Although Yom Kippur is a marked day on calendars and in the annual cycle of the moedim as set forth in Scripture, for every born-again believer in Messiah Yeshua of Nazareth that came in the flesh, our ‘Yom Kippur’ was the consummation of the day you/we came to understand our need for a reconciler and saver (by the convincing and convicting work of the Holy Spirit)  and were made whole (sozo) by faith through grace in The Word of God and The Blood of The One Slain before the foundation of the world was laid.

“For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” (Rom 5:10)

As believers in Messiah Yeshua, we are not betting our eternal destination on a ‘ hope-so’ that our names might be written in a book of life because of something we do once a year, but rather a reminder of the sureness of our eternity because of what was begun for us on a cross on Calvary and consummated on that day when Yeshua took His blood into the  ‘Holy of Holies not made with hands’ and performed Yom Kippur for me and you and everyone one who has and will call upon His Name.

“ . . . for I know Whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day. (2Ti 1:12)

The Spirit Himself  bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: ¹⁷ And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ . . .(Rom 8:16-17)

And if you belong to Christ, then are you Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Gal 3:29)

So as we ‘afflict our souls’ on this day of remembering, may it not be so as to wish our names to be written down, but to remember the purposeful and intentional suffering and agony of our Saver Yeshua, and that by faith in Him we ARE reconciled and saved, and because of Him our names HAVE been written down, for our names are engraved on the palms of His hands.

“ . . . and as we share (in some small way) in His sufferings,^, we may also share in his glory. “(Rom 8:17)

That if you shalt confess with your mouth Adonai Yeshua, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved. (Rom 10:9)

In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation– having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, ¹⁴ who is given as a pledge of our inheritance (by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption), and redemption as His purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. (Eph 1:13; 4:30)

Sukkot is coming up. But you can’t get to Sukkot until you first pass Yom Kippur. Sukkot is the ‘family reunion of all times’. How do we get to be part of the family ? We enter at Passover. We come in through the Door, Yeshua. For no one comes to our Father but by Him. So we accept our Father’s Kippur – His covering – the blood and body of Yeshua. Now we can enter His presence unafraid . . . for He sees us through the Blood of His Lamb . . . the One Who was born to die . . . for me and for you.

So, as we observe this memorial day, may we be mindful as to why we should willing ‘afflict our souls’  . . . for Yeshua willingly suffered torture and death that we might live and have life abundant and eternal.

” . . .do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? (Mat 26:53)

“ . . .No one takes (My life) from me; I lay it down of my own free will, and as I have power to lay it down, so I have power to take it up again . . .”(Joh 10:18)

“ . . . and Yeshua went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as you will. (Mat 26:39)

This is why we observe Yom Kippur. Not for what might be, but for what WILL be because of what has been done for us . . .

For even though we were hostile, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son; and much more, having been reconciled, we are saved by His (resurrected) life. (Rom 5:10)

Chag Sameach – Blessings and Peace to you and yours . . .