The Day of Atonement, as mentioned in Leviticus 23:27-28, is a holy convocation where the focus is on atonement. This day is devoted to making atonement for the people before the Lord their God. The Hebrew word for atone, kāpar, means to atone, to propitiate, to appease, to pacify, or to wipe clean, suggesting the idea of covering. The Day of Atonement is thus a day of covering, where sins are covered through the life blood of an animal sacrifice. However, the blood of bulls and goats is not capable of taking away sins completely, as stated in Hebrews 10:4. Under the Old Covenant, sins were only covered and hidden from sight, not removed or forgiven. The true price of atonement, which should be our focus on the Day of Atonement, is the sinless life of Jesus Christ, whose value is high enough to pay for everyone's sins and still have incalculable value to spare.

The Day of Atonement is the most unusual holy day of the year, characterized by fasting or afflicting our souls, which teaches us our dependence on God. This day underscores our frailty and neediness, showing how much we rely on God for everything, including our spiritual life. The ritual with two goats in Leviticus 16 embodies the heart of the day's meaning: the need and means of atonement for sin. One goat is sacrificed for the Lord, its blood sprinkled on the Mercy Seat in the Holy of Holies, while the other, the azazel goat, carries the sins of the people into the wilderness. This ritual illustrates the possibility of unity with God through atonement, as without it, humankind cannot be at one with Him. The Day of Atonement is also extraordinarily solemn, focusing on the great sacrifice of Jesus Christ necessary to cover sin and atone for mankind's wickedness. This observance should evoke humility, grief, neediness, and powerlessness, yet also joy and gratitude for God's provision of atonement through Jesus Christ. The day's emphasis on doing no work whatsoever reflects the impossibility of atoning for ourselves; only God's efforts can bring about forgiveness and reconciliation.

The Day of Atonement, observed on the tenth day of the seventh month, is a Sabbath of solemn rest where individuals are to afflict their souls and do no work. This day is described as a statute forever, emphasizing its perpetual importance. The term "atonement" is mentioned multiple times in Leviticus 16 and 23, highlighting its significance. Atonement involves making atonement for the children of Israel for all their sins, cleansing them from all iniquities. The Hebrew word for atonement, "kapar," suggests both covering or hiding sins and appeasing or pacifying an offended party through a substitutionary animal sacrifice. These sacrifices were symbolic, pointing to the greater Sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who would ultimately atone for sin. The Day of Atonement pictures the cleansing and removal of all sin, effective for all humanity, not just the elect. It is placed among the fall holy days because it is part of God's greater plan to save all humanity, following Christ's return and before the Millennium.

On the Day of Atonement, we reflect on the covering of sins through a great sacrifice that pays the penalty for our transgressions, cleansing us with the blood of Christ so we can be presented as pure and righteous before God. Under His blood, our sins are forgiven, and we are made clean. Our High Priest, Jesus Christ, made atonement for us by giving His own sinless lifeblood. In the Old Testament, as seen in Leviticus 16:29-34, this atonement was limited. It was specifically for the children of Israel, for their holy sanctuary, the tabernacle of meeting, the altar, the priests, and all the people of the congregation. Yet, it excluded all other nations and their peoples, showing that the atoning sacrifice was confined to a particular group and their holy things. This limitation in the Old Testament ritual provides a clue that the true atonement through Jesus Christ is also limited, as the reality parallels the shadow. Theologically, this concept is known as limited atonement, meaning Christ's sacrifice is not unlimited but confined to certain parameters with conditions or stipulations. It does not cover everyone or every sin. Another term for this is particular redemption, indicating that Christ's atoning work is specific to those who meet certain conditions. While mainstream views often support an unlimited atonement, suggesting that Christ's sacrifice is open to all, the Scriptures reveal limitations. Christ's sacrifice, though sufficient to pay for all sin, is not immediately applied to everyone. It is a finished work, available to cover all sin in time, but its application is delayed until the Father calls a person to Christ, and they believe, repent, and are converted. Thus, atonement is applied on a person-by-person basis, not as a blanket salvation. Scriptures show that only those drawn by the Father can come to Christ, emphasizing a particular calling. This atonement currently applies to a small, elect group—those in the church, the firstfruits—whom God is working with now. Others will have their opportunity for salvation in stages, as God works in order, but for now, the atonement remains limited to those whom the Father calls and who accept the conditions of belief and living by His Word. Christ identifies His sheep as a specific group for whom He lays down His life, not the whole world. This particular flock, brought to Him by the Father, benefits from His sacrifice and salvation at this time. The doctrine of election, or specific calling by God, further proves that Christ's atoning sacrifice is limited to those whom the Father qualifies and brings into His Kingdom, delivering them from the world. Ultimately, while Christ's sacrifice will be effective for all who accept Him in their appointed time, it remains limited for now to the elect, the Israel of God, under the New Covenant. In the future, it will open to all of physical Israel and beyond, but always to those who meet the conditions set by God.

