How do we know Christ's suffering was necessary for salvation?

The necessity of Christ's suffering is rooted in the biblical understanding of sin and judgment. Romans 3:23 states that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, necessitating a punishment for sin. Christ, being the perfect and sinless sacrifice, took upon Himself the penalty due for our sins (1 Peter 2:24). Thus, His suffering was an essential part of God's redemptive plan, established before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4-5). Without Christ's sacrificial death and subsequent resurrection, there would be no reconciliation between God and humanity, highlighting the integral role of His suffering in obtaining eternal redemption.