Two Stages of Atonement Adapted from: Roy Gane, Altar Call (Berrien Springs, MI: Diadem, 1999)

Two Stages of Two Stages of AtonementAtonement

Two Stages of Two Stages of AtonementAtonement

Adapted from: Adapted from:

Roy Gane, Altar Call Roy Gane, Altar Call (Berrien Springs, MI: (Berrien Springs, MI: Diadem, 1999)Diadem, 1999)

Exodus 25:8

“And have them make me a sanctuary, so that I may dwell among them” (NRSV).

Variety of Sacrifices Variety of Sacrifices (Leviticus 1-7)(Leviticus 1-7)

Variety of Sacrifices Variety of Sacrifices (Leviticus 1-7)(Leviticus 1-7)

The multi-faceted magnificence of The multi-faceted magnificence of Christ’s sacrifice explainsChrist’s sacrifice explains why there why there were different kinds of animal were different kinds of animal sacrifices at the Israelite sanctuary sacrifices at the Israelite sanctuary (Lev 1-7).(Lev 1-7).

All sacrifices pointed to Christ’s sacrifice (Jn 1:29; Heb 9:25-28).

Purification OfferingPurification Offering(so-called “Sin Offering”)(so-called “Sin Offering”)

Purification Offering and Purification Offering and ForgivenessForgiveness


• Blood was applied to horns (highest points) of outer or inner altar, so elevated and emphasized.

• Christ’s blood ransoms/redeems human lives from deadly “debt” of sin (Lev 17:11; Matt 6:12; 1 Pet 1:18-19; Eph 1:7).



• Blood on horns of an altar.• The more prominent the blood, the

more powerful the atonement.• Two kinds of purification offerings:

(1) For high priest or community (Lev 4:3-21): blood into “Holy Place.”(2) For other persons (vv. 22-35): blood only on outer altar.



• Emphasis on blood, representing ransom for life (Lev 17:11).

• Required for sin or serious physical impurity (Lev 4-5, 12, 15, etc.).

• Token payment of obligation/debt.

• So offerer couldn’t eat, and purification offering performed before burnt offering gift (Lev 9:8-14, 15-16).



• Pointed to Christ’s sacrifice as the way for God to “forgive us our debts” (Matt 6:12).

• Paid by blood, so debt for life = ransom.

• Only Christ can pay this price (1 Pet 1:18-19), which we can never pay (Ps 49:7).



• Lev. 6:27 ‘Anyone who touches its flesh will become consecrated; and when any of its blood splashes on a garment, in a holy place you shall wash what was splashed on.

• Lev. 6:28 ‘Also the earthenware vessel in which it was boiled shall be broken; and if it was boiled in a bronze vessel, then it shall be scoured and rinsed in water.

His blood was lifted up, not on the highest points of a ritual altar, but on the cross.

God’s ForgivenessGod’s ForgivenessGod’s ForgivenessGod’s Forgiveness• Why can’t God forgive without

sacrifice? • Love includes justice + mercy. • Mercy at the expense of justice

would compromise love.• Having broken the law of love, we

must die.• But love makes God want to save us

(Jn 3:16; Judg 10:16)! • Christ’s sacrifice extends mercy with

justice (Rom 3:26).

Day of Atonement Made Day of Atonement Made SimpleSimple

Day of Atonement Made SimpleDay of Atonement Made SimpleDay of Atonement Made SimpleDay of Atonement Made Simple• Purification offering (to the Lord)

bull for priests.

• Purification offering goat for laypeople.

• Purification ritual (not a sacrifice) goat from everyone to Azazel.

• Burnt offering ram for priests.

• Burnt offering ram for laypeople.

Day of Atonement Made SimpleDay of Atonement Made SimpleDay of Atonement Made SimpleDay of Atonement Made Simple• Only the Only the purification offering goat for purification offering goat for

laypeople laypeople had independent significance had independent significance pointing to Christ’s sacrifice.pointing to Christ’s sacrifice.

• The The bull and ram for priestsbull and ram for priests were were necessary because the priests were necessary because the priests were faulty.faulty.

