John the Immerser said of Jesus: "Behold the Lamb of God". But in this lesson we are talking about the Bullock of God & the Goat.."

This passage of Scripture is the basic theme of the Bible. This has reference to a future covenant; hence, 2 covenants. God writes them in people's hearts. It mentions sin and iniquities. It reminds us of our being lost; i.e., with sin against us.. Romans 3 23 "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," Rom.6:23 "For the wages of sin is death". It reminds us of the garden of Eden; Gen. 2: 16 -And the LORD God commanded His first Law, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; "but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." But it also reminds us that God had a plan to save Adam and his children if we want to be saved.

God did have a plan of mercy for rebellious human kind. And it had to do with sacrifices. Hebrews 9 : 22 "And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission" God provided the first sacrifice for Adam and Eve. Gen. 3:21 …For Adam and his wife the LORD God made tunics of skin, and clothed them. Where did He get the skins? Death up to this time had not entered the world. The skins covered the couple's nakedness.

Abel offered the acceptable sacrifice of the Lord in his faith of what pleased God.

Noah offered sacrifices of "clean" or "sanctified" animals to the Lord.

Almost all things were purified in the Law of Moses by blood. The High Priest receives this sacrificial lamb.

And finally the focus of the sacrifices: Jesus, dying on the cross. God gave His only begotten Son …for us. Hebrews 10 : 1 "For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect." Heb. 10: 8-10 "By that will (second covenant) we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."

This is a diagram of the tabernacle. The sacrifice was offered and only the High Priest with the blood of that sacrifice could enter into the presence of Jehovah through a veil into the (Holy of Holies). V. 18 is assuming we know about the atonement sacrifices. "no longer an offering for sin" has reference to the sacrifice requirement to save mankind and make him clean to approach God.

Lev. 16:2. The High Priest Aaron had certain rules for approaching almight God in the Tabernacle. We understand that symbolically the Holiest Place was presence of God.

THE DAY OF ATONEMENT. Lev. 16:3 This is the rule of the high priest's approaching God. Bull and ram. The ram was offered as a burnt offering".

Garments

Laver: the indication is that the priest was naked and would have been washed all over since he could not put on the mitre on his head before washing.

Atonement is in 2 parts: first there was - bullock for the priest & his family.

incense, coals, blood

high priest sprinkles for himself & family

2 goats

one goat is for the Lord; i.e., a goat to be sacrificed...

The goat's blood is taken to mercy seat.

Both bloods are sprinkled on the altar's horns.

2nd goat is scapegoat

Summary.

That was the first covenant. But this is not to be any more. Not since we have the new covenant of Jesus. There is no longer any offerings. Jesus made the ultimate and acceptable sacrifice to God. The world might not want to believe in Jesus, but Jesus has at least done away in the most part with animal sacrifice in the world. An article in Readers' Digest made a similar observation. That's one thing that Islam and all the other religions that have appeared on our scene do not take into account. If the sacrifice of Jesus is for nought, then why aren't we offering animal sacrifices like Adam and Noah did. Heb 10:12 "but he, when he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;"

Because we are free from sin because of Jesus, we can have boldness, frankness; by implication assurance: - confidence . We can with confidence enter the Holiness ourselves by a NEW and living way. Because of Jesus we can ourselves approach the presence of God.

Jesus does not only provide the blood, He delivers the blood into the holiest as High Priest over God's house. Remember, I Tim. 3:15, that the church, the called of God, is the house of God. Jesus is the High Priest over the church. Col 1:18 tells us that Jesus is the HEAD of the church as well.

* Definition of "Draw Near" - Strong's: [Greek means] to approach, that is, (literally) come near, visit, or (figuratively) worship, assent to: come thereunto, … [GW-This term then is related to worship] Another translation could be "Come".

Another translation could be "Come".

NOTE: God draws by teaching. You hear and learn. Some have criticized about putting "hear" in the steps of salvation. Here it is: Hear and learn and you come to Jesus. God can't draw you any other way. Jesus says, "Come unto me… and learn of me"! Mt. 11:28 *** The "5 finger exercise" from the pioneer preachers in the 19th century: there of late has been a criticism of using "hear". But here is the Bible on it. In order to be taught Mt. 28:18-20, the disciples have to hear and learn of Jesus. I use the word "Listen" (like "listen up").

* Who is to "draw near". 1. Let us come who have obeyed the gospel. The admonition and invitation here is to Christians! Heb. 10:19 "Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus." We need to draw nearer by study (2 Tim. 2:15); to hear and learn more about Jesus. Like the hymn "More About Jesus would I know"..

* 2. "who know and appreciate…" Jno. 14 "I am the way, the truth, and the Life". No one can come to the Father's presence except by Jesus. He is the way.

