One and One Make Two by R. F. Cottrell

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 28, 1863

"One and One Make Two."

By R. F. Cottrell

A TEACHER might be tempted to get out of patience with a pupil that could not understand this, but would try to maintain that one and one make only one. Christ bore our sins, as predicted of him, and Peter informs us how, when and where:—"in his own body on the tree." 1 Pet. ii, 24. But in making the atonement in the sanctuary, Christ is the High Priest. In this office he finally bears the sins of the saved out of the sanctuary and lays them, not on his own head, but on the head of another. Now if that other person or being to whom the sins are transferred from him is himself, then one and one do not make two, but only one. If the high priest was himself to go into a land of separation, with the sins of the people upon him, the ceremony of transferring them to another would be without meaning; or, if it had a meaning, it would be false.

Common sense can aid us in finding the truth, if we will permit it. This is what it was given for. If we will not use it, we have no reason to believe that our case can be helped in any way. The scape-goat had nothing to do in making the atonement. The high priest alone made the atonement but he made use of the scape-goat to bear away the sins after the work in the sanctuary was finished.

Azazel was the Hebrew name of the scape-goat, and has been understood to be the name of the Devil. "The Syriac, also, has Azazel the angel (strong one) who revolted." Where is the testimony that Azazel signified the holy Son of God?

R. F. COTTRELL.