|
The Feast of Atonement
Finding Significance by Relating with God through the Lord’s AtonementSummary The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) is celebrated 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. 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.
Life Application Questions 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?
Scripture References Leviticus 23:26-31; Psalm 51; Matthew 4:17; Acts 2:38; 3:19;
Discovering God’s Purposes by Relating with Him through the Lord’s AtonementSummary 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.
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!
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.
Life Application Questions 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?
Scripture References
Receiving God’s Amazing Grace by Relating with Him through the Lord’s AtonementSummary 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. 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:
This feast, therefore, served as a shadow pointing forward to the LORD’s eternal atonement for sin.
Life Application Questions 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?
Scripture References
Responding in Faith to God’s Invitation of Life and Peace by Relating with Him through the Lord’s AtonementSummary 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.
Life Application Questions 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.
Scripture References
Walking in Spiritual Reality by Relating with God through the Lord’s AtonementSummary 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)
Life Application Questions 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 In what ways can you see yourself growing further?
Scripture References Romans 5-7; 2 Peter; Philippians 2:5-15; 2 Corinthians 4; 1 John
Be Blessed by Embracing God’s Values and Relating with Him through the Lord’s AtonementSummary 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.
Life Application Questions 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?
Scripture References
Living Life in its Fullness by Relating with the Lord who is the Way, the Truth and the LifeTowards 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.
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. |
|
