That bad?

They had to make atonement for the Holy Place? Atonement also had to be made for the altar as well as the Tent of Meeting!” (Leviticus 16:15-20) The idea was that even the place was defiled due to the sins of the people (Leviticus 16:16).
What a surprise! We’ve known that atonement (forgiveness of sins) was necessary for people of the Old Testament. In the New Testament, Jesus has become the perfect sacrifice for our sins and we don’t need to repeat the animal sacrifices. But atonement for the place itself?
I’m not advocating a return to the sacrificial system. For that would violate the value of Jesus’ sinless sacrifice (Hebrews 10). Nor do I want to put people in bondage with a guilt ridden message.
I believe we must come to grips with our sinfulness and constant “leaning” in that direction. Never take the cross of Jesus for granted. Always have a soft broken attitude regarding our sinfulness. But at the same time, be firm in your faith and confidence in the finished work of Jesus and confidence in the finished work of Jesus for our redemption – our atonement.
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