Do please take your Bibles in hand once again and turn back to Leviticus 16.
! If you ever read through the book of Leviticus, you'll know Leviticus 16 is right at the very
! The first half of the book, chapters 1 through 15, deal with sacrifices and priesthood and
ritual purity in Old Testament Israel. They're all about how God's people then were to draw near to
God. Then the second half of the book, chapters 17 through 26, focus mostly on how God's people were
to live in light of having come near to him in holiness and obedience to him. They're about being
devoted to God. So the first half is about drawing near to God. The second half of the book is about
being devoted to God. And right at the very center, the hinge of the whole book is Leviticus chapter 16,
the day of atonement, the holiest day in the Hebrew calendar, Yom Kippur, the day of atonement.
It is the supreme example of atoning sacrifice, how sin was dealt with for God's people. So if you want
to understand the Christian gospel, if you want to understand the meaning of the cross of our Savior,
the Lord Jesus Christ, you actually need to understand the day of atonement. This is in the background.
This gives us, if you like, something of a key to unlock the significance of what was happening that
day at Calvary. Leviticus 16 is the climax of the book of Leviticus. It is actually the literary heart
of the whole of the Mosaic law. And it's not just about drawing near to God, but really about how God
draws near to us. How God reconciles sinners to himself by means of the Lamb of God,
the Lord Jesus Christ. As we look at it together, we're going to consider four things.
First, I want us to think about the peril we must face, the danger, the peril we must face. We can't
deal with everything, all the details in this chapter, but to try and see the big picture, first,
the peril we must face. That's in verses 1 and 2, and again in verses 12 and 13. The presence of the
holy God is a fearful reality, the peril we must face, the danger we're in. And then secondly,
I want us to think about the priest that we really need. The peril we must face, and then the priest
that we need in verses 3 through 5, and especially in 11 through 14. The high priest, we read, is
alone permitted to perform this holy ceremony in the holy place. And yet, the details of the ceremony
all underscore and highlight the inadequacy of this man, the high priest, to really secure atonement for
anyone, not for himself, not for Israel. We need a better high priest, one who has no sin of his own,
the Lord Jesus Christ, the peril we must face, the priest that we so badly need. Thirdly,
I want us to think about the provision that we are given. We'll look at the sacrifices themselves.
These two goats, one that is slaughtered and the other that's sent out into the wilderness,
together comprising a single sacrifice. And we'll think about their significance, how
in the symbolism of these two goats, full, complete, perfect atonement for our sin is provided
in the one to whom they point us, the Lamb of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. And then finally,
the penitence we must embrace in verses 29 and 31. We have to repent and believe the gospel in order
to receive the atoning blessing that Christ has secured for us by his offering of himself at the cross.
So those are the four things I want us to think about as we approach this chapter together. The peril we
must face, the priest that we need, the provision that we are given, and the penitence we must embrace.
Before we look at the chapter together and think about those four themes, let's bow our heads
and ask for the Lord's help and blessing. Let us all pray.
Lord our God, we are like those Greeks who came to the disciples saying,
Sir, we would see Jesus. He is the one that we so badly need today.
And so as we hear your word expounded, we ask that you would give us eyes to see him, ears to hear him,
hearts receptive to his voice. Speak, O Lord, for your servants are listening.
For we ask it in Jesus' matchless name. Amen.
We won't read the whole chapter together, but do keep Leviticus 16 open before you and think with me,
first of all, about the peril we must face. Verses 1 and 2, you'll notice, connect the Day of Atonement
back to an earlier chapter, back to chapter 10.
And it reminds us, these instructions were given on the same day that Aaron, the high priest's two older sons,
Nadab and Abihu, died. You might remember what happened to them.
Back in chapter 10, they were consumed by fire from the presence of the Lord.
Because they sauntered carelessly into the holy place with their newfangled fire,
confident that God was really going to be impressed by their latest improvements on his sacrificial system.
They thought they could come up with something better than what had been given to them.
And so they entered the holy place with their own agenda, their own plan, their own approach to the worship of God.
It did not go well.
And God struck them down in a moment of terrible, solemn judgment.
And so now, God tells Aaron, through Moses, that he is, look at the text,
he is not to come at any time into the holy place inside the veil before the mercy seat that is on the ark,
so that he may not die.
For I will appear in the cloud over the mercy seat.
And later, if you look at verse 12, God gives instructions on how Aaron may come into the holy place when he does come,
on this one day every year, the Day of Atonement.
And he says that Aaron must take a censer full of coals of fire from the altar before the Lord,
two handfuls of sweet incense beaten small.
