day no. 16,821: headship and safe harbor

Leviticus 16:17

And there shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement in the holy place, until he come out, and have made an atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel.

Before Aaron could intercede on behalf of Israel, he had to intercede on behalf of his family, and before he could intercede on behalf of his family, he needed someone or something to intercede on behalf of himself. 

Aaron first had to atone for his own sin before he was qualified to atone for anyone else's. He then had to atone for the sins of his own family before he could make atonement for the sins of someone else's.

Federal headship is representative government and it is the way God has made the world. Aaron is by nature and grace responsible for his owns sins before God and for the sins of his family. Because he sat in the office of high priest, he also then became responsible for the sins of every family in Israel. He carried the weight of their sins on his shoulders and close to his heart as he approached their God and King on their behalf. He alone was given the right and responsibility to do so. If anyone else went in, they would die. If Aaron did not go in, they would die.

Hebrews 7:27, 9:7, 10:11-12

Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself... But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people... And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God.

Because of federal headship and representative government being established and recognized by God Almighty above, we are set free and saved from our sins down here below. Because He stood in our place for our sins, we can stand in His presence with confidence in Christ. We have atonement with our Father in heaven because our sins have been dealt with once for all by God's Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ.