| (Copyright 04-05-2025) by Warren Zehrung (Little Rock, Arkansas) |
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| Dear Brethren, I am sending you my attached sermon, “A Matter of Life and Death,” along with my Sermon Notes. This is the sermon I gave on Atonement Day last year. It provides a good study for Passover preparation. We have been reconciled to God the Father. Jesus tells us that the full meaning of Passover has not yet been fulfilled. It will, however, be fulfilled after Jesus establishes His Father’s Kingdom on earth. Luke 22:15-16 [Jesus] said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer: For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the Kingdom of God. Passover and the Day of Atonement each teach us about the forgiveness of sin and our reconciliation to God through Christ’s sacrifice. The full purpose of Passover will be satisfied when the world will also be able to take Passover with Christ, not only the resurrected Church brethren. For the world to qualify to take Passover with Jesus and the Saints, Atonement of the world must first take place just prior to the beginning of the Millennium. John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. The entire world will be fellowshipping with God at that time and will be privileged to enjoy that future Passover. Atonement, coming right before the Millennium, will have brought the repentant and qualified world to the point of being included in Christ’s fulfillment Passover! The meanings of Passover and Atonement are very similar. One is for the Church, and the other will be for all those who are Christ’s at His coming. Passover and the Day of Atonement each teach us about the forgiveness of sin and our reconciliation to God through Christ’s sacrifice. Atonement will bring about the opportunity for the world to have a right relationship with the Father as the Church now enjoys. Reconciliation means being in favor with God, being made right with God. The Day of Atonement pictures mankind being cleansed from sin and the reconciliation of all mankind to God. We in God’s Church have already been reconciled to God the Father—the world awaits its justification at a soon coming Atonement Day. Christ’s death on His last Passover Day on earth has made reconciliation possible for those called to be the Children of God at this time. We in God’s Church have been atoned for – and have direct access to God the Father. The payment of Christ’s death for our sins reconciled us to the Father, paving the way for us to be His eternal Children. The world, living in sin, has not yet been atoned for. Atonement will come for the world when God’s Spirit will be poured out on them. Editor’s Note: According to scripture Christ died on the Preparation Day for the Passover. He was sacrificed on the stake with and at the same time as the Passover Lambs were killed. The Passover meal took place after Christ died. The meal that Christ ate with His disciples was just a meal and not the Passover meal. Laura Lee Joel 2:28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; As the Plan of God is unfolding, the realization of the Day of Atonement will show how God the Father will make reconciliation to Himself possible for all the sinful world. We in God’s Church have been atoned for – and have direct access to God the Father. The world, living in sin, has not yet been atoned for. For those who have not yet been called and receive God’s Spirit, the Day of Atonement looks forward to the time shortly after Jesus has returned to this earth, and just prior to the Kingdom of God being set up in the Millennium. It is God’s intent that all men be reconciled to Him and ultimately be saved. Hebrews 2:9 But we see Jesus, … crowned with glory and honor; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man. 1Timothy 2:3-4 … God our Savior will have all men to be saved. Editor’s Note: The goal is for all men to be saved but some people will choose not to be saved. Laura Lee In Leviticus 16, God gave us a foretaste of the Day of Atonement. God desired to have a sin offering that would be both sacrificed and yet live to represent both the sacrificed Jesus Christ, and the resurrected Jesus Christ—the two aspects of the Day of Atonement. May this study present you with a comprehensive view of Passover and Atonement. Your brother in Christ, Warren Editor’s Note: The sermon notes to this are quite long, so they will not appear in order with the rest of the articles but will be printed at a later date after we have had time to go over them. Laura Lee ——————————————————————————— Reprinted with permission from: Sabbath Church of God http://childrenofgod.net/ ——————————————————————————— |
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