Christ Only
“He hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:12).
Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us” (Hebrews 9:24).
“Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25).
The most serious and solemn day for the people of Israel in the old dispensation was the day of atonement, which took place once a year on the 10th day of the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar. Why was this day the most solemn of all? To help us comprehend this deep subject, here is a brief description of the religious ceremony which took place anciently, and how a person could obtain pardon for sins committed before God:
The service performed by the priest:
1. When a person committed a sin such as robbery or fraud, restitution had to be made with an additional 20%, according to Numbers 5:7. Furthermore, the person had to bring an animal to sacrifice for his or her sin. God forgave the sinner that came to Him with repentance and confession. Leviticus 5:5.
2. The sinner, besides presenting the sacrificial offering before the priest, was further required to lay his or her hand on the head of the animal, confessing his or her sin and to slay the animal with his or her own hand. Leviticus 4:29.
3. The priest took some of the blood of the sacrifice upon his finger and sprinkled it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering and poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar. Leviticus 4:30.
4. In every case the fat of the sacrificial animal was removed and burned on the altar of burnt offering. As the priest would burn it, atonement was made and the sinner would be forgiven. Leviticus 4:31.
There were various forms of sacrifices which involved different procedures - for example, peace offerings, meat offerings, burnt offerings, offerings for the congregation, and so forth. In certain cases the priests were required to eat part or all of the sacrifice. Leviticus 6:24-26.
Many sacrifices were performed in behalf of repenting sinners who made confession of their sins. Many animals were slain, causing much blood to flow every day in the court of the sanctuary. Besides the sacrifices made for individual sins, there was a daily sacrifice made in behalf of the congregation as a whole, which was offered twice a day. It consisted of two lambs, one offered in the morning and the other in the evening. This sacrifice was for the nation and provided a temporary atonement for Israel. It also signified their consecration and acceptance by means of a substitute. Since the sacrifices made for individuals did not make atonement for the nation as a whole, day after day throughout the year, these sins were transferred to the sanctuary by the blood. “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission” (Hebrews 9:22).
In this way the sanctuary would become contaminated. Such a situation could not continue indefinitely. A final day of reckoning had to take place, a definite day of atonement, a day to purify the sanctuary. This was a great day! It came on the 10th day of the seventh month.
The day of atonement, as was already mentioned, was a most solemn day for the Israelites. On the first day of the month there was an announcement by the sound of trumpets. The nine days which preceded the great day were characterized by a thorough examination of all the sins committed during the year. The day of atonement was very solemn. They were commanded, “Ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the Lord your God. For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people” (Leviticus 23:28, 29).
The high priest officiated over all the services. He represented the people and acted as an intercessor for the people. First he presented an offering for himself and his household. “And Aaron shall bring the bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and shall make an atonement for himself, and for his house, and shall kill the bullock of the sin offering which is for himself” (Leviticus 16:11). Afterwards he brought an offering to atone for the various divisions of the holy place, according to verses 16-19. “And he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness. And there shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement in the holy place, until he come out, and have made an atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel. And he shall go out unto the altar that is before the Lord, and make an atonement for it; and shall take of the blood of the bullock, and of the blood of the goat, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about. And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and hallow it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel.”
Upon entering the most holy place, the high priest represented both the nation and himself, symbolically, presenting Israel before God to settle the account for the sins that had been committed throughout the entire year. The confessed sins had been accepted by the priest pending the final remission on the day of atonement, the final day of reckoning. Every case had to be reviewed and investigated. What was the condition of the sinners who during the year had brought their offerings, confessing and repenting of their sins? Would their repentance be considered sincere? How would they be found now, on this solemn day of atonement? Would they continue with a contrite heart grieving over the wrongs they had committed, or would they take it all lightly, regretting their repentance? Every sin committed had to pass in review before God. The high priest appeared before the divine presence in behalf of the people. The sins of the repentant sinners were definitely remitted and the impenitent were to be cut off from the midst of God’s people.
“For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the Lord” (Leviticus 16:30).