He shall bring it inside the veil and put the incense on the fire before the Lord,
that the cloud of incense may cover the mercy seat that is over the testimony,
listen, so that he does not die.
There is a very real threat of death
hanging over this whole scenario,
this whole ritual that Aaron was to perform.
His two sons have been struck down already,
and now he himself is to go in to this incredibly dangerous venue
where the presence of the fire of the glory of God blazes.
Did you know that before the war in Ukraine,
you could actually take tourist trips
into the radioactive exclusion zone around the city of Chernobyl?
I don't know if that sounds like an exciting vacation to you.
It doesn't entirely appeal to me.
The nuclear power plant in Ukraine, remember,
that melted down 1986?
It's not exactly my ideal day trip,
but there's no accounting for some people's taste, I suppose.
And if you take the tour, the tourist trip to Chernobyl,
as you might expect, there's a long list of rules
telling tourists about safety protocols for their visit.
They're forbidden to eat anything while they're in the zone.
They may not set any personal items on the ground
while they're in the zone.
Nothing can be taken away with them from the zone.
And particularly important,
visitors may not stray from the safe paths
that have been laid out for them
while they're in the nuclear exclusion zone,
the radioactive exclusion zone.
Leviticus 16, 1 and 2 reminds us
that Nadab and Abihu,
they strayed from the safe paths
as they walked carelessly
into the white-hot presence of divine holiness.
And it destroyed them.
Sin, you see,
excludes people,
excludes all people
from the presence of God,
excludes me,
excludes you
from the presence of God.
He is holy
and we are not.
That's our fundamental problem, isn't it?
We are shut out of the presence of God,
liable to divine judgment.
So even this amazing chapter
where God is making provision
for his people's sin,
there's this refrain,
that you may not die.
The wages of sin
is what?
The wages of sin is death.
God is holy.
Our God is a consuming fire.
Hebrews 10, 26 and following warns us,
if we go on sinning deliberately
after receiving the knowledge of the truth,
there no longer remains
a sacrifice for sins,
but a fearful expectation of judgment
and a fury of fire
that will consume the adversaries.
Anyone who has set aside
the law of Moses
dies without mercy
on the evidence
of two or three witnesses.
How much worse judgment do you think
will be deserved
by the one who has trampled
underfoot the Son of God
and has profaned the blood
of the covenant
by which he was sanctified
and has outraged
the Spirit of grace?
The same threat
continues to obtain
in the New Testament age
and the days in which we live.
The threat of the judgment of God,
his perfect holiness,
is burning against our sin.
God is not safe for us
in ourselves
by our own nature.
Perhaps you've heard the gospel
countless times in your years
and you know
there is a safe path,
a safe way
into the presence of God.
Only by the sacrificial blood
of the covenant
that is by the blood
of Jesus Christ
can you come into
the presence of God.
But if you refuse him,
resist him,
reject him
in favor of your own
better ideas
like Nadab and Abihu did,
if you take your own path.
Hebrews says,
all that remains
is a fearful expectation
of judgment
and a fury of fire
that will consume
the adversaries.
Nadab and Abihu
are case studies
in divine judgment
showing us
the urgency
of our situation.
your sin,
my sin
will kill us
in the end.
Forever.
Destroy us
in the end.
We must
draw near to God.
We must be
reconciled
to God
and yet we cannot
do so safely
by any means
we can contrive
or invent
for ourselves.
There's only
one safe path
into the holy place.
Only one way
to deal
with our sin
and guilt
in the sight of God.
And showing us
the safe path,
opening the safe path
for you and me
into the presence
of God
is the purpose
of Leviticus 16.
So what is
the safe path?
How can you
and I,
how can we
draw near to God
with full assurance
of faith?
Confident
that he will
welcome us,
not destroy us
or condemn us.
Well,
think with me now
in the second place
about the priest
that we need.
The peril
we must face,
our sin exposes us
to danger,
to the judgment
of God.
Your sin
exposes you
to the judgment
of God.
It is an emergency.
How will you
deal with it?
Is there a safe way
to stand before him?
We need
a perfect high priest
who can deal
with our sin.
Look at verses
three through five
with me please.
God describes
how Aaron
should approach him.
Look at the procedure,
verses three through five.
He is to gather
a bull
for a sin offering
and a ram
for a burnt offering
for himself
and his family.
In verse five,
he is also to bring
two goats
and a ram.
The goats
are for a sin offering.
The ram
is for a burnt offering
to be made
on behalf
of the congregation
of Israel.
But before he can
offer these sacrifices,
you will notice
in verse four,
he is not allowed
to wear the usual
vestments
of the high priest.
