How do we know the sufferings of Christ were necessary?
Answered in 1 source
The sufferings of Christ were necessary as they served as the means for the atonement of sin, satisfying God's justice for the elect.
The necessity of Christ's sufferings is rooted in God's sovereign plan for redemption, as Scripture reveals that without the shedding of blood, there is no remission for sin (Hebrews 9:22). Christ, being the spotless Lamb of God, had to endure suffering to reconcile His people to God. In 1 Peter 3:18, it states that Christ suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust. This underscores that His suffering was not arbitrary but purposeful, fulfilling the divine requirement for justice. Furthermore, the fact that He endured such agony on behalf of the elect emphasizes the gravity of our sin and the depth of Christ's love, affirming that His suffering was the only means to restore the broken relationship between God and humanity.
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