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The Day of Atonement
September 19, 2018

First-century apostolic Christians like me observe the Holy Days listed in the Bible. Most recently we observed the Feast of Trumpets understanding this day foretells the return of Jesus Christ. After Jesus Christ returns we know He will very quickly put Satan into the bottomless pit. We see a time when good finally triumphs over evil through this day, and we fast because we understand it is the sacrifice of Jesus Christ which makes our participation in this future triumph possible. I understand there are some who may be wondering why observe a Holy Day listed in the Bible? Most would see this as only a Jewish holiday. So for consideration, we will begin with an early account of the day given to Moses. We know from the text of Leviticus we are to afflict our souls, and historically this means to fast. Like Jesus Christ when he cried to the Father and asked why He had been forsaken from the source of spiritual life(at a time when the sins of mankind were heaped upon him) we too, for a brief period, one day, are forsaken from the source of physical life, food and water as a reminder that the sacrifice of Jesus was needed to usher in the Kingdom of God. As instructed in Leviticus, we fast from sunset the night before to sunset.

Leviticus 23:26-32
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD. And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God. For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people. And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people. Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath.

Decades after the death of Jesus the writer of Acts referred to the Day of Atonement as "the fast" because the Day of Atonement is when everyone is to fast. If the day of Atonement was something to be avoided or not needed, a relevant reference would have been used instead to refer to the time of year of Paul's sailing.

Acts 27:9-10
Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them, And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives.

As Christians, we acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the chief corner stone of our faith, and that our faith is built upon the apostles and prophets, all of whom observed the Holy Days including the Day of Atonement.

Ephesians 2:19-22
Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

So at this point, somebody has to be asking about the sacrifices required on this day in the old testament. We know that when Jesus came, he did not do away with the law and the prophets, but many who read the verse overlook an important time element. When Jesus said in Matthew 5:17 he came to fulfill the law, he gave the time frame for when that would occur in verse 18, when heaven and earth pass. Those who believe Holy Days do not need to be observed, must logically believe according to verse 18 that earth and heaven have passed. First-Century Apostolic Christians like me know that all is not fulfilled until we come to that future place in time shown in Revelation 22 where the river of life flows through New Jerusalem nourishing the tree of life.

Matthew 5:17-18
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

So what about the sacrifices? They are still required, and for Christians, Jesus has already fulfilled the sacrifice as Hebrews 10 shows. We are sanctified by the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Hebrews 10:1-10
For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

We observe this day knowing Jesus Christ died once for all, and we also know there remains a future time when all is fulfilled, when Satan is bound in the bottomless pit, when peace exists as God has always intended.

All verses are from the King James Version.
This site provided by Tom Laign. To all who may believe differently, I also extend peace and love.
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