The Day of Atonement;;
The Day of Atonement
Our salvation begins with the Passover. The Passover is not a time of dealing with our sins and self-will. The purpose of the Passover is to sprinkle the blood of God's Lamb on us so we will not come under judgment when God judges the world. The Passover blood separates us from the people of the world, signifying we are God's Church that He has called out from the world.
Once we receive the Passover blood by faith, we are no more of the world than the Lord Jesus was part of the Roman Empire.
However, the actual judgment of sin and deliverance from all that is in us that is not in God's image, is announced by the Blowing of Trumpets and then carried out as the spiritual fulfillment of the Day of Atonement.
During the process of the Day of Atonement we are reconciled to God by the removal of spiritual rebellion from us.
This is how it works. As we serve the Lord, the Spirit of God points out to us the sin and self-will that are in us. As He does, we are to name our sins and self-will and renounce them as having no part in the Kingdom of God.
We confess them to the Lord with the resolve that never again shall such behavior be true of us. Upon hearing our confession, Christ will forgive us, cleanse us from all unrighteousness, and assist us as we endeavor to remain free from all spiritual darkness.
During the first four Levitical observances, we stress the forgiveness of our sin. The forgiveness of our sins actually is a seal until the Day of Redemption. The Day of Redemption is the spiritual fulfillment of the last three observances.
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace. (Ephesians 1:7)
When you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed in Him, you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. He is the down payment of our inheritance, for the redemption of the possession, to the praise of His glory. (Ephesians 1:13,14—Holman)
We understand, then, that the forgiveness we have now is a down payment, looking forward to the day when our sins and self-seeking actually are removed from us.
The question may arise: "What if someone who has been forgiven today does not proceed to the deliverance provided by the spiritual fulfillment of the Day of Atonement. Does his or her forgiveness remain valid?"
The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. (Matthew 13:41-43)
"All things that offend, and them which do iniquity."
From the passage above, I would venture that sooner or later all the causes of sin are to be removed from the Kingdom. If a believer was stubborn and rebellious, and refused to cooperate with the Holy Spirit when the Day of Redemption arrives, then he or she no longer would remain in a state of forgiveness, as I see it.
FORGIVENESS APART FROM DELIVERANCE IS A TEMPORARY MEASURE IN THE PLAN OF REDEMPTION, SINCE IT NEITHER MAKES US IN GOD'S IMAGE NOR DOES IT PROVIDE A RESTING PLACE IN WHICH GOD CAN DWELL.
While I am on the subject of sin in the Christian, I would like to add a comment or two.
Throughout my adult life, particular the last thirty-five years, I have been warning God's people that they are being misled. Much Christian teaching reminds me of the parable of the unjust steward. The pastors and evangelists often inform the believers that they have only to "accept Christ" and then they are assured of a mansion in Heaven.
An Internet search will reveal that some outstanding ministries are teaching that we are to do nothing. "Jesus did it all," they maintain.
There are a couple of verses in the Book of Hebrews that seem to verify that idea. But we all know you can't construct an accurate doctrine on one or two verses.
Here are two of the verses on which one can build a theology of "Jesus did it all."
For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. (Hebrews 14:10)
(Perhaps the expression "being made holy" is overlooked at times.)
For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. (Hebrews 9:15)
In actuality, Christ died to set us free, not only from the guilt of sin but also from the sin itself.
When we examine the whole Book of Hebrews, plus the remainder of the New Testament, we find it is not at all true that we are to make a simple statement of belief in Christ and then are assured that no matter what we do after that, we cannot lose our mansion in Heaven.
First, let's take a look at the readers to whom the Book of Hebrews is addressed.
Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest. (Hebrews 3:1)
All of the Book of Hebrews is addressed to the "holy brothers and sisters."
However, since the Book of Hebrews contains many warnings about sinful conduct, it is a temptation to assign some of the verses to the unsaved. An example of this is the common application of the following to the unsaved:
We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. (Hebrews 2:1-3)
On how many Gospel tracts are the unsaved confronted with the warning: "How shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation?"
Yet these words were directed to holy brothers and sisters who were neglecting the assembling of themselves together; who were in danger of drifting away from the faith!
And there are other passages that suggest a one-time "accepting of Christ" is not a guaranteed pass into Heaven, unless we obey the numerous injunctions found in the New Testament.
If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. (Hebrews 10:26,27)
But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned. (Hebrews 6:8)
We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end. (Hebrews 3:14)
Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. (Hebrews 4:1)
For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. (II Peter 2:21,22)
You will be hated by everyone because of My name. But the one who endures to the end will be delivered. (Matthew 10:22—Holman)
I take no pleasure whatever in criticizing the current Christian ministry. But you and I know of what the Bible says about the watchman who does not warn of approaching danger!
We in America are in sad need of a reformation of Christian thinking.
During the remaining three observances we stress the removal of the power of our sin. The removal of our sin and self-will creates us in God's image, making us a suitable dwelling place for God, in which He can find rest from rebellious spirits.
We enter the rest of God by doing and becoming all that was spoken of us as an individual from the beginning of the world. We accomplish this by following Christ diligently at all times, ceasing from our own plans and ambitions. We find rest in so doing, and God finds rest in us. It is God's rest that is so utterly important!
The ordinances of the Day of Atonement are found in the sixteenth chapter of the Book of Leviticus.