King David, standing in faith before the revelation of King Messiah wrote, “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.  Blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputes no crookedness, and in whose spirit there is no deceit” (Ps. 32:1). David reveals something remarkable to us regarding repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation with the Living God: the forgiven, whose sin is covered, are renewed in the spirit, as the crookedness has been made straight.

It is likely David had Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, or the day of covering, in mind as he considered his position before the God of Israel.  As we know, David did not live a spotless and blameless life. He murdered. He shed blood. He committed adultery, among other sins.  Still, he understood that through the grace of atonement, as the innocent substitute is offered for the guilty, man can live a new life.

Still, the idea of a renewed life flies in the face of the philosophy that has influenced western culture for more than 2,500 years. Plato, Aristotle and other Greek philosophers believed that we are what we are, and this cannot be changed.  Some are born to be heroes; others to be rulers; some to be ruled; others were born to serve, while some were born to be served.  Nothing, in their estimation can change what is the natural condition of a man. A sure social philosophy for those who are on the privileged side of the equation; but the Lord disagrees with this philosophy in its entirety. 

Science tells us that are a mere accidental result of non-sentient gases mixing, reacting, exploding and over the course of billions of years non-thinking, non-reasoning, non-emotive matter developed into the wonder that we call human life. In the absence of a thoughtful Creator, life being the result of chance, loses meaning and becomes a subjective drama that is meaningless as we lay helpless upon our deathbed. Are we solely what our genetic material directs us to be?  Can it be that our lives, our struggles, our joys, and pain are meaningless?  Are we forever who we are; hopeless to experience real and meaningful change in our lives?

The message of Yom Kippur, and this season of repentance, gives us lasting hope and the opportunity for real change. The message of Yom Kippur is not only can we change, but the Lord expects and helps us to do so. The biblical teaching of repentance is premised on notion that we can change. We may tell ourselves that we cannot, but by His grace, we can. We are not too set in our ways. We are not too old. The ability to make lasting and meaningful change is a gift from the Lord Himself. 

When Moses explains the details of Yom Kippur to the children of Israel says, “For on that day he (the high priest) makes atonement for you, to cleanse you, to be clean from all your sins before the Lord” (Lev. 16:30). The act of the high priest changes us. The dirty are made clean. Those cleansed appear as new. Rabbi Dr. Joseph Hertz writes, “The name of the most sacred of Festivals is in the plural, ‘because it represents two streams of love.  As soon as the desire for reconciliation has been awakened in the sinner’s soul, and wings its way Heavenward, God’s grace comes down to meet it, calming his breast with the assurance of Divine pardon and forgiveness.”

Forgiveness is the fuel for change.  

Consider these changed lives: 

1. Moses: Insists that he is slow of speech, but he becomes one of the most eloquent speakers in history, as evidenced by Deuteronomy.
2. Pinchas: Transforms from zealous vigilante to peacemaker in Joshua 22.
3. Joshua: Changes from the quiet, hidden disciple of Moses to the bold leader of a nation.
4. The people of Nineveh: Given a warning of 40 days until their destruction; but they receive a reprieve because of repentance, forgiveness, and restoration.
5. Peter: Denies Messiah, flees for his life, but through forgiveness boldly proclaims Messiah even unto death.
6. John: From a son of thunder, to the apostle of love.
7. Paul: From persecutor of Messiah to proclaimer of the power of the Cross. 

What is the result of repentance, forgiveness and trusting faith in the promise of Messiah Yeshua?

The author of Hebrews writes, “For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the defiled, sets apart for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more, shall the blood of the Messiah, who through the everlasting Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the Living God…let us draw near with a true heart in completeness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from a wicked conscience and our bodies washed with clean water” (Heb. 9:13-14; 10:22).

Still, what is this conscience that has been cleansed?  The Greek word for conscience means to be aware, to see fully, to be informed.  Our conscience therefore is the knowledge that influences us, and when we were informed by sin, we followed it. Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, reminds us that either we are or have been following the broad way to destruction; but His covering will change us. 

Paul writes, “Therefore, if anyone is in Messiah, he is a new creature—the old matters have passed away, see, all matters have become renewed!  And all matters are from God, who has restored us to grace with Himself through Yeshua the Messiah.” Why does Paul use this word ‘creature’?  The Greek root here means ‘formation;’ and the idea portrayed by this word is similar to what we read in Isaiah, “But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.”  

This re-formation stands in direct opposition to who we were in our sin condition.  If you recall the testimony of Genesis, “And the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” The Hebrew word ‘inclination’ means ‘formation.’ Therefore, having been cleansed of sin, being removed as far as the east is from the west (Ps. 103:12), gone forever, we are now free to allow the knowledge of godliness lead us in the Spirit. This change living demonstrating our change in nature.  

He has freed to walk in this: “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Cor. 3:17).  Isaac Bashevis Singer wrote, “We have to be free, we have no choice!” My friends, you are greater than the sum of your parts, because He has formed you, forgiven you and conformed you to the image of His Son, Yeshua/Jesus (Ro. 8:28-29).  

Maranatha. Shalom.