Christ Our Scapegoat

The scapegoat in the Old Testament symbolically took away the sins of the nation of Israel (Leviticus 16). The High Priest laid his hands upon the scapegoat. That symbolized the transfer of the peoples sins to another. Then, the scapegoat was led into the wilderness, symbolizing sins taken away. That Old Testament figure points to our Lord Jesus Christ. As believers in Christ, your sins are gone. 

The scapegoat in the Old Testament foreshadowed Jesus taking your sins away. The Lord Jesus Christ was punished in our place as sinners at the cross. That's the Gospel of Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). He who was sinless, was punished for your sins. Through faith in Christ your sins are gone.

Charles Spurgeon preached, "Now, he who believes in Jesus, who puts his hands upon the head of Jesus of Nazareth, the Scapegoat of His people, has lost his sins. His faith is sure evidence that his iniquities were of old laid upon the head of the great Substitute. The Lord Jesus Christ was punished in our place."

Spurgeon taught the truth of the Gospel, when he declared faith is the evidence. By grace through faith in Christ, our sins are gone. The Bible teaches, "the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin" (1 John 1:7). God's Son has taken all your sins away. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is evidence that your sins are gone.

Anyone May Be Saved

J. I. Packer wrote, "Rather, we should live in light of the certainty that anyone may be saved if he or she will but repent and put faith in Christ." 

The gospel is for anyone who will believe and confess Jesus Christ is Lord (John 1:12; Romans 10:9). The promise of God is certain, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13; Joel 2:32). That's who God saves.

The Scripture is clear that we are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). Our salvation is receiving the gift of God in Christ. The Spirit of God convicts us of the sin of unbelief, not trusting in Christ alone to save us (John 16:8-9).

The Holy Spirit enables us to put faith in Christ our Lord. Saving faith is an abiding gift of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 13:13). Through faith alone in Christ alone is how God's grace saves us.

What about those who will not repent and put faith in Christ? J. I. Packer wrote, "God gives them over to their sins (i.e., removes restraints on their doing the disobedient things they desire), this is itself the beginning of judgment. It is called 'hardening' (Romans 9:18; 11:25; cf. Ps. 81:12; Romans 1:24, 26, 28), and it inevitably leads to greater guilt."

If You Are Converted

Conversion is repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21). The Holy Spirit enables you to repent and believe the gospel of Christ. God's goodness leads you to repent (Romans 2:4). If you are converted, you have faith in Jesus Christ our Lord.

If you are converted, it's the gospel of Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). The Holy Spirit brings conviction as you hear the gospel. Conversion is preceded by the Spirit of grace. The Lord opens your heart to hear the gospel (Acts 16:13-15). The Holy Spirit convicts and convinces you of the need to believe in Christ (John 16:7-11). 

If you are converted, your life is changed through the Holy Spirit. Repentance is a change of mind through the renewing of the Holy Spirit transforming your life (Romans 12:2). Faith is an abiding gift of the Holy Spirit. He enables you to repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 18:27).

Evidence that you are converted is clear. Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him (1 John 5:1). Conversion to Christ is evident, as you love God and others. Love is the greatest gift of the Holy Spirit, because God is love (1 Corinthians 13:13; 1 John 4:8). 

If You Fear God

Godly fear is the highest reverence for God. To the contrary, tormenting fear is not from God. It is never good, and always evil. It doesn't come from God (2 Timothy 1:7). Yet, Godly fear motivates you to have faith in God. "By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark" (Hebrews 11:7).

"And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good, but I will put My fear in their hearts, so that they will not depart from Me" (Jeremiah 32:40).

If you fear God, you are in the everlasting covenant of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jeremiah prophesied the everlasting covenant. It is confirmation to you as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ (Hebrews 13:20-21). It means God is working in you what pleases Him. He puts His fear in your heart.

If you fear God, you have eternal salvation in Christ. Fearing God is designed for your good and gives you assurance that you will not depart from Him. Godly fear is evidence that God is at work in you. God says, "I will put My fear in their hearts, so that they will not depart from Me" (Jeremiah 32:40).

Do you fear God? Without the fear of God, you are lost without a saving relationship with God. "There is no fear of God before their eyes" (Romans 3:18). Thank God for putting His fear in your heart.

Interpreting the Bible

Frederick Bruce wrote,"Any part of the human body can only be properly explained in reference to the whole body. And any part of the Bible can only be properly explained in reference to the whole Bible." Dr. Bruce understood the danger of taking a verse out of context. It must be explained in the context of the chapter and book where we read it, as well as the context of the whole Bible.

Interpret verses in the Bible within the context. The Bible is given by inspiration of God the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16). When we interpret a verse with other verses, we are being taught by the Spirit of God. He will guide us into all truth (John 16:13).

Interpret verses in the Bible comparing Scripture with Scripture. Look at the other verses in the same chapter, as well as the book and the whole Bible. That is to say, you interpret Scripture with Scripture. A verse in the Bible is not properly interpreted, when taken out of context.

Satan tempted Jesus, quoting a verse taken out of context (Luke 4:3-8). Other Scripture was ignored. Jesus overcame this temptation, quoting another Scripture to interpret Scripture. That's a warning for us today not to take verses in the Bible out of context. Remember to interpret Scripture with Scripture. The Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth.