Christ Our Atoning Sacrifice

Have you ever had someone say, “I’ve got you covered,” right when you couldn’t carry one more thing? That’s the picture Leviticus 16 gives us—only the stakes are infinitely higher. A holy God dwells in the midst of a sinful people, and no one comes near on their own terms. Aaron, the high priest, enters God’s presence only once a year, only in humility, and only by blood. Even he must be cleansed before he can intercede for others. The Day of Atonement shows us that mercy is not casual; it is costly. And it points forward to Jesus.

Two goats stand at the center: one is sacrificed, the other is sent away. The first speaks of propitiation—God’s righteous anger against sin is satisfied as blood is sprinkled on the mercy seat. The second speaks of expiation—sins are confessed over the scapegoat and carried far into the wilderness, never to return. But the blood of animals was only a shadow. Jesus steps in as the greater High Priest, the better sacrifice, and the true scapegoat. He enters not an earthly tent but heaven itself, not with the blood of goats and calves but with His own blood, once for all.

This means more than momentary relief; it means permanent welcome. In Christ, we don’t negotiate access to God—we receive it. We don’t manage guilt—we release it because Jesus has carried it away. We don’t come flippantly—we come boldly, because the One who knows our weakness has already stood in our place. The cross answers both sides of our need: God’s justice is upheld, and our shame is removed.

So we worship without bulls or goats. We come to the cross, remember the Lamb, and live under the mercy that says, “You are covered.” If you’re tired of carrying what you cannot fix, hear this: Jesus has already made the way. Draw near with a true heart. Let the finished work of Christ shape how you pray, how you repent, and how you walk in freedom.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Approach God through Jesus alone We don’t decide the terms of access; God does. Leviticus 16 shows how precise and holy those terms are. Jesus fulfills them perfectly, so we come not by performance but by His priesthood. Confidence in prayer grows as confidence in ourselves diminishes and trust in Christ increases.
• 2. Christ’s blood satisfies holy justice The sprinkled blood on the mercy seat wasn’t sentimental; it answered God’s righteous anger against sin. At the cross, justice isn’t sidestepped—it is satisfied. This frees us from minimizing sin or drowning in it. We face our guilt honestly because Christ has faced it fully.
• 3. Your guilt has been carried away The scapegoat didn’t loiter at the camp’s edge; it went to a desolate place. In Christ, forgiven sins are not archived for later retrieval. Stop rehearsing what God has removed. Freedom grows when we refuse to pick up what Jesus has already carried off.
• 4. Draw near with bold, honest hearts Boldness isn’t swagger; it’s assurance rooted in a finished atonement. We don’t hide our weakness—our High Priest knows it and welcomes us. Confession becomes a pathway to communion, not a barrier to it. Boldness and honesty travel together when grace is our covering.

1. What specific preparations and restrictions does Leviticus 16 place on the high priest before he may enter the Most Holy Place (look at vv.2–4, 11–14)? What do those details emphasize about God’s presence?
2. How are the two goats used differently (vv.7–10, 15–22)? List the actions taken with each goat and note the words or phrases that point to “satisfaction” and “removal.”
3. Where in the chapter do you see the idea that forgiveness is both costly and communal (vv.6–7, 11–17, 29–34)? What elements show it’s not a casual or private procedure?
4. What practical actions close the ritual (vv.26–28)? How do those actions underline the seriousness of dealing with sin?

1. What does it mean the high priest must make atonement for himself first before making atonement for the people (vv.6, 11–14)? How should that shape a church’s view of human leaders and their need for grace?
2. How do the two goats together (one slain, one sent away) help explain both God’s justice and God’s mercy? In what way does this ritual avoid cheapening either side?
3. The chapter emphasizes precision, ritual, and cost. How does that help explain why the writer of Hebrews says Christ is a superior priest and sacrifice (sermon referenced Hebrews 9:12)? What changes for the believer when the sacrifice is “once for all”?
4. Leviticus 16 treats the removal of sin as final (the goat taken to a desolate place). How should that finality affect the way a Christian confronts recurring guilt or shame?

1. When have you tried to approach God on your own terms—through performance, rules, or “doing enough”? Name one recent example. What is one concrete step you will take this week to stop relying on performance and instead depend on Christ’s priesthood (for example: begin prayers by naming Christ’s work, stop an activity done to earn favor, confess this to a friend)?
2. Identify a specific sin or memory you keep replaying (something you “rehearse” in your mind). Who can you tell about it (spiritual friend, small group leader) and when will you tell them? What action will you take afterward to refuse to pick it up again (scripture to memorize, symbolic act of release, regular confession in prayer)?
3. The sermon said we can “draw near with boldness” because Christ finished the work. What does a bold, honest prayer look like for you this week? Write out a short prayer you will pray daily that acknowledges your weakness and rests in Christ’s finished atonement.
4. Which shame-driven habit do you need to stop because Christ has already carried it away (e.g., self-condemnation, hiding sin, overworking to prove worth)? Choose one habit and name one practical change you will make in the next seven days to begin breaking it.
5. Leviticus 16 was a communal act—atonement for the whole assembly. How will you practice that kind of gospel care in your community this month? Name one person you can encourage with the truth that “your guilt has been carried away,” and plan a specific way to say that to them (text, coffee, prayer).
6. When worship or personal devotion starts to feel like a list of requirements, what will you do to re-center on the cross and the Lamb? Name one regular practice (meditating on Hebrews 4:14–16, observing Lord’s Supper with intentional remembrance, a short liturgy) you will try for the next four weeks.
7. If someone in your life says, “I’m unworthy to come to God,” how will you practically help them believe the gospel this week? Draft one short, compassionate sentence you could say to them that points to Christ’s sacrifice and invites them to draw near.