Leviticus 4 · a question people ask
Could the blood of a goat really bring forgiveness?
Leviticus says the priest makes atonement, "and he will be forgiven" (4:26). Hebrews says, "it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins" (Hebrews 10:4). Christians put these together in two main ways. Both agree that it is "the blood of Christ" that will "cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God" (Hebrews 9:14).
How Christians read it
Where Christians differ, Favor sets out the main views side by side and doesn't pick one.
Forgiven because of the sacrifice to come
Hebrews says Christ's death was "for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant" (Hebrews 9:15). Paul says God sent Jesus "to be an atoning sacrifice through faith in his blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness through the passing over of prior sins, in God’s forbearance" (Romans 3:25). Read this way, the forgiveness in 4:26 was real, and it rested on what Christ would do; the goat was the means God gave until then.
Hebrews 9:15 · Romans 3:25-26 · Leviticus 4:26
The offering cleansed outwardly; faith received forgiveness
Hebrews says such blood can "sanctify to the cleanness of the flesh" (Hebrews 9:13), and that these sacrifices "are incapable, concerning the conscience, of making the worshiper perfect" (Hebrews 9:9). David says, "I acknowledged my sin to you… and you forgave the iniquity of my sin" (Psalm 32:5), and Paul quotes David, "Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, whose sins are covered" (Romans 4:7), of the man "to whom God counts righteousness apart from works" (Romans 4:6). Read this way, the offering in Leviticus 4 restored the worshiper's place in Israel's worship, and forgiveness before God came to those who trusted him.
Hebrews 9:9-10 · Hebrews 9:13 · Psalm 32:5 · Romans 4:6-8
The verses
“All its fat he shall burn on the altar, like the fat of the sacrifice of peace offerings; and the priest shall make atonement for him concerning his sin, and he will be forgiven.”
“For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins.”
“how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without defect to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”