There is an ephod,
this sort of
breastplate
that he wears
and a golden sash.
And all the finery
of this
high priestly uniform.
He would have been
an imposing,
striking figure
decked out
in this glorious regalia
and yet at this moment
they are all forbidden
to him.
On this day instead,
you will notice
in verse four,
he is to wear
plain,
unadorned linen.
He must bathe
and dress
in this simple costume.
There is no display
of personal glory
as he goes
into the holy place.
No pomp,
no show,
none of the insignia
and prestige
or privilege
of the high priest
as he steps
behind the veil
into the presence
of the glory of God.
Verse 17
tells us,
all the other priests
and the Levites
that would ordinarily
have made
the tabernacle
a busy place,
they were all absent
on this day.
On every other day,
the high priest
would have gone
all over the tabernacle,
although behind this
one great curtain,
he never ever
dared to venture.
But now,
on this day,
the day of atonement,
all alone,
this one man,
stripped of all his finery,
approaches the veil.
On it,
there are embroidered
images of cherubim,
these angelic guardians.
We meet them first
at the entrance
to the Garden of Eden.
You remember
when Adam and Eve
were expelled
because of sin,
they were placed there
to guard the way back
and to bar
the gates of paradise
to our first fathers.
Behind this veil,
the Shekinah glory shines.
The majesty of God
blazes in holy splendor
above the mercy seat,
this golden platform
placed on top
of the Ark of the Covenant.
No other human being
is ever authorized
to venture into this room,
into the most holy place.
But on this day,
the high priest
can draw back the curtain
and step inside.
And as he does,
he is a symbolic
second Adam.
Here are the cherubim
blocking the way
into the presence of God.
Adam the first
was prohibited
from going back there.
But here is a picture
of Adam the second
entering anew
into the presence of God,
passing the cherubim
into the place
where God dwells.
And he's dressed
not as a lofty dignitary
to impress,
but as a simple supplicant
in plain linen,
a mere man,
one of us.
And he's not to go
empty-handed.
Notice in verse 11,
he is to kill the bull
as a sin offering.
This is important now,
to make atonement
for himself
and his house.
And then in verse 14,
along with the incense
that he is to burn,
he is to take
some of the blood
of the bull
and sprinkle it
on the front
of the mercy seat
on the east side
seven times.
The east side
of the mercy seat
is the direction
of the altar
and the entrance
to the tabernacle.
The east, remember,
was the direction
toward which Adam
was banished
when he was excluded
from the garden
and fell into sin.
He was sent east of Eden.
And so that is the direction
that atonement is made
for this symbolic
second Adam.
Seven times he is to do it.
Seven is a number
of completeness
in the Bible.
So the picture is
of a complete,
perfect,
full atonement
with no lack.
Full pardon
that God has provided
for him.
But there's one more
vital point to understand
about this extraordinary moment.
Aaron and every high priest
that would follow him
could never secure
forgiveness for his people
because the simple reason
is they were sinners themselves.
It's like they're trying
to pay off a debt
all the time,
accumulating interest
on that debt themselves.
Never able to pay off
the penalty.
Hebrews chapter 9
actually offers
the best commentary
on this whole scene.
In Hebrews 9 verse 9
we're told
the high priest's work
quote,
cannot perfect
the conscience
of the worshiper.
But when Christ appeared
as a high priest
of the good things
that have come,
then through the greater
more perfect tent
not made with hands,
that is not of this creation
he entered once for all
into the holy places,
not by means of the blood
of goats and calves,
but by means of his own blood
thus securing
an eternal redemption.
For if the blood
of goats and bulls
and the sprinkling
of defiled persons
with the ashes
of a heifer
sanctify for the purification
of the flesh,
how much more
will the blood
of Christ
through the eternal spirit,
who through the eternal spirit
offered himself
without blemish to God
purify our consciences
from dead works
to serve the living God.
Here's the point.
The high priest
is only a picture
and an incomplete picture
because he's a sinner
of another Adam to come
who would go
and reconcile sinners to God,
who would go into
the holy place
without fear
and tear the curtain
from top to bottom
opening the way
for everyone
who trusts in him
to enter with confidence
into the most holy place
to obtain mercy
and find grace to help
in our time of need.
But this high priest,
this high priest,
was flawed.
He was a sinner
just like us.
You might know
the Snoopy cartoons,
Charles Schultz,
Peanuts cartoons.
Snoopy,
it turns out
that the dog Snoopy
is a writer.
He's an author.
And in one of the panels,
Snoopy's sitting
on top of his kennel
with a typewriter
writing his latest novel.