Atonement is central to the restoration of harmony between God and mankind, addressing the deep separation caused by sin. It concerns itself with the legal, moral, and practical aspects of restoring God's government while ensuring that rebellion will not recur among beings of free moral agency. Atonement is universal in nature, providing reconciliation of the world to God, uniting all of mankind with Him and each other through Christ. It shows satan defeated and punished by banishment, no longer free to sow confusion and division, but left to bewail his lot. Sin, iniquity, and lawlessness produce separation, building barriers between us and God, and between us and others, making atonement necessary. God does not hear due to sin, not because He cannot, but because He will not, emphasizing that the separation stems from human actions. Atonement requires repentance and a change of mind, turning toward God, as an active response using our free moral agency. Without this change, oneness with God remains unattainable. The cost of atonement is immense, involving the life of the Creator, Jesus Christ, a sacrifice made for each individual as if they were the only sinner. This personal cost fosters a sense of obligation to obey God out of gratitude for what He has done. Atonement is not solely Christ's action; it demands human participation through repentance and belief in God's truth. Reconciliation, initiated by God's sacrifice of Christ, bridges the gap caused by human sin, despite God being without fault. Atonement is an ongoing process, not a singular event, aiming for us to become the righteousness of God, reflecting His character. It begins with justification and reconciliation but continues through sanctification, shaping divine character within us. The Day of Atonement teaches that initial reconciliation is merely the start; God intends to reconcile the whole world to Himself through Christ. This process involves exercising faith during life's trials to ensure rebellion and separation do not recur. Fasting on this day serves as a tool and object lesson in humility, drawing us closer to God's mind and character, not merely His presence. It illustrates the spiritual weakness that comes from lacking God's spiritual nourishment, mirroring physical weakness without food. Humility, a choice to submit to God, is key to preventing separation and fostering the attitude necessary for salvation. Through Christ, all prejudices against God and man can be dissolved, establishing a fresh perspective of cooperation rooted in love, which is the active exercise of God's Word.

The Day of Atonement holds profound significance, underscored by God's instructions that emphasize its solemnity. This day is dedicated to self-affliction and humility, as God commands a focus on inner pain and sorrow, often accompanied by fasting, to drive out pride. Through this process, He seeks to impress upon us the destructive nature of pride, which fosters division and conflict on earth. He reveals that true unity and reconciliation with Him, foreshadowed by this most solemn day, will only come through humbling ourselves, even if the process brings great pain. The concept of self-inflicted affliction, or anah, is central to observing the Day of Atonement. This self-imposed humbling, often expressed through fasting, mirrors the voluntary submission of Christ to affliction, as seen in Isaiah 53:4. Examples in Scripture, such as Psalm 35:13 and Ezra 8:21, show that humbling oneself before God through fasting is a deliberate act of seeking His way and acknowledging our dependence on Him. On this day, fasting and afflicting the soul are tied to searching out sins and repenting, aligning our hearts with His purpose. God uses the Day of Atonement to remind us of our insufficiency without His generous blessings. As hunger and thirst intensify during the fast, we are prompted to study His Word and meditate on our lives, recognizing that without what He supplies, we would have no life or sustenance. This honest confrontation with our need drives us to humility and submission in prayer, acknowledging that only He can fulfill our deepest desires and needs to achieve His purpose and our hope for oneness with Him and our fellow man.

The Day of Atonement carries profound significance, revolving around three core elements: fasting, abstaining from work, and the offering made for atonement. The ritual of the two goats, as described in Leviticus 16, illustrates the dual aspects of atonement. One goat, representing Christ, is offered as a sin offering, symbolizing the payment for our sins through the Creator God coming as a man to be a sinless sacrifice, ensuring our sins are forgiven and wiped out. The other, the Azazel goat, bears the confessed sins of the people and is led into the wilderness, depicting the complete removal of our sins, as far as east is from west, so they are essentially forgotten. Before unity with God can be achieved, two essential steps must occur: sin must be paid for, and sins must be removed to a distant place. The atonement ritual demonstrates these aspects being worked out for us, with the sin offering embodied in the person of Jesus Christ, and the removal of sins to a far-off place, also accomplished by Him. On the Day of Atonement, we do no work, reflecting that most of the work of atonement, of becoming one with God, is done for us by Him. Our role is to afflict our souls, to fast, to be humble and contrite, and to adopt the proper attitude for a right relationship with Him. This day emphasizes our dependence on God, as we go without life-sustaining food and drink to remind ourselves how much we rely on Him for everything—physical sustenance, spiritual nourishment, and ultimately eternal life. The Day of Atonement serves as a yearly rehearsal of these truths, showing that we contribute little to the work of atonement beyond humbling ourselves and understanding our place before God.