ONCE
The Scriptures tell us that the Feast of Atonement required the high priest of Israel to enter into the Holy of Hollies once a year, on the tenth day of the seventh month, to offer a blood sacrifice for his sins and for the sins of all Israel (Ex. 30:10; Lev. 16:34; 23:27-32; Rom. 6:10; Heb. 9:7; 10:2). The word "atonement" in the Old Testament is translated from the Hebrew כָּפַר (kaphar), meaning "to cover, purge, make reconciliation."
"Atonement" appears only once in the New Testament, Romans 5:11, where it is translated from the Greek καταλλαγή (katallagē). Here, the Greek sheds a little more light as to its meaning, in that it is defined as "reconciliation, or a restoration to favor." The same Greek word is actually translated "reconciliation" twice, and "reconciling" once (Rom. 11:15; 2 Cor. 5:18, 19). However, all four are specifically referring to the death of Jesus, whose died once as an atonement for the sins of all mankind (Heb. 7:27; 9:12, 26, 28; 10:10; 1 Pet. 3:18).
UPON A TIME
By now, I am sure you are wondering what "once upon a time" has to do with the Atonement. The Word says, "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the Law, to redeem them that were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons" (Gal. 4:4-5).
But you might ask, what has the Feast of Atonement and the Crucifixion have to do with the "beginning" of the Bible story? Well, it actually has to do with before the beginning of the Bible story! The Word of God tells us that even before the foundation of the world, Jesus was already Crucified for us (Mt. 13:35; 25:34; Eph. 1:4; Heb. 4:3; 1 Pet. 1:20; Rev. 13:8)! So you see, the story of man's reconciliation to God through Christ's Atonement, was already "a done deal" in God's way of thinking!
Once upon a time, before time began, Christ died for you and me!
And that "ain't no" fairy tale!
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