Quick Q&A: Why did Christ have to die?

Answer: In 1 Corinthians 15:3-4  Paul writes, "For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures."

The prophecies in the scriptures foreshadowed Christ’s death and resurrection. He represented the unblemished lamb that was sacrificed at Passover. In 1 Corinthians 5:7 (KJV) we read, "For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us."

The Bible talks a lot about animal sacrifices that ancient Israel performed to instruct ancient Israel regarding the penalty for sin. The penalty of sin was and still is death. Romans 6:22-23, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Paul says in Hebrews 10:4, "For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins."

It was only through Jesus Christ becoming a living sacrifice that we can now have our sins forgiven. Hebrews 10:11-16 (ESV), "And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. [Again, as Hebrews 10:4 makes plain, animal sacrifices were not sufficient to take away the people’s sins.] But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet.  For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, 'This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds.'”

Christ’s sacrifice created a pathway to the Father that was not previously available. His offering now allows us, through God’s Holy Spirit, to have a relationship with Him and the Father by putting His laws in our hearts and writing them on our minds.

This was made possible by Christ, “who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls” (1 Peter 2:24-25).

This sacrifice also came with another commandment that gives us the ultimate definition of love. We read in John 15:12-13, "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends."

Jesus Christ laid down His life for us so that we could have access to His Holy Spirit and the gift of eternal life. Christ is our Advocate and He is able to take away our sins when we repent and confess our sins.