Please contact Pastor Ken Birks
for any questions or comments at: ken@straitarrow.net
The Day of Atonement – Leviticus 23:26-32; 16:1-34
In these two passages of scripture we have a detailed description of all that the Day of Atonement represented for the nation of Israel. As mentioned above the Day of Atonement was a day of cleansing for all sin and speaks to us of the atoning work of Christ and all that He accomplished on the cross for us as God's Holy nation. The symbolic significances all point to the work of Christ historically and then to His work prophetically in His church.
There are several things we will be looking at in this study as to how the church relates to the actual fulfillment of the Day of Atonement, but let us keep in mind first of all the following truths:
1. We have not appropriated any real measure of the atonement, meaning, even though Jesus has made complete provision for us, we have not yet experienced the completion of our salvation or the full measure of the atonement in our lives.
2. The Church must enter into the experimental appropriation of it just as it has with the other Feasts.
3. As there is a historical and an experimental fulfillment with Passover and Pentecost so there must be with the Day of Atonement and the Feast of Tabernacles.
4. The Church through the ages has never appropriated the full measure of deliverance from sin, but has appropriated some.
5. The sin and carnality of the Church's history must be taken away from her before she can enter into the fullness of the blessing and power of the Feast of Tabernacles.
If we are to enter into the Feast of Tabernacles we must have an ear to hear what the trumpets are blowing, and how they are calling the people to affict their souls in preparation for the Great Day of Atonement.
1 Peter 1:3-8 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
If the blood of Passover saved Israel from Egypt and the blood of our Passover, Jesus Christ has saved us from the world, what did the blood of atonement do for Israel that has not yet been experienced by the Church. This day took away all sins, of ignorance and otherwise. The blood of Jesus can make us perfect.
