Today is a very special day in the history of the church. For the most part only the Jews continue to observe this day, the Day of Atonement--"For on this day He will forgive you, to purify you, that you be cleansed from all your sins before God" 34 “This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: Atonement is to be made once a year for all the sins of the Israelites.” (Leviticus 16:30,34). This is to be a lasting ordinance but everything changed when Jesus came. For the Jews “Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the year--the day on which we are closest to God and to the quintessence of our own souls. This day is the most solemn of the year, yet an undertone of joy suffuses it: a joy that revels in the spirituality of the day and expresses the confidence that God will accept our repentance, forgive our sins, and seal our verdict for a year of life, health and happiness. The closing Neilah service climaxes in the resounding cries of "Hear O Israel... God is one." Then joy erupts in song and dance (a Chabad custom is to sing the lively "Napoleon's March"), followed by a single blast of the shofar, followed by the proclamation, "Next year in Jerusalem." We then partake of a festive after-fast meal, making the evening after Yom Kippur a Yom Tov (festival) in its own right.”
In scripture atonement is made for our sins. Leviticus 16 tells us that “He shall sprinkle it on the atonement cover and in front of it. 16 In this way he will make atonement for the Most Holy Place because of the uncleanness and rebellion of the Israelites, whatever their sins have been. 30 because on this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you. Then, before the Lord, you will be clean from all your sins.” No wonder it is a big day in the Jewish tradition. What a promise from God this is. But do we really understand the atonement Jesus has given us in the New Covenant? It is obvious the Jews do not understand or believe Jesus but the question is do Christians really understand what it means to have the title Christian? Do we really understand the magnitude of having our sins atoned for?
In the case of the Jews they have not accepted Jesus as the Messiah. Hebrews 10 “The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. Now because of this refusal to believe in Jesus they still have a veil over their eyes. 2 Corinthians 3:14 “But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. 15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” The Jews still have a veil over their eyes and cannot see Jesus for who he is. Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) in scripture gives us an awesome promise that our sins will be atoned for once and for all. This day even includes the year of Jubilee and getting our land back. How great will that be when God gives us this land? But since they do not believe Jesus nor His words they continue to offer sacrifice. Unfortunately the party at the end of this day is all for naught. You cannot say "Hear O Israel... God is one" and not include Jesus Christ, therefore God cannot listen to your pleas for atonement. The same goes for us as Christians. If we call ourselves Christians but do not live for Jesus or believe in His words it also is all for naught. Hebrews 10:26 “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. 28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?”
Today needs to be a reminder for us Christians to follow the commands of God and live for Him. Deuteronomy 6:4-5 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
Mark 12:28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” 29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
There are many Christians who are sinning and trampling Jesus underfoot because they do not live wholeheartedly for Jesus Christ. Many Christians will even tell you they are sinners. (Odd I know) In some cases it is a blatant disregard for scripture, others it is unintentional or even a failure to speak up. Leviticus 4 and 5 talk about these sins. But the good news is “When anyone becomes aware that they are guilty in any of these matters, they must confess in what way they have sinned. 6 As a penalty for the sin they have committed, they must bring to the Lord a female lamb or goat from the flock as a sin offering; and the priest shall make atonement for them for their sin.”
In order for us to have revival we must confess our sins of uncleanliness and rebellion towards the word of God. God has guaranteed that if we return to Him He will return to us but we must be desperate for Him. So today make this a new beginning but unlike the Jews do not plan for a year but for an eternity. There is no need for a yearly sacrifice but we must confess Jesus as Lord and live like it. We then can say "Hear O Israel... God is one."
