Day of Atonement
The Day of Atonement is a holy day in which the children of Israel is to remember and make atonement or reconciliation for their sins committed. The Most High requires all of Israel to afflict their souls by dry fasting for one full day (no food or drink). It is a Sabbath day in which no working, buying and selling of merchandise or cooking shall be done.
Leviticus 23:26-32:
[26] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
[27] Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.
[28] And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God.
[29] For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people.
[30] And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people.
[31] Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
[32] It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath.
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The Day of Atonement is kept on the 10th day of the seventh month in accordance with the biblical calendar. Remembering that a day begins and ends at evening or sundown will allow you to understand why verse 32 states that the feast begins on the "ninth day at even". This simply means that the feast would begin on the evening that ends the ninth day thus starting the tenth day of the month.
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This day is to acknowledge our repentance by forsaking sinful ways and following after righteousness.
Proverbs 28:13 "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy."
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Afflicting our souls by fasting can be proven through the scriptures:
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Psalms 35:13: “But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.”
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Isaiah 58:5-6: “[5] Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD?
[6] Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?”
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To also understand how Christ is instrumental in our time of repentance and atonement can be found in the scriptures:
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Numbers 29:7-11 “[7] And ye shall have on the tenth day of this seventh month an holy convocation; and ye shall afflict your souls: ye shall not do any work therein:
[8] But ye shall offer a burnt offering unto the LORD for a sweet savour; one young bullock, one ram, and seven lambs of the first year; they shall be unto you without blemish:
[9] And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals to a bullock, and two tenth deals to one ram,
[10] A several tenth deal for one lamb, throughout the seven lambs:
[11] One kid of the goats for a sin offering; beside the sin offering of atonement, and the continual burnt offering, and the meat offering of it, and their drink offerings.”
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Traditionally we’d offer animal sacrifice for forgiveness, however since Christ was the last sacrifice (Acts 5:30-31; Hebrews 9:11-15) we no longer need to sacrifice animals as sin offerings. We have been made clean through our repentance and the blood of Christ the unblemished lamb of God.