Consider Paul’s following statement: “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. 5.21).

Did you happen to notice on your calendar that this past Wednesday, September 26, was Yom Kippur? “Yom” is the Hebrew word for day, and “Kippur” means atonement. So, Yom Kippur is the “Day of Atonement,” as described in Leviticus 16. Under the Law of Moses, this was the annual day upon which the High Priest entered the Most Holy Place to apply animal blood to the Mercy Seat (the lid that covered the Ark of the Covenant).

Actually, the High Priest entered the Most Holy Place twice on that day. The first time was to make atonement with the blood of a bull for his own sins and the sins of the other priests. Once that was accomplished, he re-entered the room with goat’s blood to atone for the sins of all Israel. This process was to be repeated every year, which it was for nearly 1,500 years; except for the times when the Jews were away from Jerusalem in captivity, as in the case of the seventy-year captivity in Babylon and Medo-Persia (586-516 BC).

Obviously, we do not (and should not) observe the Day of Atonement? Why? In short, because Jesus Christ offered full atonement for our sins with the blood He shed on the cross of Calvary once for all. For us to offer animal blood in atonement for our sins would be a slap in the face to Jesus, as though what He did for us was not sufficient. (See John 3.16; Rom. 5.6-11 & 2 Cor. 5.21)

Having shed His own blood at Calvary, Jesus offered it forty days later when He ascended to God the Father. The author of the book of Hebrews put it this way as he contrasted what the Old Testament High Priest did with what Jesus did: “But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood he entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption” (Heb. 9.11-12).

By offering His atoning blood in the heavenly Holy of Holies, Jesus stamped the bill for our sins “Paid In Full.” Praise His Holy Name!

[-Adapted, BTW]