Confidence Before God in Jesus Our High Priest

Introduction:

· A Homiletic Risk:

WHAT IS THAT PROBLEM? HOW DOES GOD DEAL WITH IT? HOW CAN WE EXPERIENCE IT IN OUR OWN LIFE?

I) Our Fundamental Problem(s): Guilt & Shame

A. The Problem of our Guilt

i. Our First Parents’ First Sin: Doing Something Wrong

1. Revisiting the beginning: A&E violated a command of GodàGUILT!

2. We All experience Guilt: Take a snack out of the pantry; etc.

ii. But, we are a guilt-denying culture

1. Our culture fiercely denies moral standards à “Guilt is a construct”

2. EXAMPLE: If everyone “lives their truth” How can we feel guilty?

B. The Problem of our Shame

i. …Leads to the experience of our Shame (Gen. 3:7)

1. Guilt’s first consequence: not rooted in God’s approval ànot enough!

2. Shame: “You aren’t: Rich; thin; beautiful; popular, successful enough.”

ii. We try a myriad of “fig leaves” to cover our shame:

1. Brene Brown: “We are the most addicted, in-debt, obese, medicated…”

2. We over-achieve, we don’t stop working; and all because we’re trying to solve the fundamental of the human condition.

WHAT DOES ALL OF THIS HAVE TO DO WITH TWO GOATS, ONE BULL, AND A PRIEST? GENESIS 3 ALREADY POINTS TO THE NEED FOR GOD TO PROVIDE A COVERING.

II) The Pictures God Uses To Point To Atonement

A. God Cleanses Us From All of Our Sin

i. Sin has a contaminating Effect on Us

1. After bathing, clothing, sacrificing, the priest would springle blood inside-out to cleanse it from sin

2. Sin violates the law of a just God, therefore a debt must be paid

3. EXAMPLE: A referee, or a judge insists on justice being served

ii. But God removes it from His Presence (vv. 15-19)

1. Like the skins God gave in Eden, represented the sacrifice, giving of life

2. NOT: “let’s redouble your efforts on Monday, and discuss progress…”

3. APPLICATION: The debt of your sin has been paid in full

B. God Removes Our Sins From Far Away (vv. 20-22)

i. Sin Leaves us bearing a burden we cannot carry

1. Because guiltà shame that contaminates like nuclear waste

2. EXAMPLE: Feeling guilt, or shame, you know that it can crush; destroy your marriage, ruin your health, kill your soul

ii. But God carries our Sin Away forever

1. The Azael “wilderness goat” removed sin never to be seen again

2. APPLICATION: Everything you’ve ever done wrong, everything you feel guilty about, shame over…God carries it away from you in the most barren wasteland

HOW CAN YOU EXPERIENCE THIS KIND OF FREEDOM FROM GUILT, AND RELIEF FROM SHAME?

III) How Does Atonement Change Us?

A. We Trust A Priest to Act on Our Behalf

i. A Spectator Sport (See vv. 29-30)

1. The Israelites themselves didn’t participate – they witnessed yearly

2. Why?: the priest acted on their behalf

ii. But God has Given us Jesus:

1. Jesus, the true & greater priest needs not offer sacrifice ofr his own sin

2. Jesus is the true and greater offering who sheds his blood to cover our sin

3. Jesus is the true and greater Azazel, was cut off from the land of the living

B. We Witness the Story that Rewrites Our own (

i. The people were called to repentance in order to experience forgiveness

1. Repentance was a somber acknowledgement of their sin, confident that God has already made provision for forgiveness (vv.29-30)

2. APPLICATION: Your guilt is taken away!

ii. Witnessing the story each year reminded them of the new reality

1. The day was acted out each year as a reminder of God’s grace

2. The antidote to shame: A weekly retelling of how God sees us

Transition:

Conclusion

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