Once ... and For All

"God presented Him
as a sacrifice of atonement,
through faith in His blood ..."
(Romans 3:25)
At sundown today, the observance of Yom Kippur begins in Judaism. Also known as the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur is the most solemn and important of the Jewish holidays. The Ten Days of Repentance, which began on Rosh Hashanah, culminates on the tenth and final day with Yom Kippur.

For 25 hours, practicing Jews pray and fast, seeking atonement for their sins. Historically observed on the tenth day of Tishrei (the tenth day of the seventh month as outlined on the Hebrew calendar) in accordance with Leviticus 23:27, Yom Kippur 5769 begins this year at sundown on October 8th and continues through the evening of October 9th.

As Christians, how should we acknowledge this Jewish high holy day?

Well, let's first consider the definition of "atonement". The very first offering in several different secular dictionaries refers specifically to Jesus Christ, defining atonement as the "reconciliation of God and humankind through the sacrificial death of Jesus".

The annually repeated sacrifices in the Old Testament Law of Moses, as I view them through my unschooled mind, foreshadow Jesus' single sacrifice upon the cross.

"For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; He entered Heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence. Nor did He enter Heaven to offer Himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself. Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people ..." (Hebrews 9:24-28) (My highlighted emphasis.)

Once for all. No matter how many times we sin, stray, and squander our inheritance. No matter how many times we mess up, if we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, His atoning blood covers us. Completely. Absolutely. Unconditionally.

So, we're back to our earlier question. As Christians, how--and indeed, why--should we acknowledge this Jewish high holy day?

Consider the following Scripture from 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. If it could, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Therefore, when Christ came into the world, He said, 'Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You prepared for Me; with burnt offerings and sin offerings You were not pleased. Then I said, 'Here I am--it is written about Me in the scroll--I have come to do Your will, O God.' ' First He said, "Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings You did not desire, nor were You pleased with them' (although the law required them to be made). Then He said, 'Here I am, I have come to do Your will.' He sets aside the first to establish the second. And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this Priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time He waits for His enemies to be made His footstool, because by one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First He says, 'This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.' Then He adds: 'Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.' And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin." (Hebrews 10:1-18) (My highlighted emphasis.)

As Christians, our sins have been covered once for all by Christ's death and resurrection. Still, the question hangs: if we're covered by grace, why acknowledge the law?

Let's continue in Hebrews 10:

"Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living Way opened for us through the curtain, that is, His body, and since we have a great Priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with Pure Water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He Who promised is faithful. ... 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. Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' and again, 'The Lord will judge His people.' It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." (Hebrews 10:19-31).

Oh, beloved, may God have mercy on us! We know Him! We know Him! We love Him, accept Him, and profess Him ... and we must not take His grace for granted! Do we reverently remember His atoning death, or do we cavalierly cast it aside? Oh precious friends, we should not live a moment outside the awe-inspiring fear of the Lord!

Jesus Christ did not render the law irrelevant; Jesus Christ consummated the law!

" 'Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.' " (Matthew 5:17-19)

As the Body of Christ, Christians can not take His perfect sacrifice for granted. And, while our faith in Him secures our eternity, that very faith demands our continuing sanctification. "So we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law." (Romans 3:31).

So, again, dear friends, (if you're still with me--and, if you are, thanks for hanging in there!), why does Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, matter to Christians?

Well, it matters to me because it reminds me to repent of my sins, to sit at the feet of Jesus, and to seek His face instead of His hands.

It matters to me because it reminds me to pray for all Jewish people, the Lord's holy and treasured possession (reference Exodus 19:5; Deuteronomy 7:6).

It matters to me because it is recorded in God's Holy Word.

And, it matters to me because it mirrors Good Friday, the day on which I most solemnly observe the crucifixion of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Who died for me. For you. For everyone. Once ... and for all.

Precious Father, I can not begin to fathom the significance of this Yom Kippur, but, Lord, I do believe it is important to You. Especially this year, I pray to remember. I pray to remember Your people, Israel. I pray to remember Your Body, the Church. And, I pray to remember Your Son's atoning death. I thank You for that incomparable sacrifice, which You offered through Jesus Christ ... once and for all. And, it is in His name I pray. Amen.


"... and He will appear a second time,
not to bear sin,
but to bring salvation
to those who are waiting for Him."

(Hebrews 9:28)

How can we encourage and pray for you today? Please let us know by clicking on "Sparks Share" at the end of today's reflection, and scroll down to the "Comments" box. You may choose to comment anonymously, if you prefer. Feel free to leave your praises and insights as well!

If this topic sparked your interest, see also ...

• "Sweet & Sour"


• "Time is Short"

Copyright 2008. Kathryn B. Wells. All Rights Reserved.