And he's thinking
about his lead character.
And he begins,
All his life,
he tried to be a good person.
And then he's pounding furiously
on his typewriter.
And the second panel says,
Many times, however,
he failed.
For after all,
he was only human.
And then the final panel,
in a flash of inspiration,
Snoopy explains
his character's
persistent failures.
Here's why
his every effort
fell short.
He wasn't a dog.
All his life,
he tried to be a good person.
Many times, however,
he failed.
After all,
he was only human.
He wasn't a dog,
like Snoopy.
If he'd read
Leviticus 16,
in light of the coming
of the Lord Jesus Christ,
Snoopy might have said,
of the high priest,
he played the part
of the second Adam
many times.
But every time
he failed.
For after all,
he was only a sinner.
He wasn't Jesus.
This whole drama,
this little,
this little enacted parable,
is a picture to us
of a better high priest
that we so badly need,
who opens the way,
who had no sin
of his own,
who was holy,
harmless,
undefiled,
and separate from sinners,
who with his own blood
can make full
perfect atonement
for sinners,
so that you and I
can go on safe paths
into the presence
of the blazing glory
of God,
and hear him call us
his dear children,
and speak to him
as Abba Father.
Israel needed,
we need,
you and me
right now today,
we need
a high priest,
doesn't deal
in the blood
of bulls
and goats
in an earthly
tabernacle
made with human hands.
We need the real thing,
don't we?
Not the picture,
not the shadow,
not the play.
We need the reality,
we need the Lord Jesus Christ,
our great high priest
over the house of God,
who with his own blood
has made satisfaction
once and for all.
He humbled himself,
do you remember,
like the high priest here,
stripped himself
of all his finery,
not in his priestly robes
with the ephod
and the gold,
but in simple,
plain linen,
the Lord Jesus.
Philippians 2.6
reminds us,
though he was in the form,
God did not count equality
with God,
a thing to be grasped,
but he emptied himself,
taking the form
of a servant,
a doulos,
a slave,
being born in the likeness
of men
and being found
in human form,
he humbled himself,
by becoming obedient
to the point of death,
even death on a cross.
Here's the high priest
that we need,
that you need,
available to you today.
One who opens the way,
who reconciles you to God
once and for all,
who makes a safe path
for you
into his holy presence.
There is no other way
that is safe.
Your sin exposes you
to a terrible liability
of judgment.
But Jesus
is the safe path.
Jesus
opens the way.
The peril we face,
the priest we need.
Thirdly,
the provision
that we are given.
In verses 5-10,
Aaron is to take
the two male goats
for a sin offering
and one ram
for a burnt offering
for the sake of the people.
Notice the two goats together
are constituted
a single sacrifice,
a special kind
of sin offering.
And look at what Aaron
has to do with them.
They're presented
before the Lord
and lots are cast.
Chosen in this way,
one of the goats
was to be killed
and its blood
sprinkled on the mercy seat
to atone for sin.
And the other goat,
notice in verse 8
and in verse 10,
is for Azazel.
Now,
there's a lot of debate
over what this word
Azazel might mean.
Is it,
as some suggest,
a proper noun,
a name
set in parallel
to the Lord?
So you have one goat
for the Lord
and one goat
for Azazel,
perhaps.
Some suggest
this is a reference
to the devil.
I don't think
that's right.
Other scholars
suggest Azazel
as a place
somewhere out
in the wilderness
to which this goat
was dispatched.
But in my judgment,
the best interpretation
is still
the historic interpretation.
It uses an expression,
if you've got
an old King James Bible,
I think you'll find it there.
It was first coined
by William Tyndale
in his English Bible
in 1535
when he translated
Leviticus 16.
The word Azazel
is interpreted
not as a name
for a demonic being
or even a place,
but it's a compound word
meaning a goat
for sending away.
Literally,
as Tyndale put it
famously,
a scapegoat.
That's what this goat is.
Literally, isn't it?
It's a scapegoat.
All the sins
of the people
were confessed
and as the priest
laid his hands
on its head,
symbolically,
those sins
were transferred,
imputed,
to the goat
and the goat
was sent out
into the wilderness
to carry them away
forever.
A scapegoat,
a goat for sending away.
Now look at verses
20 through 22.
Aaron is to lay
his hands
on the head
of both goats
and in verse 21.
He is to confess
over it
all the iniquities
of the people
of Israel,
all their transgressions
and all their sins.
He shall put them
on the head
of the goat
and send it away
into the wilderness
by the hand
of a man
who is in readiness.
