Was the atonement finished at the Cross?

The question of whether the atonement was finished at the cross has been a significant theological topic throughout Christian history. Many Christians believe that the atonement was completed at the cross, referencing Jesus’ declaration, “It is finished!” (John 19:30, NKJV).

However, a deeper biblical examination reveals that the atonement involves more than Christ’s sacrifice. While the sacrificial aspect of the atonement was completed at the cross, the ultimate cleansing of sin, as typified by the Day of Atonement in the Old Testament sanctuary service, is still ongoing. This understanding aligns with the prophecy of the 2,300 days in Daniel 8:14, which points to Christ’s ministry in the heavenly sanctuary starting in 1844.

The Atonement in the Old Testament Sanctuary

The Old Testament sanctuary provides the blueprint for understanding the atonement. God commanded Moses to construct the sanctuary, saying, “And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them” (Exodus 25:8, NKJV). This earthly sanctuary was a shadow of the heavenly sanctuary, as shown in Hebrews 8:5:

“…who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle.”

The sanctuary service consisted of two key phases of atonement:

Daily Services (Sacrificial Atonement): These involved the continual offering of sacrifices for the forgiveness of sins.
Yearly Service (Cleansing Atonement): This was the Day of Atonement, where the high priest entered the Most Holy Place to cleanse the sanctuary of accumulated sins (Leviticus 16).

While the daily services typify Christ’s death on the cross as the ultimate sacrifice for sin, the Day of Atonement points to the final phase of His atoning work.

Christ’s Sacrifice: The Completion of the Sacrificial Atonement

When Jesus died on the cross, He fulfilled the sacrificial system, which had pointed to Him for centuries. His death was the ultimate sacrifice for sin, as John the Baptist declared, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29, NKJV). This sacrificial work is what Jesus referred to when He said, “It is finished!” (John 19:30, NKJV).

The writer of Hebrews explains this clearly:

“And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God” (Hebrews 10:11-12, NKJV).

However, while the sacrifice for sin was complete, this was only the first phase of the atonement. The atonement involves not just forgiveness of sin but also the removal of sin, which brings us to the work of cleansing.

The Day of Atonement: Cleansing the Sanctuary

Psalm 77:13 states, “Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary; Who is so great a God as our God?” (NKJV). This verse underscores that the sanctuary services reveal God’s plan of salvation. The Day of Atonement, detailed in Leviticus 16, provides a crucial part of this plan.

On the Day of Atonement, the high priest entered the Most Holy Place to perform a special work of cleansing:

“Then he shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions, for all their sins; and so he shall do for the tabernacle of meeting which remains among them in the midst of their uncleanness” (Leviticus 16:16, NKJV).

This service symbolized the ultimate removal of sin, not just from individuals but from the entire sanctuary system. Similarly, in the heavenly sanctuary, Christ’s work as our High Priest involves a cleansing of the record of sin.

The Heavenly Sanctuary and the 2,300-Day Prophecy

The earthly sanctuary was a shadow of the heavenly sanctuary, where Christ now ministers. Hebrews 9:24 confirms:

“For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us” (NKJV).

The prophet Daniel foresaw this heavenly ministry in the vision of the 2,300 days:

“And he said to me, ‘For two thousand three hundred days; then the sanctuary shall be cleansed’” (Daniel 8:14, NKJV).

Using the prophetic principle of a day for a year (Ezekiel 4:6; Numbers 14:34), the 2,300 days represent 2,300 years. This prophecy began in 457 BC, with the decree to rebuild Jerusalem (Ezra 7:13-26), and ended in 1844. At this time, Christ transitioned from the Holy Place to the Most Holy Place in the heavenly sanctuary to begin the work of cleansing, akin to the Day of Atonement.

Christ’s High Priestly Ministry in the Heavenly Sanctuary

In the book of Hebrews, Christ is described as our High Priest:

“Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession” (Hebrews 4:14, NKJV).

As our High Priest, Christ intercedes for us, applying the benefits of His sacrifice:

“Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25, NKJV).

In 1844, according to the prophecy, Christ began the final phase of His ministry-the investigative judgment. This work involves reviewing the records of humanity to determine who will receive eternal life (Revelation 20:12). This judgment is not for God’s benefit, as He already knows all things, but to vindicate His justice before the universe.

The Final Cleansing and the End of Sin

The work of atonement will culminate in the eradication of sin from the universe. Revelation describes this final judgment:

“Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them” (Revelation 20:11, NKJV).

After the investigative judgment, the wicked will be punished, and sin will be destroyed. The book of life will be cleansed of the record of sin, and the redeemed will stand justified before God.

This final phase of atonement fulfills the dual purpose of salvation:

Forgiving sins through Christ’s sacrifice.
Removing sin completely through the cleansing work in the heavenly sanctuary.

Misconceptions About the Atonement’s Completion at the Cross

The view that the atonement was fully completed at the cross often overlooks the sanctuary model and the broader biblical narrative. While Christ’s sacrifice was sufficient for salvation, the atonement encompasses more than the cross. The Bible consistently portrays salvation as a process:

Justification: Immediate forgiveness of sin through Christ’s death.
Sanctification: The ongoing work of cleansing and transformation.
Glorification: The ultimate removal of sin and restoration of perfection at Christ’s second coming.

The ongoing heavenly ministry of Christ ensures that the benefits of His sacrifice are applied to believers until the final eradication of sin.

Practical Implications of the Continuing Atonement

Understanding that the atonement is not yet fully completed impacts Christian faith and practice. Believers are called to have victory over sin by God’s power, cooperating with Christ’s work of sanctification and live in a state of readiness:

“And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure” (1 John 3:3, NKJV).

The investigative judgment highlights the seriousness of sin and the importance of obedience to God’s commandments. Revelation 14:12 describes the saints in the last days as those “who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus” (NKJV).

Conclusion

The atonement was not finished at the cross. While the sacrificial part was completed, the cleansing of sin, as typified by the Day of Atonement, is ongoing in the heavenly sanctuary. According to Daniel’s 2,300-day prophecy, Christ began this phase of His ministry in 1844, working to cleanse the heavenly sanctuary and ultimately eradicate sin from the universe.

This understanding does not diminish the cross but magnifies it, showing the comprehensive nature of Christ’s atoning work. As believers, we are called to trust in Christ’s finished sacrifice, cooperate with His ongoing work of sanctification, and look forward to the day when sin will be no more.

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 1:24, NKJV).