The Feast of Atonement
 |
|
|
Redemption
|
Finding Significance by Relating with God through the Lord’s Atonement
TRUTH AND PURPOSE
The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) was prescribed as a day of confession to cleanse the soul from sin. “For on that day the priest shall make atonement for you, to cleanse you, that you may be clean from all your sins before the LORD. It is a sabbath of solemn rest for you, and you shall afflict your souls. It is a statute forever.” (Leviticus 16:30-32 NKJV)
It was the one day of the year when the high priest would go into the tabernacle, behind the veil into the Holy of Holies, and sprinkle the blood of the covenant sacrifice over the Mercy Seat. From within the cloud of God’s glory over the ark, God would see the sacrificial blood as evidence of man’s atonement of sin; reversing His judgment, and transforming it to one of mercy.
RELEVANCE
The LORD came as our High Priest! His blood was poured out as a sacrifice forever reversing God’s judgment of sin for everyone who calls upon His name, believes in the heart, and receives His redemption.
But when the Messiah appeared as cohen gadol (high priest) of the good things that are happening already, then, through the greater and more perfect Tent which is not man-made (that is, it is not of this created world), 12 he entered the Holiest Place once and for all. And he entered not by means of the blood of goats and calves, but by means of his own blood, thus setting people free forever. 13 For if sprinkling ceremonially unclean persons with the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer restores their outward purity; 14 then how much more the blood of the Messiah, who, through the eternal Spirit, offered himself to God as a sacrifice without blemish, will purify our conscience from works that lead to death, so that we can serve the living God! 15 It is because of this death that he is mediator of a new covenant [or will]. Because a death has occurred which sets people free from the transgressions committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promised eternal inheritance. (Hebrews 9:11-15 JNT)
REFLECTION, REALITY AND RESPONSE
How do you apply God’s Word and prepare your heart to appropriate the victory over sin and death that the LORD has won for you?
REFERENCES
Leviticus 23:26-31; Psalm 51; Matthew 4:17; Acts 2:38; 3:19;
Romans 5; Hebrews 2:14-3:6
|
|
|
Affliction of Soul
Confession
Discipline
|
Discovering God’s Purposes by Relating with Him through the Lord’s Atonement
TRUTH AND PURPOSE
The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) was prescribed to afflict one’s soul by fasting, confessing sins, and repenting before God. This provides for making amends with God, and reconciling one’s standing before God.
Yeshua the Messiah, Jesus Christ, became our atonement. He is the atonement. We receive the grace of His redemption by appropriating His atonement. Paul provides instruction on this subject.
RELEVANCE
In the same way, consider yourselves to be dead to sin but alive for God, by your union with the Messiah Yeshua. 12 Therefore, do not let sin rule in your mortal bodies, so that it makes you obey its desires; 13 and do not offer any part of yourselves to sin as an instrument for wickedness. On the contrary, offer yourselves to God as people alive from the dead, and your various parts to God as instruments for righteousness. 14 For sin will not have authority over you; because you are not under legalism but under grace. (Romans 6:11-14 JNT)
The LORD’s atonement is settled forever! He has wiped away all the spiritual requirements for righteousness that were—and could ever be—set against us. In union with Him, we are set free from all traces of guilt and condemnation!
Also it was in union with him that you were circumcised with a circumcision not done by human hands, but accomplished by stripping away the old nature’s control over the body. In this circumcision done by the Messiah, 12 you were buried along with him by being immersed; and in union with him, you were also raised up along with him by God’s faithfulness that worked when he raised Yeshua from the dead. 13 You were dead because of your sins, that is, because of your “foreskin,” your old nature. But God made you alive along with the Messiah by forgiving you all your sins. 14 He wiped away the bill of charges against us. Because of the regulations, it stood as a testimony against us; but he removed it by nailing it to the execution-stake (cross). (Colossians 2:11-14 JNT)
Upon confession of revealed sins or ways we have fallen short of God’s best, and then receiving the LORD’s atonement and reconciliation, we also have the opportunity to adopt new measures of discipline to help us walk in the new light we have received.
REFLECTION, REALITY AND RESPONSE
How do you appropriate the LORD’s atonement in your life?
Do you know in your heart that the LORD has performed total atonement for you, exchanging His life for your death to sin?
Are there some areas where you still condemn yourself?
Have you allowed the Holy Spirit to wholly set you free, and receive the LORD’s work and word discharging you from the debts and penalties of sin?
What measures of discipline do you think you can apply and implement in your life to help you walk in the new light you have received?