The goat
shall bear
all their iniquities
on itself
to a remote area
and he shall let
the goat go free
in the wilderness.
Do you get the symbolism
of that now?
It's really simple
and crystal clear.
What a great vivid picture
it is
of what God does
through Jesus
when he deals
with our sin.
The goat doesn't
really deal with our sin
but the one
to whom it points,
the Lord Jesus,
really does
what this symbol
teaches us.
He carries
our sins
away.
He carries
them away.
These two goats
actually
together
provide a complete
picture of what
happens at the cross.
The first goat
is slaughtered
and its blood
is sprinkled.
This is a picture
of what the New Testament
calls propitiation.
1 John 2.22
He himself
is the propitiation
for our sins
and not for ours only
but for the whole world.
Propitiation
means a sacrifice
that satisfies
the white
hot fury
of the judgment
of God
that burns
against our sin.
This sacrifice
satisfies it
completely
and forever.
Propitiation,
the blood of Jesus
propitiates
the wrath
of God
so that if you
are a Christian
today
trusting in Christ
God's
wrath
never again
will burn
against you.
He is always
a father.
you may displease
him,
he may discipline
you
but he is
never anything
other than
Abba
father
toward you
because of the
Lord Jesus Christ.
Wrath
has been
satisfied,
paid
in full.
It is
finished
once
and forever.
In my place
bearing shame
and scoffing rude
in my place
condemned
he stood
sealed
my
pardon
with his
blood.
Hallelujah
what a savior
that's propitiation
that's the first goat.
The second goat
the goat that's
sent away
is expiation
carrying
sin
and guilt
away
so that if you
are a Christian
today
trusting in the
Lord Jesus
Christ
God the
Father
looks upon
you
and sees
you robed
in the
righteousness
of his
son.
Your sins
have been
carried away
by him
forever out
of sight.
He shall
throw our
iniquities
into the
depths of
the sea
and he
shall
remember
them
no more.
Expiation
and together
they describe
all that
Jesus
accomplished
for us
at the
cross.
Isn't
it
wonderful?
You may
know your
sin so
very
intimately
and profoundly
and feel
the dreadful
weight of
them.
The shame
and sting
of them
in your
conscience.
Some of
you
have such
a vivid
appreciation
for your
remaining
guilt
that it
leads you
regularly
as you
look at
your own
heart
to wonder
if you're
really
converted.
How can
I still
live like
this,
speak like
this,
think like
this?
Look at
me.
How can
I possibly
be a
Christian?
What's
the remedy?
McShane
told us
the remedy.
Do you
remember what
he said?
For every
one look
at self,
take ten
looks at
Christ.
Full,
full atonement.
Full
pardon.
Your sin
carried away
out of
sight.
Forgiven
and forgotten
before the
bar of
heaven's
justice.
Wrath
satisfied
so that
there is
no longer
any fury
of judgment
waiting for
you.
Look to
Christ,
not at
yourself.
Look at
your
Savior.
Lift
your head
from your
own wicked
heart to
your perfect
sinless
Redeemer.
Hide in
him.
He is
the remedy
for all
your fears.
Again,
1 John.
If anyone
says he has
no sin,
he lies
and the
truth is
not in
him.
But if
we confess
our sin,
he is
faithful and
just to
forgive us
our sins
and cleanse
us from
all
unrighteousness.
Clean,
clean by
the blood
of the
Lamb.
Clean
forever.
Clean
conscience,
clean hands,
clean hearts,
a clean
life because
of the
work of
Jesus
Christ.
Well,
how do you
get a hold
of this
for yourself?
How do you
make it
yours if
it's not
yours already?
How can
this
cleansing
work of
the true
perfect
high priest,
the great
second
Adam,
the Lord
Jesus
Christ,
be yours?
Look at
verses 29
through 34.
We learn
there about
the date
on which
the Day
of Atonement
was to be
commemorated,
the tenth
day of the
seventh month.
we learn
that it
was to be
celebrated
by every
successive
high priest
in Aaron's
line.
We learn
that the
day was
to be
observed
by Israel
as a
special
Sabbath
day,
a day
of rest.
And in
verse 29
and again
in verse
31,
Israel is
told on
this day
when it
rolls around
every year
they are
noticed
to
afflict
themselves.
that is
to say
not that
they are
literally
to beat
themselves
but they
are to
mourn
over their
sin.
This was
never to
be a
cold
perfunctory
external
ritual.
It was
to point
them to
one who
was to
come.
Who by
his blood
and righteousness
would do
forever what
the high
priest and
the blood
of goats
and bulls
never could.
