Access Granted

Introduction

Fort Knox is widely regarded as one of the most secure places in the world. Located in the hills of Kentucky, Fort Knox is said to house around 5,000 tons of gold. As such, its security measures are a closely guarded secret, but we know:

The building itself is composed of 16,000 cubic feet of granite; 4,200 cubic yards of concrete, 750 tons of reinforced steel, and 670 tons of structural steel.

The vault door itself weighs more than 20 tons, and multiple people are needed to enter the combination.

The safe itself is encased in 27 inches of concrete and steel and is rumored to be able to withstand an atomic bomb.

The base is off-limits to visitors, and even the president himself has limitations on entry.

Only one president, FDR, has ever stepped foot inside the vault.

Interesting fact: when the gold was first delivered to Fort Knox in 1937, it was delivered via the U.S. Postal Service on a train.

I. The OT Day of Atonement

1. God’s Mercy Seat Cannot Be Approached Carelessly (Lev. 16:1-10)

The Reason for the Day of Atonement

The Day of Atonement existed because it was impossible to keep every law God had commanded. Eventually someone (or many someones) would defile the sanctuary.

God ordained His priests and accepted the people’s worship (Lev. 8-9)

Then, God killed Nadab and Abihu for their failure to approach the presence of God in a proper manner.

The laws of chapters 11-15 are given Leviticus 10:10 “… so as to make a distinction between the holy and the profane, and between the unclean and the clean,”

The Day of Atonement makes possible God’s continued holy presence in the midst of a sinful people.

Except for the Day of Atonement, the high priest could not enter into the Holy of Holies at any time.

The Ritual Summary

The Day of Atonement is the most detailed ceremony described in the book of Leviticus.

Aaron will take a bull for a purification offering, and a ram for a burnt offering.

Aaron will wear simple white, holy garments (different from his regular priestly garments, Exodus 28).

The High Priest’s garments represented the unique importance of his position.

On the Day of Atonement, the High Priest entered the presence of God, and so he is stripped of all his honor, taking on the appearance of a slave to the King of kings.

Aaron will take two male goats for a purification offering, and a ram for the burnt offering for the congregation of Israel.

Aaron will offer the offerings for himself.

Aaron will cast lots for two goats—one for the Lord, and the other as a scapegoat.

The goat for the Lord will be sacrificed as purification offering; the scapegoat will be sent into the wilderness with Israel’s sins.

2. God Cannot Be Approached Without Sacrifice (Lev. 16:11-19)

The Sacrifices

The blood of two animals—the bull for the priest; the goat for the people—was needed to purify the mercy seat.

The mercy seat is the place where God would meet them.

Exodus 25:21–22 NASB95

21 “You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the testimony which I will give to you. 22 “There I will meet with you; and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, I will speak to you about all that I will give you in commandment for the sons of Israel.

The translation mercy seat likely comes from verses such as Psalm 99:1

Psalm 99:1 NASB95

1 The Lord reigns, let the peoples tremble; He is enthroned above the cherubim, let the earth shake!

No matter how hard they tried, both the people and the priest would defile the sanctuary.

A thick cloud of incense was needed to protect the priest from God’s presence at the mercy seat. (Lev. 16:13)

The blood of the bull and the goat would be sprinkled on the mercy seat 7 times (Lev. 16:14-15)

The blood of the bull and the goat would be sprinkled on altar of burnt offering 7 times (Lev. 16:18-19)

The purpose was to make atonement for all their sins because of the tent of meeting which abides with them in the midst of their impurities.

While they were still sinners, God made a provision to continue dwelling among His people.

3. The High Priest’s Atonement Cannot Satisfy Permanently (Lev. 16:20-22)

The Scapegoat

The second goat—the one left alive—Aaron confesses all the sins of Israel over.

Laying his hand on the goat, the sins of the people are transferred to the animal.

The goat is then sent into the wilderness, cut off from the people.

God transfers the iniquity, transgression, and sin to a substitute.

Both goats are a substitute for the people:

One as a sacrifice to cleanse the people’s sin

One to remove the people’s sin

The atonement was all-encompassing, but only temporary.

Final Instructions

The high priest shall take off the white linen garments and leave them in the tent of meeting.

They will not be used again.

The high priest shall wash himself and redress.

