How do we know the atonement is necessary for salvation?

In Romans 3:24-26, the theological necessity of Christ’s atonement is made clear. God, being just, cannot simply overlook sin. An infinitely meritorious sacrifice was required to satisfy His justice and provide redemption. Therefore, Christ’s death on the cross is both a fulfillment of righteousness and a propitiation for sin. He bore the weight of sin, allowing God to remain just while justifying those who believe. This underscores that without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins, thus highlighting the centrality of the atonement in the process of salvation.