Atonement

E.L. writes,

>
> How does one reconcile the Day of Atonement knowing that Yeshua is the
>final sacrifice that was needed? How then do we keep this Day
>most Holy to the Jewish nation? Is it still a command of G-D? How so?
>How should we then celebrate this day? Truly it is worth celebrating!!!
> Thanks (again) for your assistance in finding how this fits..
>

The difficulty with reconciling these two issues is in understanding the nature of what was done and why.

We have been called to be priests unto the L-rd. He chose us first in the wilderness (Exodus 19:6) and has extended that choosing to those who choose his sacrifice (Rev 1:6, 5:10, 20:6).

Sin sacrifice repairs what has been broken, i.e., we do not need a sin sacrifice to atone for not breaking the Torah. Once we have sinned, i.e., broken the Torah (I John 3:4), we are to confess our sins (I John 1:8-10) and receive the sacrifice for atonement. Yeshua made atonement for us once and for all. He is what all the sin sacrifice laws were pointing to. Now that He has come, there is no longer a need to sacrifice animals for sins. However we are required to confess our sins to be cleansed. We have been sanctified (set apart for special purpose) by the blood of Yeshua. To remain sanctified we must repent of all wrong doing. I have a nice Sabbath suit. I only wear it on Shabbat. When it gets dirty I quit wearing it until it has been cleaned. The same is true with us. When we sin, we are removed from sanctification (being set aside as holy) until we are cleaned up (by confession and  applying the cleansing agent, Yeshua’s blood).

On the day of Atonement, sacrificing was only one of the rites carried out. The greatest part of the ritual was confessing the sins of the people over the sacrifices. Most of the sins we confess on Yom Kippur, we are not personally guilty of breaking as individuals. Some of our neighbors may have done these things but hopefully we have not. Also, many people of the other nations around us have done these things and therefore we are confessing the sins of the guilty on their behalf. We ask HaShem to apply the sin atonement to them (John 20:23) and to us because we are collectively all his children and therefore all guilty by association.

Jews do not see salvation as personal. We see HaShem’s saving grace being poured out upon peoples and nations. When HaShem appeared before Avraham and declared that Sodom and Gomorra were going to be destroyed, Avraham said, "What if fifty tzadikim (righteous souls) can be found? Would you destroy them for the sake of the fifty?" HaShem responded that He would not destroy the for the sake of fifty. Avraham continued until he got to ten. HaShem said He would save both Sodom and Gomorra if only ten tzadikim could be found. The wicked would not be punished for the sake of the righteous.

On Yom Kippur, Jews intercede for the world. Were it not for our Jewish people, the world would have been destroyed long ago. How much more should we as believers in the Messiah intercede for the world?

The following is a prayer which is used in various ways on Yom Kippur.
h 5.  CONFESSIONS
What shall we say before You, You who dwell on high and what shall we declare before You, You who abide in the heavens?  Don’t You know all things, both the hidden and the revealed?
You know the mysteries of the universe and the hidden secrets of all living.  You search out the heart of man, and probe all our thoughts and aspirations.  Naught escapes You, neither is anything concealed from Your sight.
May it therefore be Your will, 0 L-rd, our G-d and G-d of our fathers, to forgive us all our sins, to pardon all our iniquities, and to grant us atonement for all our transgressions.
For the sin which we have committed before You under compulsion or of our own will,
And for the sin which we have committed before You by hardening our hearts;
For the sin which we have committed before You unknowingly,
And for the sin which we have committed before You with utterance of the lips;
For the sin which we have committed before You by unchastity,
And for the sin which we have committed before You openly or secretly;
For the sin which we have committed before You knowingly and deceitfully,
And for the sin which we have committed before You in speech;
For the sin which we have committed before You by wronging our neighbor,
And for the sin which we have committed before You by sinful meditation of the heart;
For the sin which we have committed before You by association with impurity,
And for the sin which we have committed before You by confession of the lips;
For the sin which we have committed before You by spurning parents and teachers,
And for the sin which we have committed before You in presumption or in error;
For the sin which we have committed before You by violence, And for the sin which we have committed before You by the profanation of Your name;
For the sin which we have committed before You by unclean lips,
And for the sin which we have committed before You by impure speech;
For the sin which we have committed before You by the evil inclination,
And for the sin which we have committed before You wittingly or unwittingly;
For all these, 0 G-d of forgiveness, forgive us, pardon us, grant us atonement.
For the sin which we have committed before You by denying and lying,
And for the sin which we have committed before You by bribery;
For the sin which we have committed before You by scoffing, And for the sin which we have committed before You by slander;
For the sin which we have committed before You in commerce,
And for the sin which we have committed before You in eating and drinking;
For the sin which we have committed before You by demanding usurous interest,
And for the sin which we have committed before You by stretching forth the neck in pride;
For the sin which we have committed before You by idle gossip,
And for the sin which we have committed before You with wanton looks;
For the sin which we have committed before You with haughty eyes,
And for the sin which we have committed before You by effrontery;
For all these, 0 G-d of forgiveness, forgive us, pardon us, grant us atonement.
For the sin which we have committed before You by casting off the yoke of Your commandments,
And for the sin which we have committed before You by contentiousness;
For the sin which we have committed before You by ensnaring our neighbor,
And for the sin which we have committed before You by envy;
For the sin which we have committed before You by levity, And for the sin which we have committed before You by being stiff-necked;
For the sin which we have committed before You by running to do evil,
And for the sin which we have committed before You by tale bearing;
For the sin which we have committed before You by vain oaths,
And for the sin which we have committed before You by causeless hatred;
For the sin which we have committed before You by breach of trust,
And for the sin which we have committed before You with confusion of mind;
For all these, 0 G-d of forgiveness, forgive us, pardon us, grant us atonement.

You can see from this prayer that every kind of sin is mentioned. Who would ever think of asking forgiveness for all of these kinds of sins without help of this nature?

Yes! We as believers should observe the Fast of Yom Kippur. We should intercede for the world and our neighbors who are not so righteous and ask HaShem for a good year for us all. I receive more fulfillment in celebrating Yom Kippur than for any other holy day. We have peace and satisfaction by the end of the day that surpasses all other holy days.