Sermon: Why Is Atonement a Fall Festival?
Different Emphases on Christ's Sacrifice
#1675
Richard T. Ritenbaugh
Given 05-Oct-22; 82 minutes
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Though Passover and Atonement, occupying symmetric agricultural calendar positions, have similar meanings, both dealing with Christ's sacrifices, several reasons emerge to make Atonement a better fit for the fall holy days, more compatible to Trumpets than the spring Holy Days. Atonement requires fasting (afflicting our souls), enabling Christ to cleanse us from all our sins, reminding us that animal sacrifices never did cleanse from sin, but instead pointed to a greater sacrifice, that of Jesus Christ Who only had to be offered once. Passover is not a sin offering and does not depict a sacrifice for sin, but instead a recognition that our sins have been passed over by the Death Angel. The Passover identifies a peace offering in which those who are guilty of sin have been spared, but not yet removed. The peace offering was not a sacrifice for sin, but a peace offering, a shalom, thanksgiving, or fellowship offering. The Passover, a meal to be eaten in one night, is not associated with an atonement for sin. Jesus' last Passover as a human was a desire to share fellowship with His disciples. The essence of a peace offering was on Our Savior's mind. The fall Holy Days (Trumpets, Atonement, Tabernacles) depict a pivotal time the work moves to the macro level, with the cleansing and removal of all sin. We keep Atonement in the fall for all humanity, not just for ourselves individually.