Sermon Central
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Yom Kippur - Our Judeo-Christian Heritage Series
Contributed by William Akehurst on Oct 2, 2025 (message contributor)
Summary: Yom Kippur is GOD’s appointed holy day for atonement, repentance, and spiritual renewal, where we acknowledge our sins, receive forgiveness, and experience reconciliation with HIM to walk renewed in HIS Mercy. And it points to YESHUA/JESUS as the ultimate sacrifice, fulfilling the Temple sacraments.
2025.10.01. Study Notes. YOM KIPPUR - My Judeo-Christian Heritage.
William Akehurst, HSWC
Scriptures: Leviticus 16:29-31, Hebrews 9:14, Psalm 51:10, 1 John 1:5-10, Psalms 139:23-24, Psalms 51:1-4, Psalms 51:7-15, Zechariah 12:10, Romans 11:26-27, Revelation 20:11-15, Revelation 21:1-7
BIG IDEA: Yom Kippur is GOD’s appointed holy day for atonement, repentance, and spiritual renewal, where we acknowledge our sins, receive forgiveness, and experience reconciliation with HIM to walk renewed in HIS Mercy. And it points to YESHUA/JESUS as the ultimate sacrifice, fulfilling the Temple sacraments.
1. It’s a day of repentance (teshuvah), turning away from sin and returning to GOD.
2. It emphasizes GOD’s mercy and forgiveness, showing that GOD desires restoration rather than punishment.
3. It symbolizes spiritual cleansing and freedom, releasing the weight of guilt and opening the way for a fresh start.
4. For Messianic/Christian believers, it points to YESHUA/JESUS as the ultimate atoning sacrifice, as fulfillment of what the Temple rituals foreshadowed.
YOM KIPPUR – DAY OF ATONEMENT
Tonight begins Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. The holiest and most solemn day on the Jewish calendar. Scripture calls it the Shabbat Shabbaton, the “Sabbath of Sabbaths,” set apart as a day of fasting, repentance, and prayer.
As part of our Jewish/Christian Heritage, I am presenting the following compilation from my studies for your review and learning.
Yom Kippur: The Day of Repentance, Prayer, and Fasting
Leviticus 16:29-31 “This shall be a statute forever for you: In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether a native of your own country or a stranger who dwells among you. For on that day the priest shall make atonement for you, to cleanse you, that you may be clean from all your sins before the LORD. It is a sabbath of solemn rest for you, and you shall afflict your souls. It is a statute forever.”
Even today, Jewish people all over the world will enter into a 25-hour fast at sunset. Some may not observe other holy days, but nearly all will stop work and humble themselves for Yom Kippur. It is customary to greet one another with Tzom Kal - “an easy fast.”
During the time of the Temple, the High Priest alone would enter the Holy of Holies once a year on this day. He brought the blood of sacrifice to the mercy seat, interceding for the sins of the people.
But since the Temple no longer stands, the purification sacrifices described in Leviticus 16 are no longer possible. How then is atonement made?
For those who believe in Yeshua/JESUS the Messiah, the answer is clear:
Messiah Himself has become both our High Priest and our final sacrifice. Unlike earthly priests, He did not need to offer for His own sins, nor repeat offerings year after year. He offered Himself - perfect, spotless, and once for all - cleansing us from sin and giving us access to God’s mercy forever.
Hebrews 9:14 “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”
And so we pray with David:
Psalm 51:10 “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
As the shofar sounds tonight, may our hearts be humbled, our sins confessed, and our hope renewed in YESHUA -the One who has made eternal atonement for us.
Confessing our Sins
1 John 1:5-10 5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.
6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
44 statements – Al Chet – Confession of Sins
(The "Al Chet" is a list of 44 statements to guide us to examine the root of our sins, and confess it before the LORD. In Jewish tradition, The “Al Chet” is spoken ten times in the course of the Yom Kippur services on Yom Kippur Eve, then the next morning and afternoon of Yom Kippur day. The final time, it is spoken in silence.)
