I. The Day of Atonement Covered Sin so people could have a relationship with God to serve Him
A. It did not pay the death penalty (Scapegoat driven out into the wilderness). It did not cleanse the conscience.
Heb 10:1 For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come..can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. (Rm 11:27)
B. Adam lost glory; holiness, intimate fellowship with God in the Garden; got mortality/work. Covered with blood sacrifice, but no glory.
Israel redeemed by Passover blood, had faith Ex 14 1Cor 10; forgiveness; manna & fellowship, but could lose benefits by disobedience.
Ex 32:33 (gold calf) "Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book. in the day when I visit for punishment, I will visit punishment upon them for their sin." 35 So the LORD plagued the people because of what they did with the calf which Aaron made.
Num 14:19 Pardon the iniquity of this people, acc to the greatness of Your mercy, just as You have forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now." 20 "I have pardoned, according to your word; 22 have not heeded My voice 23...they certainly shall not see the land.
C. Lev 16:21 Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live go-goat, confess over it all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions, concerning all their sins, putting them on the head of the goat, and shall send it away into the wilderness
Machzor: (10x) “For the sin which we have committed before Thee by: denying and lying, bribery; scoffing, slander; in commerce; in eating and drinking; usurious interest; pride; idle gossip; wanton looks; haughty eyes, effrontery; For all these, O God of forgiveness, forgive us, pardon us, grant us atonement.” Lk 7:8-9 don't say:“We have Abraham as our father..”
D. Lev 16:30 For on that day the priest shall make atonement for you, to cleanse you, that you may be clean from all your sins before the LORD.31 It is a sabbath of solemn rest for you, and you shall afflict/humble/occupied with (Piel) your souls. It is a statute forever.
II. Blessing or Cursing of a Redeemed and Forgiven People: Choose your Consequences
Lev 26:3 ' If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments, and perform them, 4 then I will give you rain, produce, fruit, vintage, bread, safely, peace, unafraid; no evil beasts, no sword, chase your enemies 5/100; 100/10k; 9 'I will look on you favorably and make you fruitful, multiply you and confirm My covenant with you. 11 I will set My tabernacle among you, and My soul shall not abhor you. 12 I will walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people. 13 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that you should not be their slaves; I have broken the bands of your yoke and made you walk upright.
14 ' But if you do not obey Me, and do not observe all these commandments, 15 and if you despise My statutes, or if your soul abhors My judgments, so that you do not perform all My commandments, but break My covenant, 16 I also will do this to you...(five levels) 40 ' But if they confess their iniquity...with their unfaithfulness in which they were unfaithful to Me, and that they also have walked contrary to Me, 41 and that I also have walked contrary to them and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if their uncircumcised hearts are humbled, and they accept their guilt --- 42 then I will remember My covenant 44 Yet for all that, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, nor shall I abhor them, to utterly destroy them and break My covenant with them; for I am the LORD their God. 45 But for their sake I will remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I might be their God: I am the LORD.' " 46 These are the statutes and judgments and laws which the LORD made between Himself and the children of Israel on Mount Sinai by the hand of Moses. (Heb 8:13 aging)
Heb 6:7 For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God;8 but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned. (Jn 15:6; 1Cor 3:15)
III. The Blessing of a Cleansed Conscience and the Service that should Follow
Heb 9:13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh,14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who thru the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
Jer 31:33 this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel (them Heb 10:16) after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.34...they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more."
Heb 10:19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, thru the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. 26-39 If we sin willfully after we have rec'd knowledge of the Truth...
Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Response: - How much thought/affliction should a NT believer give to their “soul” as did Israel on the Day of Atonement (Lev 16:31)?
- Why would God write the law on Israel's heart in the New Covenant (Jer 31:33) if it has no value post-Christ? How is the law on your heart?
- Does God bless all or curse any redeemed, faith-exercising, pardoned, and forgiven believers? Is it all milk and honey? Heb 10:26-39
- What happens if NT believers don't faithfully follow in obedence (cx Israel) after they are redeemed? See Heb 10:26-39 (next week).
- What is the relationship between having a “cleansed conscience” and serving God in faith, hope, and love? How do you do that?
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