Should Christians observe the day of atonement?
If so, how should it be observed?
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Asked September 22 2015
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laura yasko
Ariel HaNaviy
The short answer is “Yes. Why not? After all, Yeshua (Jesus) exemplifies the meaning, purpose, and fullness of the biblical concept of atonement (Matt 5:17-20; Lk 24:44, 45; Heb 9:11-22), proving that man cannot be made right with God unless he casts his faith onto the "Spotless Lamb of God” (Jn 1:29; Heb 10:14). Yom Kippur is a great way to memorialize our Great High Priest. In my estimation, as a believer, as long as your observance honors the LORD Yeshua, and you are certain you are not attempting to do anything to earn favor with God through your observance, then it is a good thing to celebrate. Christians can observing all Feasts as outlined for all Isra'el in Leviticus 23, since Christian identity is rooted in Remnant Isra'el (Rom. 11:17). Gentile Christians are no longer alienated from the commonwealth of Isra'el, and are no longer strangers to the covenants of promise (Eph 2:11-22). All are in process and need one another (Eph 4:13, 14). The Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) is the only one who can bring a person to better understand all of scripture and its applications. How should it be observed? Well, for one, don't even think about trying to offer animals in sacrifice. For now, sacrifices have been suspended by God himself. Period. Most Messianic congregations (with Jews and Gentiles in Messiah) encourage people to take the day off from work (Lev 23:28) and attend a special, solemn Yom Kippur service, complete with lengthy liturgy, praise and worship to Yeshua, and wearing of white (symbolic of purity). Also, since the Torah calls for Isra'el to “afflict their souls,” (Lev 23:27) most in Traditional Judaism and Messianic Judaism interpret this as meaning God is asking us to fast for this day. Conclusions: Despite the differences of opinion about Torah observance, believers should not judge each other for either keeping or not keeping Torah (Rom. 14:4, 7-13). Jews and Gentiles in Messiah must do our best to be filled with and walk by the Spirit (Eph 5:18; Gal 6:16), serve one another (1 Pet 4:10; Gal 5:13, 14; Phil 2:1-11), avoid placing stumbling blocks in front of one another (Rom. 14:13), and make sure to put the interests of the other ahead of our own (Rom. 15:1-7). In this way, believers fulfill the righteous requirements of the Torah (Rom. 8:4). The Feasts of ADONAI are dress rehearsals of Messianic Redemption. Our LORD Yeshua (Jesus) has literally and prophetically fulfilled the first four of the seven feasts mentioned in Leviticus 23; it is my belief that the Torah teaches that he will, likewise, literally and prophetically fulfill the final three at his soon to be second arrival. As the children of Avraham willingly and faithfully lived out God’s yearly cycle of convocations, the Spirit of the Holy One graciously opened their hearts to understand that, as his treasured possession, they were responsible to actively pursue a genuine, personal, loving relationship with their Heavenly Abba. It is this type of personal relationship that God has always desired from the nation of Isra'el, and through the grace poured out to Isra'el, the surrounding Gentile nations might also see the goodness and mercy of ADONAI, and seek to become one of his treasured possessions as well (read Deut 4:5-8). He is our God and we are his people!