The Lord
Jesus Christ.
And they
were to
receive the
benefit of
his atoning
work in
the same
way we
still receive
that benefit.
They looking
forward,
we now
looking back.
How do
you get
a hold
of the
forgiveness
of your
sin?
You repent
and believe
the gospel.
You afflict
yourself.
You stop
your self
confidence,
your self
reliance.
you stop
your avoidance
and your
blame
shifting.
You stop
passing the
buck.
You stop
accusing
others.
You stop
excusing
yourself.
You own
your sin.
And before
God you
cry out
like the
leper at
the side
of the
road when
Jesus was
passing by,
Son of
David,
have mercy
on me.
everyone
who ever
cried to
him like
that
received the
mercy
they need.
Afflict
your hearts,
rend your
hearts and
not your
garments.
Turn
back to
the Lord.
Turn
back,
turn
back.
Why will
you die,
O house
of Israel?
Full atonement
has been
made.
Jesus has
died and
risen and
reigns a
perfect high
priest for
you, opening
a safe way
into the
presence of
God.
Come and
rest on
him.
He has
done all
things needful.
He is all
your heart
could ever
need.
Trust in
him.
Turn from
your sin
and yourself
to your
savior and
he will
give you
entrance into
the holy of
holies.
That you
may come
all the
way in
to the
throne room
itself and
speak to
the one who
reigns there
and call
him father.
You will
have his
heart,
you will
have his
ear,
you may
call on
him and
he will
shower upon
you his
mercy and
his grace.
Not the
fire of
divine fury,
but the
bright sunshine
shine of
the smile
of God's
forgiveness
for everyone
who trusts
in Jesus
Christ.
May the
Lord give
us all
grace as
we turn
our attention
now to
his table
where the
great emblems
of his
self-giving
love are
provided for
us.
May the
Lord give
us grace
to look to
him and
rest upon
him.
Let us
pray.
Amen.
Lord Jesus,
our great
and perfect
high priest,
we bow
before you
and we
pour out
our wonder
and awe
that we
are reconciled
to God
not as a
formal
transaction,
not as a
form of
words,
it's not a
sort of
spiritual
bookkeeping
measure
transferring
from one
column to
the other.
It came
instead at
your great
cost.
You
entered
the heavenly
holy place
not with the
blood of
bulls and
goats but
with your
own blood
there to
make
atonement
perfect
satisfaction
for sin
for all
time.
it came
at your
death
that we
might
live
and so
as we
bow
before you
preparing
our
hearts
to
commune
with you
at your
table
we cry
out
together
now
like the
beggar at
the side
of the
road
when you
passed
by so
long
ago
son of
David
have
mercy
on us
for we
ask this
in your
matchless
name
amen
the
lord's
table
is a
simple
meal
instituted
by the
lord
jesus
christ
king
and
head
of
the
church
and
perfect
savior
of
sinners
it is
the
family
meal
for
those
who
have
been
forgiven
and
adopted
who
call
god
their
father
and
christ
their
elder
brother
it is
not
the
table
of the
free
church
of
scotland
but
the
table
of
jesus
christ
a
table
to
which
he
invites
and
commands
every
one
of
his
people
to
draw
near
and
attend
if
you
are
a
believer
in
the
lord
jesus
christ
having
repented
your
sin
and
trusted
in
him
alone
to
save
you
and
you're
a
member
in
good
standing
of
a
christian
church
where
the
gospel
is
preached
the
lord
jesus
christ
invites
you
to
come
with
bread
and
wine
if
you
are
not
a
christian
you
don't
know
what
you
believe
it's
not
bread
and
wine
that
you
need
and
so
as
the
elements
are
distributed
please
do
not
partake
it
is
jesus
christ
that
you
need
do
not
let
him
pass
you
by
as
the
elements
pass
you
by
do
not
let
him
pass
you
by
it's
not
bread
and
wine
!