• The The burnt offering ram for laypeopleburnt offering ram for laypeople added to the quantity of their added to the quantity of their purification offering (compare Lev 5:6-purification offering (compare Lev 5:6-7; Num 15:24-28). 7; Num 15:24-28).

Day of Atonement Made SimpleDay of Atonement Made SimpleDay of Atonement Made SimpleDay of Atonement Made Simple• Cleansing the sanctuary and camp all Cleansing the sanctuary and camp all

boils down to “a tale of two goats.”boils down to “a tale of two goats.”• Lord’s goat for laypeopleLord’s goat for laypeople carried carried

meaning of Christ’s role for His people.meaning of Christ’s role for His people.• Nonsacrificial Nonsacrificial live goat for Azazellive goat for Azazel

represented someone else. represented someone else. • That is the Day of Atonement made That is the Day of Atonement made

simple! simple!

Two Goats

Evils came Evils came intointo the Israelite the Israelite sanctuary throughout the year and sanctuary throughout the year and were taken were taken out out of it on the Day of of it on the Day of Atonement.Atonement.

Two Stages Of AtonementTwo Stages Of Atonement

What goes in must come out!What goes in must come out!

Two Stages Of AtonementTwo Stages Of Atonement

Two Stages Of AtonementTwo Stages Of AtonementTwo Stages Of AtonementTwo Stages Of Atonement

Two Stages Of AtonementTwo Stages Of AtonementTwo Stages Of AtonementTwo Stages Of Atonement• Purging sanctuary on Day of Purging sanctuary on Day of

Atonement removed Atonement removed allall evils that evils that had had alreadyalready been removed from been removed from persons by sacrifices throughout persons by sacrifices throughout the year (Lev 16:16).the year (Lev 16:16).

• Reversal of blood applications in Reversal of blood applications in holy place. holy place.

• Difference in purification of Difference in purification of assistants.assistants.

High Priest sprinkling blood on ark cover

Two Stages Of AtonementTwo Stages Of AtonementTwo Stages Of AtonementTwo Stages Of Atonement• Disposing of purification offering Disposing of purification offering

carcasses on Day of Atonement makes carcasses on Day of Atonement makes assistant impure (Lev 16:28).assistant impure (Lev 16:28).

• On other days such a task does On other days such a task does not not defile assistants (Lev 4:11-12, 21).defile assistants (Lev 4:11-12, 21).

• Due to opposite function: sacrifices Due to opposite function: sacrifices carrying evils in (Lev 4; compare carrying evils in (Lev 4; compare 6:27) and out (Lev 16).6:27) and out (Lev 16).

•

Forgiving Guilty PeopleForgiving Guilty PeopleForgiving Guilty PeopleForgiving Guilty People

Forgiving Guilty PeopleForgiving Guilty PeopleForgiving Guilty PeopleForgiving Guilty People• God’s headquarters are at His

heavenly sanctuary/throne (Ps 11:4; Jer 17:12).

• God’s throne/sanctuary represents His character, authority, and reputation.

• God’s “name” at sanctuary (Deut 12:5, 11).

• His “name” involves His reputation (Ezek 20:9).


Evils cleansed out of earthly Evils cleansed out of earthly sanctuary on Day of Atonement sanctuary on Day of Atonement (Lev 16:16), clearing His (Lev 16:16), clearing His reputation:reputation:

• Physical ritual impuritiesPhysical ritual impurities

• Rebellious sins (“transgressions”)Rebellious sins (“transgressions”)

• Forgivable “sins”Forgivable “sins”

Forgiving Guilty PeopleForgiving Guilty PeopleForgiving Guilty PeopleForgiving Guilty People• Why would forgivable “sins” be Why would forgivable “sins” be

handled twice at the sanctuary?handled twice at the sanctuary?• After forgiveness, what need for After forgiveness, what need for

atonement could remain?atonement could remain?• The woman of Tekoa to David: “The The woman of Tekoa to David: “The

blame is on me, my lord the king, and blame is on me, my lord the king, and on my father’s house, but the king and on my father’s house, but the king and his throne are clean” (2 Sam 14:9; his throne are clean” (2 Sam 14:9; translation by Roy Gane).translation by Roy Gane).


