Now if we start backing up in time toward the crucifixion event, there must be a time when this supposed truth became universally applicable. I will assume, here, that that time is the instant of Jesus’ death. So with the instantaneous justification of all men at the death of Messiah there came at the same moment instantaneous condemnation also. Augustine allows that some people of the preceding era benefited from Jesus’ atoning death. He specifically referred to so-called “Old Testament” saints, whom he saw as people in the Hebrew Scriptures who looked forward in faith to the atoning event. So according to this line of thought, a Jewish person that died immediately before Jesus’ death could possibly benefit from the coming atoning work, while if he survived a few moments after Jesus’ death he would be doomed. This is the discontinuity that I referred to above. Now it does not matter exactly when we believe that this supposed truth took effect. Whenever it took effect, the discontinuity came into being.

There is no Discontinuity in the Application of the Atonement

At the time of the fall, man’s conditions changed radically. He was naked and needed a physical covering. He was also separated from and in transgression against God and, therefore, needed a spiritual covering. This is the basis for the concept of the “absolute depravity of man”. God immediately provided a physical covering for man. The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them. Genesis 3:21

Now, according to Biblical chronology, it would be approximately 4000 years before God provided a spiritual covering. That spiritual covering was provided with the death of the Lamb of God. According to Paul, when provided, that atoning work was applicable to all men. “So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men.” Romans 5:18

We might ask, “why did God not provide the needed spiritual covering at the same time as He provided a physical covering?” We believe that the answer is revealed in the fact that when God began taking positive steps of redemption (the call of Abraham), He immediately began painting a prophetic picture of the sacrifice of the special son. This we see in the nature of Isaac’s birth and his “almost” sacrifice in Jerusalem. We conclude that God desired to build a vast body of revelation pertaining to the atonement before the actual event in order to insure that the significance of the event could be understood.

Both Peter and Paul maintained that Jesus specifically applied the atonement backward in time. Peter declared:

"in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water." I Peter 3:18-20

Also, Paul added;

“Therefore it says, ‘when He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, and He gave gifts to men’ (Now this expression, ‘He ascended,’ what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.)” Ephesians 4:8-10

Even though the exact meaning of these Scriptures are somewhat obscure, it is clear that both Peter and Paul maintained that Jesus moved backward in time to make the atonement applicable to generations that had lived previously. Therefore, we make the assertion that God made the atonement retroactive to the time of the fall. In other words, from a practical standpoint, the spiritual covering was provided at the same time as the physical covering. This eliminates any discontinuity in the application of the atonement.

The Basis for Accountability to God

The writer of the book of Hebrews declared,

“And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment,” Hebrews 9:27.

What is the basis by which a person will be judged? The Bible declares that each of us will be judged by the deed’s of this life. There is great confusion on this subject due to Augustine’s writings.

Nevertheless, Jesus declared clearly;

"Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.” John 5:28-29.

Paul declared the same thing (Romans 2:5b-8). John confirmed exactly the same position; (Revelation 20:11-15). So, God will judge each of us on the basis of what we have done in this life. If this is true, what about “faith”? According to the Hebrew prophet Micah, God also requires humility and faith along with what we do. “He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8 Furthermore, Jesus taught that our judgment was also dependent on the light of revelation that has come into our lives. He declared that “to whom much is given, much is required (Luke 12:48).

This is the basis of the judgment which will be required of each of us by God Himself at the end of this life experience. He will judge us according to what we have done in this life, relative to the light of revelation that He has granted to us. We must exhibit faith in His goodness that He has fully provided for our acceptance (justification through the atonement). This has been the case from the beginning and continues today. There is no discontinuity in the application of the atonement.

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