THE TWO GOATS — ONE ATONING WORK

1. THE TWO DIRECTIONS ARE NOT RIVALS#

The two-goat pattern has already taught us to watch direction. Blood moves toward the Presence; confessed iniquity is borne away. In Christ, the same directional logic expands beyond the sanctuary rite. He deals with what must be removed, and He brings those who belong to Him toward God.

This is why “crossing over” and “going in” should not be forced into competition. A person can be rescued from a dominion and still need to be brought into a new relationship and dwelling. Scripture regularly describes salvation in both ways: out of bondage and into a kingdom; far off and made nigh; outside and given access; strangers and made household.

A helpful prompt for this distinction came from Ronn Johnson’s presentation at the Naked Bible Conference. Johnson emphasized atonement as a means of “going in” — approaching God’s Presence — rather than treating the gospel only as a way of “getting across.” That observation opens an important question for the biblical story: must we choose between the two movements? The passages that follow show that we do not. God delivers His people from hostile dominion and brings them to Himself.

2. EXODUS ALREADY JOINS DELIVERANCE WITH BEING BROUGHT TO GOD#

Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. — Exodus 19:4–6 KJV

The Exodus is not merely escape from Pharaoh. God states the destination in relational language: “brought you unto myself.” Deliverance from Egypt moves toward covenant, priestly vocation, holiness, and Presence.

This becomes a control for later salvation language. Rescue is not complete when the old master loses his claim. God is bringing a people to Himself.

3. CROSSING OVER — DELIVERED AND TRANSLATED#

Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: — Colossians 1:12–14 KJV

Paul describes a genuine transfer of dominion. The believer is delivered from the power of darkness and translated into the kingdom of the Son. This is not merely a change in emotion or vocabulary. The language is governmental and relational: another power no longer defines the person’s belonging.

Here “crossing over” is a useful summary. The person who was held under darkness is transferred into the kingdom of Christ. Redemption, forgiveness, and inheritance belong inside that new allegiance.

4. THE PURPOSE OF THE SUFFERING — “THAT HE MIGHT BRING US TO GOD”#

For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: — 1 Peter 3:18 KJV

Peter states the destination with striking simplicity: “that he might bring us to God.” Christ’s suffering for sins is not presented as an abstract transaction detached from relationship. The just One acts for the unjust so that those who were separated may be brought to God.

The language answers the Presence problem we have been tracing. The goal is not merely that sin be moved away while the person remains permanently at a distance. The obstacle is dealt with so that nearness becomes possible.

5. MADE NIGH BY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST#

Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. — Ephesians 2:11–13 KJV

Paul uses distance language. The Gentile believers were “far off.” Now, “in Christ Jesus,” they are “made nigh.” The blood does not merely cancel a negative entry; it participates in a movement from distance to nearness.

Notice the controlling phrase: “in Christ Jesus.” The nearness is not self-achieved. It belongs to those who are in the One whose blood has accomplished the work.

6. ACCESS BY ONE SPIRIT UNTO THE FATHER#

For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. — Ephesians 2:14–18 KJV

The movement now becomes Trinitarian in form. Through the Son, by one Spirit, believers have access unto the Father. The barrier between Jew and Gentile is addressed, but Paul’s destination is larger than social reconciliation: both are reconciled to God and both receive access.

This is “going in” language. The believer is not merely relocated from one kingdom to another and then left at the boundary. In Christ, access to the Father is opened.

7. THE NEW AND LIVING WAY#

Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. — Hebrews 10:19–22 KJV

The guarded way has become an opened way. The vocabulary deliberately returns us to the sanctuary: holiest, blood, veil, High Priest, sprinkling, washing, drawing near. Yet the command is no longer “come not at all times.” The people of Christ are told to draw near.

The way is both new and living because the access is not built around a dead route or a repeatedly replaced mediator. The slain One lives, and His priesthood remains.

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. — John 14:6 KJV

The appointed way is now personal. The answer to the guarded Presence is not a self-authored path. The Son Himself is the Way to the Father.

8. CLEANSED AND SET APART FOR THE PRESENCE#

For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? — Hebrews 9:13–14 KJV

Cleansing is not an ornamental doctrine attached after forgiveness. The old rites taught categories of purification and holiness because approach to God requires fitness for holy service. Hebrews carries that logic inward: Christ’s blood purges the conscience from dead works “to serve the living God.”

And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. — 1 Corinthians 6:11 KJV

Washed, sanctified, justified. Paul can name these together because salvation answers more than one problem. Guilt, uncleanness, belonging, and holy vocation are all being addressed in Christ and by the Spirit.

9. “IN HIM” IS MORE THAN A SLOGAN#

The phrase “in Christ” or “in Him” can become so familiar that its architecture disappears. But in the passages we have just read, the phrase gathers the entire movement into a Person. The believer does not possess an independent route to God and then ask Christ to approve it. The believer’s nearness, peace, reconciliation, access, and inheritance are located in Him.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: — Ephesians 1:3–4 KJV

The phrase therefore acts almost like a compressed map. When Scripture says a believer is “in Him,” it gathers what Christ has accomplished and locates the believer inside that accomplished work and relationship.

10. FROM STRANGERS TO HOUSEHOLD TO HABITATION#

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. — Ephesians 2:19–22 KJV

The movement does not stop at access. Paul moves from strangers, to fellowcitizens, to household, to holy temple, to habitation of God through the Spirit. The people who were far off are not merely permitted to stand closer to the building. In Christ, they become part of the dwelling.

This is one of the great reversals of the biblical story. Eden showed humanity outside a guarded place of life. The tabernacle placed guarded holiness in the midst of Israel. Ephesians now speaks of redeemed people themselves being built together as God’s habitation through the Spirit.

11. CROSSING OVER AND GOING IN — ONE SALVATION, DISTINCT MOVEMENTS#

Now the distinction can be stated without division. Crossing over describes rescue, transfer, and new allegiance. Going in describes nearness, access, and life before the Presence. Cleansing and sanctification describe the fitting of people for holy relationship and service. Union with Christ holds these works together without making them identical.

The gospel is therefore larger than “get across the gap,” but it does not abolish the crossing. It is larger than “gain access,” but it does not abolish the going in. God rescues, cleanses, reconciles, brings near, grants access, and makes a dwelling.

12. THE NEXT DISCOVERY — WHAT HAPPENS WHEN GOD DWELLS IN HIS PEOPLE?#

The story has now moved farther than the ancient worshipper could physically go. The believer is not simply represented by a priest who disappears behind a veil. In Christ there is access to the Father, and Paul says the people themselves are being built into a habitation of God through the Spirit.

That raises the next question: What does the Spirit actually do in the people who have been brought near? Does dwelling merely change their status, or does it restore the vocation lost in Eden? How do cleansing, sanctification, fruit, witness, holiness, and kingdom service relate to the Presence now dwelling within God’s people?

The answer will take us from access to habitation — and from habitation to restored vocation.