• God is like David: morally responsible God is like David: morally responsible for His judgments, including for His judgments, including forgiveness of guilty people. forgiveness of guilty people.

• Having paid our ransom (Matt 20:28), Having paid our ransom (Matt 20:28), God is just when He justifies those God is just when He justifies those who have faith in Jesus (Rom 3:26).who have faith in Jesus (Rom 3:26).

• God balances justice and mercy, the God balances justice and mercy, the two sides of love (Ps 85:10).two sides of love (Ps 85:10).

Cleansed Through Cleansed Through JudgmentJudgment


• Judgment between loyal and disloyal (Dan 7).

• = Justifying/cleansing God’s (heavenly) sanctuary (Dan 8).

• Justifying God’s sanctuary through judgment clears God’s reputation.

• Like Day of Atonement: judged when sanctuary cleansed (Lev 23:29-30).



• How can judgment justify God’s sanctuary?

• God’s throne represents His justice (Ps 89:14; compare 2 Sam 14:9).

• God’s justice must be vindicated because He forgives guilty people.

• He also must be vindicated when He condemns rebels who defame Him, illegitimately defiling His sanctuary (Lev 20:3; Num 19:13, 20).

Sanctuary and God’s ReputationSanctuary and God’s Reputation

Sanctuary and God’s Sanctuary and God’s ReputationReputation


• God’s reputation matters.

• By forgiving guilty people, God lays Himself open to a charge of injustice.

In Christ, God took responsibility for forgiving guilty but repentant people.



• God is vindicated when He justifies those who have faith (Rom 3:26).

• But Satan continues to accuse (Rev 12:10) by saying that people do not really have faith.



• God is not fully justified until an end-time judgment because He cannot save a person who does not have (present tense) faith (Col 1:21-23).

• The question is: Who has faith in Jesus?

• The question is not: Who has sinned? (Rom 3:23).



• Only God can read thoughts (see Ps 139:23; Lk 7:39-40).

• So the judgment considers records (Dan 7:10) of works (Eccl 12:14) showing whether true faith exists (James 2:26; Gal 5:6).

• The judgment reaffirms assurance of those who are forgiven (Dan 7:22).



• Having faith and receiving forgiveness means receiving Christ and the transformation He brings to our lives through the Holy Spirit (Rom 8).



“God’s forgiveness is not merely a judicial act by which He sets us free from condemnation. It is not only forgiveness for sin, but reclaiming from sin. It is the outflow of redeeming love that transforms the heart.



David had the true conception of forgiveness when he prayed, ‘Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.’ Psalm 51:10.” (Ellen G. White, Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, p. 114).



• We can look forward to God’s judgment as deliverance (Ps 26:1; 35:24)!

• Unlike the woman of Tekoa, we need not bear responsibility for pardon (Isa 55:1).

• We can leave to God the cost of mercy!

“Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other” (Ps 85:10; NRSV).

Books by Roy E. Gane dealing Books by Roy E. Gane dealing with Ritual Activity Systems and with Ritual Activity Systems and

the Character of Godthe Character of God

Books by Roy E. Gane dealing Books by Roy E. Gane dealing with Ritual Activity Systems and with Ritual Activity Systems and

the Character of Godthe Character of God• Altar Call. Berrien Springs, MI: Diadem, 1999. • Leviticus-Numbers. NIV Application

Commentary series; Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2004.

• Ritual Dynamic Structure. Piscataway, NJ: Gorgias Press, 2004.

• Cult and Character: Purification Offerings, Day of Atonement, and Theodicy. Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbrauns, 2005.

• Who’s Afraid of the Judgment? Nampa, ID: Pacific Press, 2006.

• “Leviticus.” In The Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary on the Old Testament; Grand Rapids: Zondervan, forthcoming.

Two Stages of Atonement Adapted from: Roy Gane, Altar Call (Berrien Springs, MI: Diadem, 1999)

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Transcript of Two Stages of Atonement Adapted from: Roy Gane, Altar Call (Berrien Springs, MI: Diadem, 1999)