Atonement and Grace: The Message of Yom Kippur

October 2, 2025 – Yom Kippur 5786 – Day of Atonement

When I think of Yom Kippur I am reminded of the work of the cross. The Atonement is the purpose of the sacrifice. It’s the reason the cross was necessary. Christianity usually focuses only on the cross. It’s not that we don’t talk about the Atonement. We do. But I remember when I read the book of Hebrews for the first time. I didn’t realize that the Atonement was an Old Testament thing. By that I mean, I didn’t know that the Old Testament was a shadow of things to come. That is, they pointed to what Jesus accomplished.

But without the Atonement the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus would not have fully restored man back to God. Jesus’ blood couldn’t not have just been spilled on Calvary. It had to be brought into the holy of holies. It had to be applied to the mercy seat.

He had to be born of a woman. He had to die as a spotless lamb, a sinless sacrifice for all mankind. He had to take on the sin of the world. He had to go into hell and get the keys to death and the grave. He could only do that if He died separated from God because of sin. And He had to be buried in order for that to happen. He had to really be dead. But once He obtained the keys to death He rose from the grave! He lead captivity captive. But even then the job wasn’t finished. As our great High Priest He had to take His human blood and apply it to the mercy seat in heaven.

Only as a son of man could He become the sacrifice. Only after the resurrection could He ascend to heaven. Only as the Son of God could He afterward enter heaven itself and apply His blood and make atonement on behalf of all mankind. Atonement can never be separated from the work of the cross. It can never be separated from our covenant of Grace. The atonement is the blood of the New Covenant.

Each year on Yom Kippur I like to read the New Testament book of Hebrews. It reminds me of what Jesus did on our behalf. I read it on Passover and I read it on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. For me it reminds me that the Old Testament Law was eternally fulfilled in Christ.

According to the Old Testament once a year, on the day of Atonement, the High Priest was to go into the Holy of holies. It was the ONLY day of the year he was allowed entrace. He had to come with blood to atone for his sin, the sin of his family and the sin of the nation. So, on Yom Kippur (Day of Atonment) I remember our Great High Priest, Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus Christ) who gave Himself as a sacrifice so that we could have open access to God.

I can’t think of a better way to conclude the holiest day on the sacred calendar than to join together and boldly approach the throne of grace to obtain mercy and find grace to help in a time of need.

So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help. Heb 4:16 (MSG)

A New and Living Way

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, through His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let’s approach God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let’s hold firmly to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let’s consider how to encourage one another in love and good deeds, not abandoning our own meeting together, as is the habit of some people, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. Hebrews 10:19–25 (NASB)

As we reflect on the profound significance of Yom Kippur and the Atonement, we are excited to celebrate the New Covenant of Grace that has been joyfully purchased through the sacrificial love of Christ. This covenant is not just a theological concept but a transformative reality that beautifully offers us forgiveness, redemption, and a meaningful relationship with God.

Through Jesus’ atoning sacrifice, the barriers that once separated us from our Creator have been joyfully dismantled, allowing us to approach Him with boldness and confidence. It is in this grace that we discover endless hope, restoration, and the empowerment to live out our faith vibrantly. May we, therefore, wholeheartedly embrace the gift of grace with gratitude and joy, continually uplifting one another in love and good works as we journey together in faith.