The Day of Atonement in the New Testament Era
 

The Day of Atonement in the Old Testament was an important event in the lives of the Israelite people.  It is here God provided a way for his people to be worthy and exalted in his sight.  On this day, the high priest went into the Most Holy Place and sprinkled the blood of a bull and a goat on the atonement cover as a substitute for all people.  The most dramatic event of the day followed with the choosing of the scapegoat.  Here, the priest would lay his hands on the head of the goat and confess the known and unknown bad habits, infractions, mistakes and poor judgments of all the people.  With this act, he transferred the guilt onto the goat.  A designated man would then lead the goat out into the wilderness never to return again.

The real purpose behind the Day of Atonement was to cleanse people from any and all sin. God hates sin.  “For the wages of sin is death.”  Romans 6:23;  “without shedding of blood is no remission.”  Hebrews 9:22.  Blood in the animal sacrifices of the Old Testament was a vivid reminder that God demanded death as a punishment for every wrongdoing  Leviticus 17:11.  But there was something more!  The Day of Atonement pointed to a future event that had yet to occur.  That future event happened on Good Friday.  With the death of Jesus Christ, the Day of Atonement occurred in the New Testament.  He made atonement for the sins of all people for all time.  It was a one-time event that did not need to be repeated every year.  Hebrews 10:10-12.