Substitution

Receiving God’s Amazing Grace by Relating with Him through the Lord’s Atonement 

Summary
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.

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. 

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
Leviticus 23:26-32; Numbers 29:7-11; Hebrews 10:1-10;
Colossians 2:13-17

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Unless otherwise specified, all Scripture references are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982, by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scriptures marked JNT taken from the Jewish New Testament. Copyright © 1979 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. Scriptures marked NLT are taken from New Living Translation Holy Bible, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.