In I Corinthians 11:23-29 are found the familiar verses written by Paul which tell us of the Lord's Supper and how to observe it. It has long been interesting to me that in this letter Paul wrote to one congregation and gave them inspired instructions for the use of one loaf and one cup. He also quoted Jesus as saying of both the bread and the cup that we are to do it ".. .in remembrance..." of Him.

As one contemplates this command to remember Him many things might come to mind. However, I believe the Lord had good reason to ask this of us. God had, for ages gone by, supplied types which pointed toward the Christ. In Leviticus 16 the regulations for the Day of Atonement is found. This particular day observed once each year, was different than all the other times of sacrifice under the old law. Remember that Paul said, "For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect." (Hebrews 10:1)

Under the Law the Jews had daily sacrifices, weekly sacrifices, monthly sacrifices and yearly sacrifices, etc. The Day of Atonement was unlike any other time, however. On this day, as at other times, animals were killed as sacrifices; but one thing was different. Two goats were to be brought by Aaron, and one was offered as a sin offering while the other was designated the "scapegoat." (Leviticus 16:8, etc) In Hebrew the scapegoat literally meant the "goat of departure" or removal. Aaron was to bring the live goat (the scapegoat) and place both hands upon its head and confess over him all the sins of the children of Israel. The Record says he was to put "them upon the head of the goat." Then the scapegoat was taken by a fit man into the wilderness and turned loose. Verse 22 reads: "And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness."

This was the final act in the atonement ceremony. It was an act both strange and mysterious. Here was an animal who was turned loose alive! There is but one meaning that can be given to this type, or shadow as it was called in Hebrews 10:1. The slain goat typified or provided a shadow of the means of atonement and the live one its effect. Here in wondrous preview is shown that when sins are atoned for by the blood of Christ (for every sacrifice pointed toward His death and shedding of blood) they are out of sight and gone forever.

Have you wondered where your sins go when you are forgiven? The past is not changed, you still actually committed the sins but when God forgives you are no longer guilty. Why? Because our sins are put in a place typified by the wilderness where no one could ever find them again. That is the very shadow this "scapegoat" casts for us to learn by. God promised that under the new Covenant we would be really forgiven, actually forgiven. Not just in a ceremonial sense but in actuality! The writer said in Hebrews 8:12, speaking of God and His promise to us, "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." Micah 7:19 reads, "He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea." The Psalmist David said, "As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us." (Psalms 103:12)

When we worship today and partake of the Lord's Supper we are to eat the bread and drink the cup in remembrance of Him. As we mentioned earlier, many things might come to mind as we contemplate the Christ who died for us. But what greater thing to remember than the very fact that our sins are gone forever. So long ago when the goat was killed on the Day of Atonement, it pointed toward the time when the antitype, or Christ. would die in our place. He would shed His blood in our place. The live one was turned loose to typify or point toward the very time in which we live. And just as the live goat symbolized then their removal of sins, it previewed our own removal of sins today, but not just the removal, but the hiding of them as well. I am not afraid that my old sins will turn up some day. If I have made them right, God has forgiven, Christ's blood has atoned and they are gone forever. Gone to a place where no one will ever see them again.

I can't help but remember this as I eat the bread and drink the cup in remembrance of Him.--41931 Chadbourne Dt., Fremont, CA 94539