Atonement and Pitch

 

It is interesting that the Hebrew word for “atonement” (Strong’s H3722) is the same Hebrew word that is translated as “pitch.”

"Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch[H3722] it within and without with pitch." - Genesis 6:14 KJV

The word “atonement” means “to cover, to cover over,” “to cover sins, i.e. to pardon.” (Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon).

The interesting thing is that Apostle Peter spoke of Noah’s ark being a type and shadow of baptism.

"By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:" - 1 Peter 3:19-21 KJV

We find that in water baptism in Jesus name that our sins are covered; we are pardoned; there is atonement.

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." - Acts 2:38 KJV

"And Aaron shall make an atonement upon the horns of it once in a year with the blood of the sin offering of atonements: once in the year shall he make atonement upon it throughout your generations: it is most holy unto the LORD." - Exodus 30:10 KJV

"But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come…neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us." - Hebrews 9:11-12 KJV

"For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect... But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins." - Hebrews 10:1, 3-4 KJV

The Day of Atonement - Yom Kippur

 

Part 2 Monday, September 28^th was the continuation of the celebration of the Day of Atonement. It began Sunday, September 27^th several minutes before sunset and ended after nightfall on the 28^th. The Day of Atonement is called “Yom Kippur” in Hebrew.

On the Day of Atonement, in the days of the Temple, the High Priest would make his yearly journey through the tabernacle to go behind the vail of the Holy of Holies to offer the blood of a goat sacrifice for the sins of the Jewish people. This sacrifice would not take away their sins, but would push them forward for another year, in which the Day of Atonement sacrifice would be made once again. (Hebrews 10:4, Leviticus 16:15).

"And this shall be an everlasting statute unto you, to make an atonement for the children of Israel for all their sins once a year. And he did as the LORD commanded Moses." - Leviticus 16:34 KJV

"And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat. And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD'S lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering. But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness." - Leviticus 16:7-10 KJV

It is interesting that Pilate put Jesus and Barabbas before the people to choose which would be crucified and which would be set free. The name “Barabbas” is a Hebrew name which means “son of the father.” So, the choice to the crowd was Jesus, the Son of the Father, or Barabbas, the son of the father.

The crowd chose Barabbas to be set free, and Jesus to die. It appears the sacrifice of the goat on Yom Kippur was a shadow of the sacrifice of Jesus: one was set free, and the other was to die.

To be continued…

The Day of Atonement - Yom Kippur

 

Beginning on Sunday night, September 27, from several minutes before sunset, to after nightfall on Monday, September 28, Jews all over the world are observing the Day of Atonement by a fast. The Day of Atonement is also called Yom Kippur. As the Bible says, “ye shall afflict your souls.” They abstain from food and drink, do not wash or anoint their bodies, do not wear leather footwear, and abstain from marital relations. They spend their time in prayer to God.

The Bible talks about the Day of Atonement.

"And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD. And 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. And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people." - Leviticus 23:26-30 KJV

Because the Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed in 70AD, the Jews have not been able to offer animal sacrifices as required by the Law.

"For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins." - Hebrews 10:1-4 KJV

"For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." - John 1:17 KJV

To be continued…

True Worshippers

 

Church!

When we have obeyed the truth – the gospel of our salvation (Acts 2:38), and are filled with the Holy Ghost, we can be part of the true worshippers of God. (Galatians 3:1-3, Romans 2:7-9, Colossians 1:5-6).

"But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." - John 4:23-24 KJV

 [Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.]

"In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise," - Ephesians 1:13 KJV

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." - Acts 2:38-39 KJV

Paul was led by the Spirit

 

"Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost." - Acts 20:16 KJV

"And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church [to come and meet him]." - Acts 20:17 KJV

"And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:" - Acts 20:18-19 KJV

"And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem [compelled by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem], not knowing the things that shall befall me there: save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me." - Acts 20:22-23 KJV

"But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

“And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more." - Acts 20:24-25 KJV

"And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all. And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him, sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship." - Acts 20:36-38 KJV

Traveling on, they landed at Tyre.

"And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem." - Acts 21:4 KJV

"And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed." - Acts 21:5 KJV

Traveling on, they came to Caesarea.

"And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus. And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said,

“Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.

“And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.

“Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." - Acts 21:10-13 KJV

The Apostles Were Led by the Spirit

 

"Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away." - Acts 13:1-3 KJV

Later, Paul and Silas went out to minister.

"Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, after they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas. 

"And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them." - Acts 16:6-10 KJV

While they were in Macedonia, they met a woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, whose heart the Lord opened, and she and her household was baptized. (Acts 16:14-15). 

"They also met the jailer where they were imprisoned. When they spake to him the word of the Lord and to all that were in his house, he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. (Acts 16:32-33).

When Paul came to Corinth, the Lord spake to Paul in the night by a vision, “Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: for I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.” Paul continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. (Acts 18:9-11).

And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou has obeyed my voice (conclusion)

 

The Binding of Isaac – Conclusion

"And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son." - Genesis 22:13 KJV [A ram is a male sheep.]

The beautiful fulfillment of this is God taking on the form of man to be the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world – Jesus Christ. Taking our place of death, we, like Isaac, become a living sacrifice.

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." - Romans 12:1 KJV [And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice--the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.] As Abraham said, “I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.” (Genesis 22:5)

It is said that the spot that God provided the ram caught in the tree to take the place of Isaac as a sacrifice, is the same spot that the temple in Jerusalem was built, on Mount Moriah. Today it is known as the Temple Mount. (Genesis 22:2, 14, 2 Chronicles 3:1, Luke 13:33).

The word for “ram’s horn” is the same word for jubilee. (‘yowbel’ – Strong’s H3104). (Exodus 19:13, Joshua 6:5-13). On the jubilee, the captives were set free. (Leviticus 25:10, Isaiah 61:1, Luke 4:18).

"And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: [Yahweh-Yireh -which means “the LORD will see (to it)”] as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen." - Genesis 22:14 KJV

"And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, and said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: that in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess [conquer] the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice." - Genesis 22:15-18 KJV

"Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ." - Galatians 3:16 KJV

"And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed...For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." - Galatians 3:8, 27-29 KJV

"And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." - Matthew 16:18 KJV (“And thy seed shall possess [conquer] the gate  of his enemies”).