Substitutionary atonement is the heart of the gospel. Without substitutionary atonement, there is no gospel. It refers to the Lamb of God (the Lord Jesus Christ) taking upon Himself our condemnation and guilt, making a full and complete atonement for all our sins.

1. Recognising and confessing of sin (Lev 16:20-21)

There must first be recognition and confession of sin. In Leviticus 16, Aaron laid both hands on the head of the goat, signifying that the animal was taking his place. He then “confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins” (Lev 16:21). The goat foreshadows Christ, who takes our place. This is an acknowledgement and confession of sin. The central truth of substitutionary atonement is that there is nothing we can do to save ourselves; only Jesus Christ can save us. We must bring our sins to the cross, recognising our helplessness and our need for atonement.

2. Bearing of all our sins by the substitute (Lev 16:22)

Leviticus 16:22 states that the goat would symbolically bear and carry away the sins of the people. The guilt of sin was transferred to the goat and carried into the wilderness. This points to the Lord Jesus Christ, who has borne our sins. 1 Peter 2:24a: “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree.” Likewise, Hebrews 9:28a declares, “Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many.” This is the essence of substitutionary atonement. Christ's bearing of the sinner’s sin was complete and fully accomplished. There is nothing we can contribute to our salvation. Even faith itself is a gift from God. We are saved by grace through faith.

3. Complete removal of our sins (Lev 16:23-28)

The cleansing rituals performed by Aaron, together with the sin and burnt offerings, and the release of the goat into the wilderness, portrayed the complete removal of sin. Our sins are removed not only from us, but also from before God. Hebrews 13:12 further emphasises this truth. The Lord Jesus Christ “sufferedwithout the gate” when He was crucified, fulfilling this Old Testament picture of sin being carried outside the camp and removed from God's presence. Because of Christ's finished work, God no longer charges our sins to our account. We stand before Him as those who have been forgiven and cleansed. In response to all that Christ has done for us, we ought to live lives marked by gratitude, holiness and devotion to Him.