they
can't
help
you
it's
jesus
that
you
need
and
so
in
the
quietness
of
these
next
moments
let
me
urge
you
if
you
have
not
yet
come
to
the
lord's
table
profess
your
faith
in
the
savior
to
do
earnest
business
with
him
to
repent
of
your
sin
and
cry
to
him
for
mercy
he
is
here
for
you
today
opening
a
safe
path
into
the
presence
of
god
do
not
do
not
miss
his
invitation
but
receive
it
with
a
glad
heart
repent
and
believe
the
gospel
well
now
as
we
prepare
to
enjoy
this
meal
together
we
are
going
to
sing
to
god's
praise
and
glory
psalm
118
in the
scottish
psalter
on page
398
we're
singing
stanzas
15
through
23
in
dwellings
of the
righteous
is heard
the
melody
of
joy
and
health
the
lord's
right
hand
doth
ever
valiantly
the
right
hand
of
the
mighty
lord
exalted
is on
high
the
right
hand
of
the
mighty
lord
doth
ever
valiantly
i
shall
not
die
but
live
and
shall
the
works
of
god
discover
the
lord
hath
me
chastised
sore
but
not
to
death
given
over
psalm
118
15
to
23
we
stand
to
sing
to
god's
praise
in
dwellings
of
the
righteous
is
heard
the
melody
of
joy
and
health
the
lord's
right
hand
doth
ever
valiantly
the
right
hand
of
the
mighty
lord
exalted
is
on
high
the
right
hand
of
the
mighty
lord
doth
ever
valiantly
i
shall
not
die
but
live
and
shall
!
the
works
of
god
discover
the
lord
hath
me
chastised
eyes
soar
but
not
to
death
give
no
eil
o
set
ye
open
unto
me
the
gifts
of
righteousness
then
will
i
enter
into
them
and
i
the
lord
will
bless
this
is
the
heat
of
god
fire
the
josh
enter
!
the
will
praise
for
the
queen
earth
and
past
my
safety
be
that
stone
is
made
a
corner
stone
which
builders
take
his
eyes
this
is
the
doing
of
the
lord
and
wondrous
in
our
eyes
we
read
to
you
the
words
of
our
warrant
for
this
simple
meal
come to
us
from
first
corinthians
chapter
11
at
the
23rd
verse
for
i
received
from
the
lord
what
i
also
delivered
to
you
that
the
lord
jesus
on
the
night
on
which
he
was
betrayed
took
bread
and
when
he
had
given
thanks
he
broke
it
and
said
this
is
my
body
which
is
for
you
do
this
in
remembrance
of
me
in
the
same
way
he
also
took
the
cup
after
supper
saying
this
cup
is
the
new
covenant
in
my
blood
do
this
as
often
as
you
drink
it
in
remembrance
of
me
but
as
often
as
you
eat
this
bread
and
drink
the
cup
you
and
as
we
come
to
the
Lord's
table
we
come
to
the
great
embellion
in
the
bread
and
in
the
cup
of
the
finished
atonement
the
full
provision
for
the
forgiveness
and
satisfaction
of
our
sin
that
Jesus
the
Lamb
of
God
who
takes
away
the
sin
of
the
world
has
secured
for
his
people
this
is
not
an
altar
the
bread
and
the
wine
are
not
sacrifices
we
don't
offer
Jesus
here
we
have
no
need
now
of
an
altar
no
need
of
any
more
sacrifices
other
than
the
sacrifice
of
praise
Jesus
the
Lamb
of
God
has
brought
all
of
that
to
an
end
now
and
forever
with
his
final
cry
from
the
cross
he
shouted
victory
to
the
heavens
it
is
finished
he
said
finished
the
years
of
blood
sacrifice
finished
the
need
for
earthly
priests
and
temples
and
altars
finished
the
bondage
of
sin
and
guilt
that
the
offering
of
goats
and
bulls
could
never
remove
finished
the
wrath
of
God
that
burns
in
perfect
justice
against
our
sin
finished
forever
because
of
Jesus
Christ
Jesus
has
finished
his
work
and
there
is
no
work
now
left
for
him
to
do
for
us
to
do
you
don't
come
to
this
table
because
you're
qualified
by your
own
efforts
to be
here
you
don't
come
to
this
table
because
you
have
somehow
satisfied
divine
requirements
atoned
for your
own
sin
no
you
come
to
this
table
destitute
of
any
righteousness
of
your
own
hopeless
and
helpless
in
yourself
but
trusting
in
the
work
of
our
perfect
high
priest
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
whose
blood
has
paid
your
debt
in
full
forever
whose
sacrifice
has
satisfied
the
demands
of
the
broken
law
of
God
whose
self
giving
love
has
reconciled
you
to
God
taken
away
the
hostility
and
made
peace
we
come
to
this
table
saying
to
Jesus
nothing
in
my
hands
I
bring
simply
to
thy
cross
I
cling
naked
come
to
thee
for
dress
helpless
come
to
thee
for
grace
foul
eye
to
the
fountain
fly
wash
me
savior
or
I
die
he
is
our
warrant
he
himself
his
righteousness
his
obedience
and
blood
he
is
our
warrant
come
and
approach
this
table
his
perfect
satisfaction
for us
not
our
work
for him
come
believing
sinner
to
the
table
of
the
Lord
eat
and
drink
Jesus
to
the
nourishment
of
your
soul
as
you
eat
and
drink
the
bread
he
comes
to
you
by
the
power
of
the
Holy
Spirit
and
gives
himself
to
you
to
strengthen
and
nourish
and
sustain
you
he
comes
as
it
were
carrying
today
in
his
arms
all
the
blessings
!
