ATONEMENT FOR SIN by S. Parker Smith

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Dec 21, 1915

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 42, No. 50.

ATONEMENT FOR SIN

By S. Parker Smith

The Goat for the Sin Offering, and the Scapegoat—The Scapegoat Symbolized Satan—Has No Part in the Atonement for Sin

By PROF. S. PARKER SMITH

IN Isa. 53: 6, we read, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” The prophet is here speaking of Christ.

In Lev. 16: 21, we read that the priest was to confess the sins of Israel over the scapegoat, thus putting them on his head. This goat was a type of Satan. Both Christ and Satan, then, at some time and in some way bear upon themselves the sins of the children of Israel.

Let us consider what is accomplished in each case, and why each transaction is necessary.

THE GOAT FOR THE SIN OFFERING

In Leviticus 16, another goat is mentioned, a type of the great “sin offering, that is for the people,” or Christ. Lev. 16: 15. By its blood, the patterns of things in the heavens were cleansed from sin. Lev. 16: 15-20 and Heb. 9: 23. The atonement for the sanctuary and for the iniquities of the children of Israel was accomplished typically by the blood of this goat, and this only. See Lev. 16: 20. This offering was not supplemented by that of the live goat in order to complete the cleansing of the sanctuary, or to cleanse the people from all their sins before the Lord, for this work was finished before the live goat was brought. Verses 20 and 30.

As cleansing from spiritual defilement is only by blood (Heb. 9: 22), all the cleansing of the sanctuary and of the people on the typical day of atonement was therefore through the slain goat, and not through the live one, which was not slain on the day of atonement.

SATAN HAS NO PART IN IT

The apostle Paul, in Hebrews 9, speaking of the antitype of these things, shows clearly the same truth. The heavenly things are purged from sin by the blood of Christ. He came “to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” Paul gives us not the least hint that the death of Satan must supplement the death of Christ, to complete the cleansing of the sanctuary.

As in Leviticus 16 it was by one offering, in type, that the sanctuary was reconciled and the people were cleansed from sin, so in Heb. 9: 22-26 and 10: 14, we see that in the antitype, one offering, even the infinite sacrifice of Christ, cleanses the sanctuary, and perfects “forever them that are sanctified.”

CHRIST, AND CHRIST ALONE

Many other passages of Scripture tell us the purpose and results of Christ’s bearing our sins. Peter says Christ bore our sins “that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness.” 1 Peter 2: 24. Paul says Christ “redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us.” Gal. 3: 13. He became sin for us, “that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Cor. 5: 21. He bore our sins on the tree, that He might be the propitiation for our sins, and secure their remission. Rom. 3: 25 and 1 John 2: 2. Thus Christ’s work in dying for sin was to satisfy the claims of the law, which demanded the life of the sinner. Rom. 6: 23.

CHRIST FINISHES THE WORK HIMSELF

Now of all these things, it is evident, from the scriptures examined above, that Christ is both the Author and the Finisher. No other sacrifice or atonement is needed to aid or supplement His. Whatever is accomplished for His people in the way of remission and the final disposition and destruction of their sins, is by virtue of His sacrifice and atonement, and that only.

The sins of God’s people are to be blotted out just prior to the coming of Christ. Acts 3: 19, 20. Then they will be forever destroyed. It is then that God will cast all our sins behind His back, remove them as far from us as the east is from the west, and remember them no more. It is then “the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none.” Jer. 50: 20.

SATAN HAS NO PART IN IT

It is plain that the atonement with Satan has no reference to satisfying the claims of the law upon mankind or any portion of them. The putting of Israel’s sins upon his head is no part of the work of sanctifying the people, and making them clean from all their sins.

SATAN ATONES IN THE LAKE OF FIRE

What, then, is the purpose of the atonement with the antitypical scapegoat, Satan?—It is the atonement in the lake of fire, and its result will be to exact the wages of sin

to the last farthing, and cleanse the universe of its presence. Satan, as the originator and instigator of sin, is guilty of every sin ever committed. The blotting out of these sins as pertaining to Israel, does not affect them as pertaining to Satan. God remembers them no more in connection with Israel, but does remember them against Satan. The sanctuary is cleansed by the blotting-out of Israel’s sins; the universe, by the blotting-out of Satan and all his followers.

Satan will suffer, or atone, for his transgressions of the law of God. These are the only sins he could atone for. Only one Being in all the universe was found who could, by His death, atone for others’ sins. But Satan will be the object of divine wrath for his warfare against the church. God kept His people “as the apple of His eye.” Deut. 32: 10. And again it is said, “He that toucheth you toucheth the apple of His eye.” Zech. 2: 8. In Luke 18: 7, Jesus asks the question, “Shall not God avenge His own elect, which cry day and night unto Him?” and the answer is, “I tell you that He will avenge them speedily.”

Satan is the author of all the backslidings and apostacies of Israel. He tries to lure them on where the divine wrath will fall upon them. But in the seventh psalm, we read that into the pit which he digs for Israel, he himself falls. The punishment he has sought to bring upon them by leading them into sin, will fall upon his own head. In the cup that he has filled, God will fill to him double. See Rev. 18: 6.

But this suffering of Satan’s is not in any sense to make atonement for Israel’s guilt, or to take the place of Israel’s suffering for their own sins. Here is where we are in danger of making a serious mistake, and many make it. They conclude that if Satan suffers for Israel’s sins, it must be an atonement for their guilt, in their stead, and that hence the atoning sacrifice of Christ is not a complete satisfaction for the sins of the saved, and does not fully and finally dispose of those sins. But it is not necessary thus to deny the atonement, and cast discredit upon the work of Christ.

SATAN SUFFERS BUT NOT FOR ISRAEL

Satan truly will suffer for Israel’s sins, but not in Israel’s place, or as Israel’s substitute. The penalty of the law for the sins of God’s people will be met by Satan, not in their stead, but because they are his own sins as well, and he must pay the final penalty. Satan’s punishment is not for or in place of or instead of the punishment of God’s people for their sins. This punishment was suffered by Christ on Calvary. Christ alone is our Substitute. His death is the only substitute for the sinner’s death, to every one who will claim it by faith, till the close of probation.

Satan’s punishment is for his own sins, and the vengeance of God in behalf of His church, His own elect, that cry day and night to Him. No punishment of Satan’s ever can take the place of that which is due sinful man. Though he may suffer an equivalent amount, or even more, it is misleading and untrue to say that he will suffer the punishment which the righteous escape. That would be to make him satisfy the claims of the law for them, to make him their substitute.

Every mortal who ever escapes the due reward of his deeds, will do so because Christ on Calvary’s cross suffered that punishment in his stead. “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.”