The Day of Atonement, known as Yom Kippur, holds a unique place as a Sabbath of solemn rest, marked by the requirement to afflict one's soul and abstain from all work. Central to its observance is the ritual of the two goats, described in Leviticus 16, which forms a critical part of the annual cleansing ceremony performed by the high priest. These two goats together constitute a single sin offering, emphasizing their joint role in accomplishing atonement for sin, distinct from typical sin offerings that involve only one animal. This dual aspect highlights an additional purpose beyond mere payment for sin, focusing on both the satisfaction of divine justice and the complete removal of sin from view. The first goat, designated for the Lord, serves to appease Him and is sacrificed as part of the cleansing of His house and people. The second goat, often associated with the Hebrew term azazel, meaning goat of departure or complete removal, fulfills the role of bearing the sins away to an uninhabited land, thus removing them entirely from consciousness. The casting of lots determines which goat fulfills each role, underscoring that the decision rests solely with God, not with human judgment. This process ensures that the roles are assigned according to divine will, reflecting the sanctity and precision of the atonement ritual. The ritual's design, involving two equal elements each serving a distinct purpose, illustrates the comprehensive nature of atonement—payment through sacrifice and removal through departure. The live goat, presented before the Lord, undergoes a form of sanctification to prepare it for its role in bearing the sins away. This dual action ensures not only the penalty of sin is addressed but also that the burden of sin is expunged from memory, providing a fuller resolution to the problem of sin through the work of the Savior as chosen by God.

The fulfillment of Yom Kippur, as seen in the ritual of Leviticus 16, centers on the profound work of Jesus Christ in providing atonement. The Day of Atonement, literally the Day of Atonements, involves multiple atonements within the ceremony, as the Hebrew word "kippurim" indicates a plural form. The ritual employed four sacrificial animals, each serving a specific purpose in pointing to the Messiah. Christ's singular sacrifice fulfills all the cleansing sacrifices, with His blood opening access to the Holiest of All and establishing Him as the Mediator of a New Covenant. In the ritual, the first goat's blood cleansed the holy place, while the second goat, the azazel, bore the iniquities of the children of Israel away to an uninhabited land, completely removing them from view. Leviticus 16:21-22 describes the high priest laying hands on the live goat, confessing all the sins and transgressions over it, symbolizing a substitutionary act. Scripture clearly states that our iniquity was laid on Him, He bore our sins, and He took them away, fulfilling the actions of the live goat. The dual purpose of the two goats illustrates the comprehensive nature of Christ's work. Without access to God, forgiveness of sins would be insufficient, as sins would soon separate us from Him. Conversely, without forgiveness, access to Him would not lead to the fullness of a relationship with Him. Through Christ's sacrifice, the New Covenant provides both access to God and the forgiveness of sins, allowing us to grow in His image and have true atonement.

Jesus Christ stands as the fulfillment of the Day of Atonement ritual, embodying the essence of the two goats in Leviticus 16 as a single sin offering. As the object of the entire sacrificial system, every unblemished, substitutionary offering pointed to His life and death. The first goat, designated for the Lord, satisfied His justice by providing blood to cover the Holy Place, the Tabernacle, and the altar, purifying the holy objects used to approach God. The second goat, the goat of departure, bore the sins of the people out of sight, symbolizing complete removal. Scripture portrays the Messiah's bearing of transgression as acceptance, forgiveness, and pardon, carrying sins away as if out of view, aligning with the meaning of azazel as complete removal. Christ's bearing of sins extends beyond penalty payment, actively interceding and carrying them until they are removed, as far as the east is from the west. He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, singularly fulfilling this role without sharing it. His single sacrifice cleansed the sanctuary and bore the sins of many, as affirmed in Hebrews 9:28. Jesus bore these sins to a land cut off, a land of forgetfulness, figurative language for the grave where sins are ultimately forgotten by God, who chooses to disregard them in His actions. Thus, when He appears a second time, it will be apart from sin, for He has already borne and removed the iniquity of all, fulfilling every aspect of this unique sin offering.

On the Day of Atonement, known as Yom Kippur, a unique offering for the sins of Israel involved two goats. The first goat was killed, and its blood was used by the high priest to cleanse the sanctuary and holy objects. The second goat, the azazel or goat of departure, had all the sins of the people laid on its head and bore them to an uninhabited land, a land cut off. Jesus Christ fulfilled the roles of both sacrificial animals. He died to provide a covering of blood and open the way to the Father, and He also bore the sins of many, taking them to the land of forgetfulness, the grave. The name Yom Kippur derives from Hebrew, meaning expiation, with its root kaphar translating to cleanse, disannul, forgive, pardon, purge, put off, and cover. This holy day deals with providing a solution to the people's defilement and separation from God through the cleansing and removal of sins. The expiation of mankind's sins—the atoning, cleansing, disannulling, purging, and putting away of sins—is accomplished by the Savior, as defined by the very meaning of the word. In the New Testament, particularly in Hebrews chapters 9 and 10, the fulfillment of the Day of Atonement is extensively detailed through Christ's work. Hebrews describes how Christ entered the Most Holy Place in heaven with His own blood, cleansing the heavenly sanctuary once for all, in contrast to the yearly purification of the physical sanctuary. His sacrifice alone put away sin, canceling it and bringing it to nothing for those who repent and come under His blood. Christ bore the sins of many, mirroring the role of the azazel in type. His sacrifice ensures that sins are removed from consciousness, a completeness not achieved by animal sacrifices. By His one offering, He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified, demonstrating that the work of atonement, including bearing sins and removing transgression, is already complete. When He appears a second time, it is apart from sin, signifying that sins have been completely removed and will not return into view, but rather He brings salvation.