His atonement had to be sincere. He likely saved far MORE than a thousand innocent souls over the centuries. However, it also looks like he also had to have it in his heart that he was saving them BECAUSE they were innocents, not just so he could finally die and be done with it. That he did it out of selflessness rather than selfishness. And each time it was a selfless act, a check mark was removed. At least that is my view on the issue.