Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur)

Vessel Church
Oct 11
3 min read

Pastor Daniel Macaluso preaching at Vessel Church

Atonement Was Given, Inspiration Is Expected

1 John 2:1–6 (NIV)

My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world... Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.

Understanding the Atonement

The word atonement means “to make amends” or “to restore what’s broken.” In the Old Testament, the Day of Atonement—Yom Kippur—was the most sacred day of the Jewish year. On that day, Israel sought forgiveness for their sins and cleansing before God.

It was a day marked by two goats: one sacrificed to purify the temple, and the other—the Azazel, or scapegoat—sent into the wilderness, symbolically carrying away the sins of the people. But that act only covered their sins for a year. Each year, they had to do it again.

This ritual pointed forward to something greater.

When Jesus began His ministry, He too was sent into the wilderness for 40 days. And when He gave His life on the cross, He became both the sacrifice and the scapegoat—once and for all. His blood didn’t just cover sin temporarily; it erased it eternally.

Atonement Was Given

1 Peter 2:22–25 (CSB)

He did not commit sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth... He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree; so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

Jesus’ atonement wasn’t just an act of obedience—it was an act of unimaginable love.God didn’t send an animal; He sent His Son.

That’s how deeply He wanted us to know His love. And that love wasn’t based on our performance, achievements, or religious acts—it was freely given.

When we truly grasp that, it should change us. It should inspire us.

Inspiration Is Expected

Titus 2:11–14 (NIV)

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age...

Grace isn’t a license to live carelessly—it’s an invitation to live differently.Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:10, “By the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not without effect.” Grace changed him. It motivated him. It inspired him to live a life worthy of the cross.

That’s what God expects from us—not perfection, but inspiration. A life that reflects gratitude for what’s already been done.

Guarding the Power of the Cross

In the early church, false teachings like Gnosticism and Docetism tried to strip Jesus’ sacrifice of its power. They claimed that sin didn’t matter, or that Jesus wasn’t really human. But John and Paul stood firm against those lies, reminding believers that the gospel isn’t just information—it’s transformation.

To deny the need for repentance or to downplay Jesus’ humanity is to empty the cross of its meaning. The real power of atonement is that it changes us from the inside out.

Remember and Reflect

When we take communion, we remember this:Atonement was given. Inspiration is expected.

Jesus paid the ultimate price so that we could be healed, forgiven, and free. But He also calls us to live as He did—with love, humility, and obedience.

So the question remains: