Ten Questions On The Day of Atonement

Leviticus 16

Session #5, “Through The Bible Study”

 

  1. What do you think atonement means based on Leviticus 16.6ff?

 

It was an act of purification of people’s sins.  It was a gift from God that allowed them to be ‘righted’ in their relationship with God.

 

  1. What benefit did the Day of Atonement provide for the people?  Who received the benefit?

 

It allowed people to go into their new year with a clean slate.

Both the priests’ sins and the people’s sins were atoned for.

 

  1. What place does atonement have as a doctrine in Christianity?  How does the Old Testament teaching of the atonement play out in the New Testament in the example of Christ?

 

The atonement is central to Christianity.  The images of atonement in the Old Testament are some Jesus used to describe what his mission from God was.

 

  1. What was Aaron’s role in the community of Israel?  What image of Jesus does the writer of Hebrews give us in Hebrews 4.14-16?

 

Aaron was the high priest.

Jesus is both our high priest and our sacrifice.

 

  1. What kind of preparation did Aaron need to do before he went into the holy place?  See Leviticus 16.4.  What do you think the significance of this was?  How does Aaron’s preparation apply to our approach to worship?

 

Aaron needed to put on his best clothes and cleanse his body.

 

Cleansing oneself in that day not as easy as jumping in the shower today.  The act of cleansing points to the preparation to be in the presence of God.

 

  1. Why is atonement needed based on Paul’s words in Romans 3:23?

 

We are all sinners.  This also speaks to God’s holiness.  Because God is holy, nothing unholy can be in God’s presence.  God provides a way for us to be holy through atonement.  In Leviticus, it happened through sacrifices.  In our case, it happens through Jesus.

 

 

 

 

  1. What would happen if atonement does not take place in a person’s life (See Romans 6.23)? 

 

Wages of sin is death.  There’s no condemnation for those in Christ (Rom. 8.1).  There is freedom from Christ (Gal. 5.1).

 

 

  1. Who/what do you think Azazel is? (See vv. 8-10).  Was the goat sent to Azazel a gift or was this goat sent to it’s destruction?  What’s the word we use often to describe this goat sent to Azazel?  What might be an example today of the goat sent out into the desert?

 

Azazel can be variously interpreted.  The Greek version of the Old Testament or Septuagint simply translates this word ‘for sending away.’  Azazel was also believed to be a demon that inhabited the desert.

 

The goat was definitely not a gift.  The goat was being sent to it’s destruction.

 

The word we use is scapegoat.

 

 

  1. What images do some of the New Testament writers provide of the atonement?  Look up Galatians 3.13; Mark 10.45; Ephesians 5.2.

 

Christ became a curse for us – Gal. 3.13

Christ became a fragrant offering and sacrifice for us – Eph. 5.2

Christ became a ransom for us – Mk. 10.45.

 

  1. What does Christ’s atonement do for us in our relationship with God?  Look for various forms of this key word in Romans 5.10-11.

 

Reconciled to God.