(By Eddie Hyatt) We need to understand the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ in order to lay hold of the full benefits made available to us by His death and resurrection. We also need to understand His atoning death so as not to misapply or abuse His atonement as do universalists and some who are called “grace teachers.” One place to start in understanding Christ’s atoning death is the Old Testament Day of Atonement, which is a type and foreshadowing of the atoning death of our Lord Jesus Christ. September 18-19 was Yom Kippur, or “Day of Atonement,” the holiest day of the year on the Jewish calendar.
Yom means “day” and Kippur is probably derived from the Hebrew kofer, meaning “ransom.” It falls on two of our calendar days because the Jewish day begins and ends at sunset. It was on this Day of Atonement that the Old Testament high priest went into the holy of holies, and with animal sacrifices, made sacrificial atonement for the sins of the people of Israel (Lev. 16). Interestingly, there was to be absolutely no work on this day. This day was God’s idea and God’s work, with the high priest being the one carrying out the proceedings. READ MORE
