Leviticus 16:8-10 English Standard Version

⁸ And Aaron shall cast lots over the two goats, one lot for the Lord and the other lot for Azazel. ⁹ And Aaron shall present the goat on which the lot fell for the Lord and use it as a sin offering, ¹⁰ but the goat on which the lot fell for Azazel shall be presented alive before the Lord to make atonement over it, that it may be sent away into the wilderness to Azazel.

This takes a little spiritual discernment to clarify this fourth truth that the sacrifice of Christ had to be a free will offering. It appears to our human perspective that the casting of lost was a random accident. One was sacrificed and one set free to go back into the world, dangerous as that was into the realm of the prince and power of the air, Satan’s realm.

Lots were cast to determine the will of God ceremoniously because Moses had died and no one could come to God and speak to Him face to face any longer. It is more important in the moment to look at what the Lord did over the scapegoat. The choice of the sacrifice was Gods.

These sacrifices did not satisfy God’s sense of justice over sin because they were not a perfect sacrifice.

Hebrews 10:1-3 English Standard Version

Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All

¹ For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. ² Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? ³ But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year.

1 Corinthians 15:3 English Standard Version (ESV) For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,

The death of Christ was foretold in scriptures. It was not meant to be a secret. It was foretold that we might fully understand the gospel message. If we cannot understand why Jesus had to die, then His death becomes meaningless.

Genesis 22:8a English Standard Version (ESV) Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.”

John 1:29 English Standard Version (ESV) The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

Why did Jesus have to die? A proper understanding of the gospel message requires that we understand why Jesus had to die.

2 Corinthians 5:21 English Standard Version (ESV) For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

If we study the righteousness of God we will discover that it means a right standing before God. No sin can stand in the presence of God. In order for us to have the presence of God, sin must be dealt with. The atoning death in the Old Testament was a forerunner of the coming sacrifice of Christ to atone for sin. This is why John the Baptist declared that this Jesus who came to be baptized was in fact, the Lamb of God, chosen by God, provided by God, to be our atoning sacrifice.

It is the judicial characteristic of God that needs to be satisfied. Our presence before Him has to be justified. Justification is a book keeping term where we are taken out of the red and placed in the black. Our debt is paid by the atoning sacrifice of the Lamb of God.

If we declare we owe God nothing, we will not accept that His death was necessary for our salvation.