On the day of atonement the people of Israel, by their attitude, were divided into two classes: One class was composed of those who were afflicting their soul and were deeply saddened by the sins they had committed during the year. With a contrite heart, they had brought their sacrifices and had done all that was required of them. Now, on the day of atonement they could be certain that their sins were definitely pardoned by God, before whom they now stood justified.
The other class was composed of those who were indifferent. They did not afflict their souls; they did not confess their sins nor bring their offerings during the year. They did not partake in the atonement. The sins of this class remained on their own heads, causing them to be cut off (excluded) from the midst of God’s people, according to Leviticus 23:29: “For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people.”
The day of atonement was a grand, decisive day for every soul. Each one had chosen his or her own destiny. To complete the solemnity of the day, the sanctuary was purified and the camp cleansed. One of two things had been determined concerning all persons: Either their sins were removed, or their sins removed them from the midst of the people.
“Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; a minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man” (Hebrews 8:1, 2).
“For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us” (Hebrews 9:24).
“As anciently the sins of the people were by faith placed upon the sin offering and through its blood transferred, in figure, to the earthly sanctuary, so in the new covenant the sins of the repentant are by faith placed upon Christ and transferred, in fact, to the heavenly sanctuary. And as the typical cleansing of the earthly was accomplished by the removal of the sins by which it had been polluted, so the actual cleansing of the heavenly is to be accomplished by the removal, or blotting out, of the sins which are there recorded. But before this can be accomplished, there must be an examination of the books of record to determine who, through repentance of sin and faith in Christ, are entitled to the benefits of His atonement.”1
“The incense, ascending with the prayers of Israel, represents the merits and intercession of Christ, His perfect righteousness, which through faith is imputed to His people, and which can alone make the worship of sinful beings acceptable to God. Before the veil of the most holy place was an altar of perpetual intercession, before the holy, an altar of continual atonement. By blood and by incense God was to be approached - symbols pointing to the great Mediator, through whom sinners may approach Jehovah, and through whom alone mercy and salvation can be granted to the repentant, believing soul.”2
“For eighteen centuries this work of ministration continued in the first apartment of the sanctuary. The blood of Christ, pleaded in behalf of penitent believers, secured their pardon and acceptance with the Father, yet their sins still remained upon the books of record. As in the typical service there was a work of atonement at the close of the year, so before Christ's work for the redemption of men is completed there is a work of atonement for the removal of sin from the sanctuary. This is the service which began when the 2300 days ended. At that time, as foretold by Daniel the prophet, our High Priest entered the most holy, to perform the last division of His solemn work - to cleanse the sanctuary.”3
“God's people are now to have their eyes fixed on the heavenly sanctuary, where the final ministration of our great High Priest in the work of the judgment is going forward - where He is interceding for His people.”4
“We are now living in the great day of atonement. In the typical service, while the high priest was making the atonement for Israel, all were required to afflict their souls by repentance of sin and humiliation before the Lord, lest they be cut off from among the people. In like manner, all who would have their names retained in the book of life should now, in the few remaining days of their probation, afflict their souls before God by sorrow for sin and true repentance. There must be deep, faithful searching of heart. The light, frivolous spirit indulged by so many professed Christians must be put away. There is earnest warfare before all who would subdue the evil tendencies that strive for the mastery. The work of preparation is an individual work. We are not saved in groups. The purity and devotion of one will not offset the want of these qualities in another. Though all nations are to pass in judgment before God, yet He will examine the case of each individual with as close and searching scrutiny as if there were not another being upon the earth.”5
“The work of Christ in the sanctuary above, presenting His own blood each moment before the mercy seat, as He makes intercession for us, should have its full impression upon the heart, that we may realize the worth of each moment. Jesus ever liveth to make intercession for us; but one moment carelessly spent can never be recovered.”6
“[Christ] presents us to the Father clothed in the white raiment of His own character. He pleads before God in our behalf, saying: I have taken the sinner's place. Look not upon this wayward child, but look on Me. Does Satan plead loudly against our souls, accusing of sin, and claiming us as his prey, the blood of Christ pleads with greater power.”7