Leviticus 16 is important for setting up the doctrine of justification, because Leviticus 16 establishes the point that the wages of sin is death – and that the only way to deal with sin is through death.
Notice especially verse 16 – “Thus he shall make atonement for the Holy Place…and for the tent of meeting.”
That may sound strange – why do you need to make “atonement” for the Holy Place? Why does God say that the Holy Place, the tent of meeting and the altar need to be atoned for?
“Because of the uncleannesses of the people of Israel and because of their transgressions, all their sins.” Both the uncleanness of the people AND their sins contaminate even the Holy Place. After all, what is the Holy Place?
The Holy Place is where God dwells with his people. The Holy Place is the place where earth and heaven meet.
And every time this sinful people comes to the sanctuary, it is contaminated by their sins and their uncleanness. Therefore, in order for God to continue dwelling in such a pigsty, it must be cleansed–it must be atoned for–every year.
Only after atoning for the Holy Place could Aaron confess the iniquities of Israel (v21), and make atonement for himself and for the people (v24).
The detailed ritual of the Day of Atonement was designed to show Israel how hard it is to get rid of sin. And since Israel had to do it every year, they could see that their sin was never finally dealt with.
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