What the Bible says about Purification from Sin
(From Forerunner Commentary)

Leviticus 16:5 While the two goats together were used for this annual cleansing of sin, some have difficulty seeing the azazel was not a sin offering since it was not slain. But before excluding the live goat from being a sin offering, we should note that it was sacrificed in the sense that its life was completely dedicated to a sacrificial purpose. Its purpose was to bear sins as a substitute rather than to give its blood. Jesus Christ was alive while He bore our sins, but He was still a Sacrifice while that took place. The Hebrew word for “sin offering,” chatta'ah (Strong's #2403), is also the word for “sin.” It has multiple meanings. It can indicate sin, a sin offering, guilt resulting from sin, purification from sin, or punishment because of sin. In general, chatta'ah has to do with sin, its effects, or its remediation. The Hebrew in Leviticus 16:5 literally says, “two kids of the goats as a sin [chatta'ah].” When we substitute some of the other ways chatta'ah is used, verse 5 could be rendered as: “. . . two kids of the goats as a purification from sin . . .” or “. . . two kids of the goats because of sin . . ..” In a sin offering, the animal symbolizes the guilt incurred by sin. It then suffers the judgment of sin and is thus purified from sin. This is why the same word is used for both sin and sin offering: The animal becomes synonymous with sin and its atoning. In the case of the two goats, both became offerings on account of sin, yet they had differing roles in making atonement. The second goat, though not killed by the priest, was still an offering. It was still a substitutionary representative of sin, as chatta'ah is defined. David C. Grabbe Azazel: Endings Related Topics: Azazel -goat of "Complete Removal" | Azazel Bearing Sins | Chatta-ah | Cleansing and Purification | Purification from Sin

2 Corinthians 5:21 Paul's words may be startling and uncomfortable, but they are true: God the Father made Christ to be sin! This does not mean God made Him commit sin; His life and nature were entirely flawless. But this says God made Him to be sin. The instructions for sin offerings contain a detail that helps us to understand why Paul could make this statement. An interlinear Bible shows that in almost every verse in the Old Testament where a sin offering is mentioned, the translators supply word “offering”; it is not present in the Hebrew. This is because the word for “sin offering,” chatta'ah (Strong's #2403), is also the word for “sin.” This word has multiple meanings: "sin," "a sin offering," "guilt because of sin," "purification from sin," or "punishment because of sin." The same word can signify all those things. In a sin offering, the animal became symbolic of the guilt incurred by sin; it suffered punishment because of sin; and it was also the symbolic purification from sin. This is why the same word is used for both sin and sin offering. The animal—the substitute—essentially became the sin needing to be atoned. When the high priest laid all the iniquities of Israel on the azazel, that second goat became sin. One translation tries to soften what is said here by saying that God made Christ to be the offering for our sins. While true, this rendering is not faithful to the text. The Greek word for "sin" here is unlike the Hebrew word, which can also indicate a sin offering. In the Greek, sin simply means sin. When a sin offering is indicated, another Greek word must be included. But here, Paul means just what we read: "God made Christ to be sin." Truly, the role of the azazel was a dreadful one, but it was part of the work that only the Messiah could do and which He had to do for there to be reconciliation with God. David C. Grabbe Azazel: Beginnings Related Topics: Atone for sin | Atonement | Azazel Bearing Sins | Azazel Goat | Chatta-ah | Messiah | Purification from Sin | Reconciliation for Iniquity | Sin Offering

 

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