Mitchell

Honoring A Father