that
his
cross
has
secured
!
your
sorrow
he
comes
with
assurance
for
your
fears
he
comes
with
courage
for
your
trials
he
comes
with
persevering
grace
for
your
temptations
he
comes
with
wisdom
and
direction
for
your
journey
along
the
way
you
come
to
the
table
brothers
and
sisters
to
meet
the
risen
Christ
himself
who
presides
at
its
head
he
is
here
to
lavish
his
blood
bought
cross
won
grace
mercy
and
peace
on
you
would
you
come
looking
to
him
as
you
eat
and
drink
and
receive
his
abundant
grace
now
let us
pray
together
almighty
god
our
father
we
bow
before
you
and
we
make
no
boast
in
our
own
righteousness
but
with
the
apostle
paul
we
say
in
me
that
is
in
my
flesh
dwells
no
good
thing
we
acknowledge
that we
are
sinners
in
thought
and
word
and
deed
by
nature
children
of
wrath
all
of
us
having
sinned
and
fallen
short
of
the
glory
of
God
yet
as
we
bow
now
before
you
confessing
our
sin
and
need
our
hunger
and
thirst
after
righteousness
we
plead
the
promise
of
our
savior
blessed
are
those
who
hunger
and
thirst
after
righteousness
for
they
shall
be
filled
we
plead
the
promise
of
your
word
if
we
confess
our
sin
you
are
faithful
and
just
to
forgive
us
our
sin
and
cleanse
us
from
all
unrighteousness
we
have an
advocate
with
the
father
Jesus
Christ
the
righteous
who
is
himself
the
propitiation
the
sacrifice
that
satisfies
your
wrath
do
our
sin
forever
and
so
we
rest
now
oh
God
on
him
he
is
all
our
boast
he
is
all
our
argument
to
come
before
you
to
come
to
this
table
not
that
we
are
good
not
that
we
are
right
not
that
we
are
better
than
others
but
bankrupt
and
broken
we
come
robed
in
the
righteousness
of
another
hidden
beneath
the
blood
and
obedience
of
Jesus
and
so
we
ask
you
as
we
take
the
bread
and
drink
the
cup
that
we
may
feast
by
faith
on
him
our
risen
saviour
who
said
my
flesh
is
true
food
my
blood
true
drink
help
us
to
drink
him
in
sustain
us
by
him
and
then
send
us
out
to
live
for
his
honour
and
glory
and we
pray for
all those
in this
room
who are
not at
this
table
oh lord
have
mercy
upon
them
awaken
in
them
a
longing
not
for
bread
and
wine
but
for
the
one
to
whom
they
point
us
awaken
in
them
a
longing
for
the
saviour
enable
them
to
trust
him
repent
and
believe
in
him
and
so
when
next
this
fellowship
gathers
at the
family
dinner
table
here
at the
table
of the
Lord
Jesus
they
might
join
us
as
brothers
and
sisters
reconciled
to
God
and
reconciled
to
us
so
hear our
cries
we pray
oh God
for the
honour
and glory
of your
great name
for we
ask it
in
Jesus
holy
name
amen
on the
night
in which
he was
betrayed
the
Lord
Jesus
took
bread
and
when
he
had
broken
it
he
said
this
is
my
body
which
is
for
you
do
this
in
remembrance
of
me
and
in
the
same
manner
after
supper
he
also
took
!
saying
this
cup
is
the
new
covenant
in
my
blood
do
this
as
often
as
you
drink
it
in
remembrance
of
me
for
as
often
as
you
eat
this
bread
and
drink
this
cup
you
proclaim
the
Lord's
death
until
the
come
now
take
your
psalters
in
hands
and turn
to
Psalm
72
in
the
Scottish
Psalter
page
314
Psalm
72
singing
verses
17
through
19
and we
stand
to
sing
to God's
praise
and glory
His name
forever
shall
endure
last
like
the
sun
it
shall
!
men
shall
be
blessed
in
heaven
blessed
all
nations
shall
call
now
blessed
be
the
Lord
our
God
the
Lord
of
Israel
for
he
!
may
The whole earth let His glory fill
Amen, so let it be
And now may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ
and the love of God our Father
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit
be with you all now and forevermore.
Amen.