3. " who know the high priest " v. 21 Heb 9:12 nor yet through the blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood, entered in once for all into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption.

prodigals:--Those who have wasted the gift of the pearl of great price the heavenly gift that God has by His grace given to us. Luke 15: Like the Younger son takes his inheritance and wastes it in riotious living in a far country. He hires out as a pig man.

* All are invited to draw near WITH A TRUE HEART. A true heart is required. A heart that doesn't hide anything. The word here means, not hiding anything. Sincere. True motivation. In order to worship God, the high priest of old could go through the motions and carry the blood and think of something else, BUT in order for us to draw near to God in prayer, praise, worship, we must have an attentive mind and heart. Not a hypocritical or "acting" one. John 4:23,24 "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth: for such doth the Father seek to be his worshippers. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship in spirit and truth.

We can worship God in truth. We can go through the motions BUT our passage says "worship in spirit", with a "true, unadulterated" heart. 1 John 3:19 XXXX We can not confidently and BOLDLY go into the presence of God without a true heart.

IN FULL ASSURANCE OF FAITH Faith. Different kinds and degrees. Peter started to come to Jesus on the water. What happened? The kind: Rom. 1:16,17; the degree: more than Peter had. We cannot boldly go into the presence of God with a doubt of any kind. Hence, our Faith must look up to God with trust. (hymn) "My Faith Looks Up to Thee, Sweet Lamb of Calvary".

Heb. 11:6; James 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing doubting: for he that doubteth is like the surge of the sea driven by the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord; ***God is able to deliver on His promises! We must believe fully in that. John 12:42 Nevertheless even of the rulers many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess it, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: Heb. 5:8-9 though he was a Son, yet learned obedience by the things which he suffered; and having been made perfect, he became unto all them that obey him the author of eternal salvation; *** Our faith must be a working faith. Believe it; do it. James 2:24 "Ye see that by works a man is justified, and not only by faith." Peter doubted. Our faith must keep us going on.

* HAVING OUR HEARTS SPRINKLED (allusion to sprinkling of blood).

Simon in Acts 8. A sorcerer; professional and gainful career in an age of medical charlatans and medical wonder workers. He was the best. But he humbled himself to obey Jesus. But an opportunity arose for him to use his new found religion to put himself back into business. He wanted to purchase the power of Heavenly healing. Act 8:21 Peter: … for thy heart is not right before God. 22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray the Lord, if perhaps the thought of thy heart shall be forgiven thee. 23 For I see that thou art in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity. 24 And Simon answered and said, Pray ye for me to the Lord, that none of the things which ye have spoken come upon me. *** In the Old Testament, an animal sacrifice would be required. But with Jesus' sacrifice, Simon does not need any other offering. Jesus has done it once and for all. But with repentance (a turn about in your heart) and prayer, the blood of Jesus cleanses us. 1Jo 1:7 but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all sin. I Peter 3:21 concerning baptism: " answer or the interrogation of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ; " Our faithful obedience gives us a good conscience. Rom. 10:17; Heb. 11:1. When our faith does the will of God, we have confidence. Why? Because the Bible tells me so. Just like the song.

bodies washed Titus 3 : 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus commanded it. Mark 16:16 Jesus required it for entry into the kingdom (John 3). Acts 10. Before we put on our white (linen) robes our bodies must be washed. Saul was told to: Acts 22:16. Jesus provides the blood sprinkling; but He also provides the sanctification of an person in baptism through His word. Eph 5:26 that he might sanctify it (the church), having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word, Notice two things: 1. This baptism is not related to the sprinkling. Neither was the laver to blood of the sacrifice. The sprinkling of the blood was separate. 2. This action like the sacrifice of Jesus is not to be repeated. One offering. One baptism. Simon was not told to repent and be baptized again. The language here does not mean for us to draw near and be baptized again. It means an action that was done in the past: Let's draw near HAVING HAD OUR BODIES WASHED WITH PURE WATER. In the light of this passage if there was no other, who can say one can be saved WITHOUT BAPTISM? The High Priest could not approach the Lord without being killed without following the formula for cleansing. Wearing the garments. Carrying the incense and proper fire (his sons were killed because of using a different fire). Sprinkling the mercy seat and the altar. We cannot acceptably come to the presence of God without baptism.

SUMMARY

We worship God. Spiritually, can I say I have come with a sincere heart, in full confidence of having done what God expects of me. Like Abel, is my worship offered by Faith (per the Word)? Can we say that we have presented our bodies and soul sanctified before God with water? If you have not by faith being baptized, can you confidently say "I am coming, Lord"?

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