THE DAY OF ATONEMENT

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DAY OF ATONEMENT

There was a pivotal day in history - just ONE DAY- when God provided PERMANENT ATONEMENT for the sin of the world. On the Hill of The Skull, at the summit (Rosh) of the Mount of Olives, on Passover of the year 29AD, Father God sent His Son to bear the weight of humanity’s transgressions.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3.16)
On that day Yeshua became the scapegoat taking on Himself the guilt and sin of the entire world. This act satisfied God's perfect justice while also covering our rebellion against Him. This great day was foretold from the days of Adam. (Genesis 3.15) It was prefigured by THE RAM that became a substitute for Isaac on Mount Moriah, by the numerous Temple sacrifices and was precisely foretold by the prophecies of David and Isaiah. (Genesis 22.1-19; Leviticus 17.1; Psalm 22; Isaiah 53)

Because the Atonement is an historical ACCOMPLISHED FACT it cannot be undone or reversed. It is true whether we believe it or not. God Himself, in Yeshua, has paid mankind’s debt - the debt of every one of us. Only He could remit our sins and only He could pay for them. To ignore our sin would be unrighteous as it would fail to meet the demands of justice.
It took a perfect sacrifice of a perfect man to satisfy the perfect justice (wrath) of a perfect God.

"God was in Messiah reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their sins against them.. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Cor. 5.19 & 21)
It is now up to all people everywhere (Jew and gentile) to KNOW this fact and to PUT THEIR FAITH in it so that they may be cleansed from all sin, released from guilt and fully restored to God's favor and care.

No matter how sinful or shameful our past, God Himself, by this act of extreme love and kindness, has taken the blame. He has made a way for all (ANYONE AND EVERYONE) to come home, just as they are, to where they truly belong - the realm of the love and care of God, Our Heavenly Father. We are not asked to become religious but to recognize and put our faith in a FACT and RECEIVE perfect reconciliation through His Atonement.
"All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all." (Isaiah 53.6)

Since the blood Yeshua is on the mercy seat of heaven's throne it is possible for anyone to approach God and receive His forgiveness and mercy. ANYONE who believes can come and receive freely. "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4.16)

Most Jewish people have been rightly taught to rely on God's mercy for the forgiveness of sin. However, what many do not realize is that this mercy is available only because God Himself has provided permanent atonement for them through the death of His sinless Son, Yeshua. Many are like the man in the Temple who cried out to God for mercy and in the words of Jesus "went home justified." (Luke 18.13) In this parable, Jesus contrasts the man who casts Himself on God's mercy for forgiveness with the man who relies on his religious and moral achievements for justification. The man who cast Himself on God's mercy went home justified, and the one who relied on his moral and religious works remained unchanged.

The apostle Paul argues that the true faith of Israel and Judaism lies in receiving the mercy of God by faith rather than depending on self-righteous effort. He argued that religious observance should never become a substitute for the faith that wholly trusts on God's mercy. He warned both Jew and Gentile against substituting religious practices for genuine heartfelt faith. (See Gal. 3.1-3 & 5.1-4)

This conflict between the FAITH that relies entierely on God's mercy and receives His grace as a GIFT versus the RELIGIOUS EFFORT that seeks to EARN God's mercy AS A REWARD is found throughout the scriptures. This clash is not limited to Judaism but continues within Christianity as well. Paul makes it clear that those who place their faith solely on God's mercy and the Atonement He provided through the Blood of His Son Yeshua, are the ones who are truly following the faith of Abraham and the message of the gospel. (See Galatians 3.7; Romans 4.16) )
The Bible assures us that when Israel comes back from the nations it will receive a powerful revelation of the reality of the Atonement. They will come to understand that the source of all their mercies is the covering (Kippur) that God Himself provided through the shedding of the Blood and death of His Son.

According to the prophet Zechariah, Israel’s full awakening to this truth will occur only after their return to the land. The Day of Atonement anticipates a national awakening of Israel to the reality of the Blood and recognition of Yeshua, God’s sinless Son, who paid the debt - not only for them but for all of us. This momentous event will herald the return of the Lord to be their King and the King of all nations.

Simultaneously the gospel will be offered anew to all nations inviting them to put their faith in the Atonement and to approach the throne of grace boldly, receiving both mercy and help
"And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn." (Zechariah 12.10)
"And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24.14)