REFERENCES
Psalm 119:57-176; Romans 1-6
|
|
|
Substitution
|
Receiving God’s Amazing Grace by Relating with Him through the Lord’s Atonement
TRUTH AND PURPOSE
The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) was established as a sacred day to afflict the soul and confess sins before God. It was the one day of the year when the high priest would go into the tabernacle, behind the veil into the Holy of Holies, and sprinkle the blood of the covenant sacrifice over the Mercy Seat. From within the cloud of God’s glory over the ark, God would see the sacrificial blood as evidence of man’s atonement of sin; reversing His judgment, and transforming it to one of mercy.
It has become apparent, however, that the daily, weekly, and monthly animal sacrifices made to atone for sin were insufficient to satisfy God’s wrath and judgment of sin and establish one’s right standing before Him.
RELEVANCE
Therefore, this feast points forward to the LORD’s sacrifice; the permanent substitute sacrifice for the sins of mankind.
The writer of Hebrews in 10:5-7, therefore, quoted Psalm 40:6-8, which speaks prophetically about the LORD’s sacrifice:
Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure. Then I said, 'Behold, I have come --In the volume of the book it is written of Me --To do Your will, O God.’
This feast, therefore, served as a shadow pointing forward to the LORD’s eternal atonement for sin.
REFLECTION, REALITY AND RESPONSE
Have you settled the issue in your heart that the LORD’s single sacrifice has permanently established your position of right-standing, or justification before God?
Are there any works you believe you have to accomplish to “earn points” with God… or earn His approval?
REFERENCES
Leviticus 23:26-32; Numbers 29:7-11; Hebrews 10:1-10;
Colossians 2:13-17
|
|
|
Law of the Spirit
vs. Law of Sin
and Death
|
Responding in Faith to God’s Invitation of Life and Peace by Relating with Him through the Lord’s
Atonement
TRUTH AND PURPOSE
The LORD became the atonement for our sins; and is the atonement. We appropriate His atonement by receiving His sacrificial blood for the remission of our sins. We then come under the law of grace, and receive the operative power of the Holy Spirit; thus living in the freedom of the law of the Spirit.
RELEVANCE
Our natural fleshly tendencies, however, are inclined towards satisfying carnal desires, and therefore subject to the sway of sin and worldly ways. Giving into sin—lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, and pride of life—brings guilt upon us, and puts us under the operative power and consequences of the law of sin; which leads to spiritual death.
Repentance—the purposeful, active turning back towards God—and receiving His mercy and forgiveness, restores the operative powers of the law of grace—the liberty of God’s Spirit—to be effective and bear fruit in your life.
REFLECTION, REALITY AND RESPONSE
Review Paul’s monologue in Romans 7. How do you relate to what he is describing?
Then read Romans 8. Meditate about what Paul is relating. Compare the benefits and values of life as a child of God vs. life under the sway of sin and pulls of worldly ways.
REFERENCES
Romans 7-8; Galatians 3:21-29; 5:16-26
|
|
|
Reformation
|
Walking in Spiritual Reality by Relating with God through the Lord’s Atonement
TRUTH AND PURPOSE
The LORD is our atonement for sin. His obedient death on the cross reconciled man back to God, restoring the fullness of the covenant relationship lost in the Garden of Eden due to sin, disobedience and assertion of independence from God. His sacrifice satisfied God’s wrath.
RELEVANCE
As we have been united together in the likeness of His death, we have, likewise, been united with Him in the likeness of His resurrection. We, therefore, have a new capacity to resist the tendencies to sin. We have the indwelling of God’s Holy Spirit.
As a result, sin no longer has to have dominion over the believer, for we are under the law of grace. Therefore, it is up to us to walk in the newness of this new life in the LORD. If we stumble, we repent, turn to God’s way and receive God’s forgiveness without condemnation.
Such freedom, however, does not give us license to keep walking in self indulgence. In fact in the LORD we have been raised to a higher standard of moral excellence and accountability.
Therefore, we “submit to God” and “resist the devil” by drawing near to God, purifying our heart, and apprehending the LORD’s thoughts by the Holy Spirit. (James 4:7 and Philippians 2:5) By this we allow the Holy Spirit to transform and "re-form" us by His grace as God the potter forms the clay. This was the concept behind Paul's exhortation in Romans 12:2-- "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
In addition, by reckoning to be dead to sin and alive to God, we can redirect our thoughts and actions, and serve our fellow man in the “newness of the Spirit.” (Romans 6:5-6 and 7:6)
In teaching believers how to express gratefulness to God for His love and precious promises, Peter encouraged believers to cultivate the LORD’s divine nature—character traits above and beyond basic faith: virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love.
Peter spoke more on the value of allowing the Holy Spirit to keep
us diligent and disciplined in order to grow in the knowledge of God and live fruitful lives. He admonishes us to, “prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away.” (2 Peter 1:10)
REFLECTION, REALITY AND RESPONSE
Having received the LORD’s atonement, in what ways do you think you can diligently pursue advancing your walk with Him to be a partaker of His divine nature?
