Sacrifice, Unblemished

On the Day of Atonement, we are to afflict our souls by fasting. We do no work, signifying that we did absolutely no work to attain our salvation.

The first goat is a blood sacrifice to cleanse the altar. The second goat—the 'azazel' or 'complete removal'—is led away and freed (not bound by a chain).

Some say the scapegoat (azazel) prefigures the Devil, others say it has been fulfilled by Jesus. Tradition teaches one thing; Scripture reveals another.

In Israel, sins were symbolically placed on the altar throughout the year. On Yom Kippur, one goat's blood cleansed the altar; the second took away the sins.

Richard Ritenbaugh insists that, as Christ's disciples, we have been called for a life of sacrifice'sacrificial giving as a way of life (Romans 12:1). Often we fail to grasp: 1) the desperate emotion expressed by Paul in the word beseech, 2) why he so urge. . .

Jesus' perfect offering of Himself for us fulfilled the sin offering of Leviticus 4. Our acceptance of His offering for atonement puts us under obligation.

The peace (or thank) offering was the most commonly given in ancient Israel. It pictures God, the priest, and the offerer in satisfying fellowship.

The Day of Atonement is not about Satan, but about the complete cleansing from sins through Christ. The Passover is not a sin offering, but a peace offering.

Richard Ritenbaugh points out that it is much harder to keep the law in the spirit than it is in the letter. Applying the spirit of the law enables us to behave the way God does, putting us on the road to perfection. Tithing grudgingly or with a blemished . . .

Richard Ritenbaugh, reflecting on the many cultural pressures to conform, insists that Pentecost forces us to stand out from the rest of the crowd, separated as firstfruits for the purpose of sanctification and holiness. The two wave loaves, baked with lea. . .

John Ritenbaugh focuses upon conditions for acceptable sacrifices and offerings, differentiating the holy and authentic from the defiled, unclean and strange. God will only accept as sacrifices those things He has given to His called out ones in their cove. . .

Members of God's church are required to give offerings during God's holy days (Deuteronomy 16:16), and we are told to give as we are able (verse 17). Both we and God will get more out of our offerings, especially spiritually, when we plan our giving.

John Ritenbaugh, reflecting on an e-mail message from an individual who felt that we spent too much time ruminating in the Old Testament, affirms that the Old Testament focuses on practical instruction which is valuable to this day. Additionally, a large p. . .