The high priest will offer the burnt offerings.

The individual who released the scapegoat will wash themselves.

The remains of the purification offerings will be taken and burned outside the camp.

The individual who burns them will wash before entering the camp again.

4. Ritual Cannot Produce Holy Living (Lev. 16:29-34)

A Permanent Statute

It is to be a sabbath for everyone.

A day in which every person was to be humbled.

A day in which no work was to be done.

What ultimately mattered was the people’s recognition of their sin, not the rituals and sacrifice.

The Day of Atonement was to be observed once every year.

The Day of Atonement begins October 1st at sundown, and concludes October 2nd at sundown.

II. The NT Day of Atonement

1. God’s Throne Can Be Approached Confidently

Hebrews 4:13–16 NASB95

13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. 14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 5:1–10 NASB95

1 For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God, in order to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins; 2 he can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is beset with weakness; 3 and because of it he is obligated to offer sacrifices for sins, as for the people, so also for himself. 4 And no one takes the honor to himself, but receives it when he is called by God, even as Aaron was. 5 So also Christ did not glorify Himself so as to become a high priest, but He who said to Him, “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You”; 6 just as He says also in another passage, “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.” 7 In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety. 8 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. 9 And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, 10 being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

2. Jesus’ Atonement Satisfies Perfectly and Permanently

Hebrews 9:11–14 NASB95

11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; 12 and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

1 Peter 2:24 NASB95

24 and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.

3. Union With Christ Makes Holy Living Possible

Our Union With Christ

Romans 6:5–7 NASB95

5 For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; 7 for he who has died is freed from sin.

Is Holy Living Possible?

Are righteous actions no more than a filthy garment?

Isaiah 64:6 NASB95

6 For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; And all of us wither like a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

John Piper Quote

“Sometimes people are careless and speak disparagingly of all human righteousness, as if there were no such thing that pleases God. They often cite Isaiah 64:6 which says our righteousness is as filthy rags. It is true—gloriously true—that none of God’s people, before or after the cross, would be accepted by an immaculately holy God if the perfect righteousness of Christ were not imputed to us … But that does not mean that God does not produce in those ‘justified’ people (before and after the cross) an experienced righteousness that is not ‘filthy rags.’ In fact, he does; and this righteousness is precious to God and is required, not as the ground of our justification (which is the righteousness of Christ only), but as an evidence of our being truly justified children of God.”

John Piper, qtd. by Kevin DeYoung in The Hole in Our Holiness

Romans 6:12–13 NASB95

12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, 13 and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.

It is possible to please God?

Walking in a worthy manner, bearing fruit, and increasing in the knowledge of God are pleasing to God.

Colossians 1:9–10 NASB95

9 For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Giving our whole lives as a living sacrifice is pleasing to God.

Romans 12:1 NASB95

1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

Looking our for our weaker Christian brother or sister is pleasing to God.

Romans 14:16–18 NASB95

16 Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be spoken of as evil; 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.

Obeying your parents is pleasing to God.

Colossians 3:20 NASB95

20 Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord.

Teaching the Word in truth is pleasing to God.

1 Thessalonians 2:4 NASB95

4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts.

Keeping God’s commandments is pleasing to God.

1 John 3:22 NASB95

22 and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.

Why Should We Seek Holy Living?

It is for Our Good

Deuteronomy 12:28 NASB95

28 “Be careful to listen to all these words which I command you, so that it may be well with you and your sons after you forever, for you will be doing what is good and right in the sight of the Lord your God.

God Knows and Sees All

Ecclesiastes 12:13–14 NASB95

13 The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. 14 For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.

Because Christ Has All Authority

Matthew 28:18–20 NASB95

18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

To Experience the Fullness of Joy

John 15:10–11 NASB95

10 “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. 11 “These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.

The Fear of the Lord

2 Corinthians 5:11 NASB95

11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences.

We Were Created for Good Works

Ephesians 2:10 NASB95

10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

For an Eternal Reward

1 Timothy 6:18–19 NASB95

18 Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.

To Be an Effective Christian

2 Peter 1:5–8 NASB95

5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, 6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, 7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Love of the Lord

1 John 4:11 NASB95

11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

To Demonstrate God’s Love

1 John 4:12 NASB95

12 No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us.