What fruits of the Spirit’s character traits do you regularly bear?
Which of these character traits will you ask God to manifest in your
life to a greater extent?
In what ways can you see yourself growing further?
REFERENCES
Romans 5-7; 2 Peter; Philippians 2:5-15; 2 Corinthians 4; 1 John
|
|
|
Conviction
|
Be Blessed by Embracing God’s Values and Relating with Him through the Lord’s Atonement
TRUTH AND PURPOSE
The Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur, remembers the one day of the year when the high priest would go into the tabernacle, behind the veil, into the Holy of Holies to atone for the sin of the people. On the Mercy Seat covering the Ark of the Covenant, the priest would sprinkle the blood of the covenant sacrifice. From within the cloud of God’s glory over the ark, God would see the sacrificial blood as evidence of man’s atonement of sin, reversing God’s judgment, transforming it to mercy.
RELEVANCE
The LORD’s sacrificial blood was poured out once and for all reversing God’s judgment of sin. As much as we need to allow the Holy Spirit to convict our heart of sin, we also need to allow our heart to receive with conviction the Father’s love and the grace of His mercy.
As we receive God’s forgiveness purchased with the LORD’s blood, we can forgive others. “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” (Matthew 6:14)
As we value the LORD’s sacrifice and His forgiveness, we are able to cast off condemnation, allowing the Holy Spirit to fill and refresh our heart. Such liberty enables us to walk free from guilt; and empowers us to set others free from our judgment.
In a similar sense, as we take the “log” out of our eye (Matthew 7:4) and stop judging others, God cleans our eye, and clears our vision—so that we can see with His open vision.
Living free from the guilt of sin and judgment truly transfers us into a new realm. For, when you receive the liberty of the Spirit, you are transferred from the realm of the guilt and condemnation of sin to the realm of freedom in the Spirit.
We often find it difficult to shake off guilt. Therefore, we find encouragement and hope in Messiah Jesus. Allow your heart to embrace Paul’s exhortation.
So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. (Romans 8:1-2 NLT)
REFLECTION, REALITY AND RESPONSE
Have you fully received the love of the Father? Would you like to?
Do you know the mercy of the LORD?
Would you like to fully receive the Holy Spirit’s comfort?
Do you think there might be things preventing you from freely extending God’s love to others—even difficult people?
How do you think the Holy Spirit might help you extend mercy and grace to others?
REFERENCES
1 John 4:16; Psalm 19:7-14; 27; 136; Hebrews 6:13-20
|
|
|
I AM
THE WAY,
THE TRUTH
THE LIFE
|
Living Life in its Fullness by Relating with the Lord who is the Way, the Truth and the Life
TRUTH AND PURPOSE
Towards the end of His earthly ministry, the LORD was sharing a Passover meal with His closest disciples. He shared many key truths about the kingdom of God. When it came time to ritually clean his hands, he illustrated through practical demonstration the way by which the disciples would share God’s love and serve one another. He served them in humility by washing their feet. If that didn’t startle them, He said something that startled them even more.
“I AM the Way — and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6 JNT)
RELEVANCE
The LORD revealed that He not only is the true way or path to eternal life, but IS eternal life—and the true atonement fir sin, opening the way of eternal life. What did He really mean? The apostle, Paul, shed light on the meaning of this in revealing that if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will also be united with him in a resurrection like his. (Romans 6:4)
As we suppress our carnal sinful tendencies (lust of the eye, lust of the flesh and pride of life) allowing them “to die” and put our faith in the LORD, trusting in the Holy Spirit to enable us to rule over those tendencies, we become united with the LORD in His resurrection, and live IN HIM—the power of His resurrection—HIS WAY, HIS TRUTH and HIS LIFE.
Truly, no single day of atonement, verbal confession, collection of good works or blood sacrifice can satisfy God’s righteous requirements for the remission of sins. There is no way to reconcile our sins with a righteous, perfect God and make amends for transgressing His law; except coming before Almighty God with brokenness of heart and humility, receiving the sacrificial blood atonement of the LORD, Jesus the Messiah.
In the LORD, we truly know El Gibbor—The Mighty God, who has gone before us in triumph over death, and gives us strength through His Spirit; not only for today, but for eternity. Truly, He is El Olam—God Everlasting.
REFLECTION, REALITY AND RESPONSE
How do you daily resist the pulls of the world which would have you walk in ways contrary to God’s way, truth and life?
How do you keep God’s way, truth and life before you when making decisions?
When at a crossroads, what principles do you apply to best follow the LORD’s way?
|
