What role does faith play in receiving the benefits of Christ's sacrifice?

Faith plays a critical role in our salvation, as it is through faith that we receive the benefits of Christ's sacrifice. Just as the Israelites had to place their faith in the blood of the lamb to be saved from judgment, we too must trust in the sufficiency of Christ's atonement for our sins. Ephesians 2:8-9 emphasizes that we are saved by grace through faith, not of ourselves, indicating that salvation is a gift from God. Our faith is the means by which we respond to God's call, recognizing that we are utterly reliant on Him for our salvation. This is further reinforced in John 3:36, which states that whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Therefore, genuine faith is not merely intellectual assent but a deep-seated trust in Christ as our Savior, which brings about regeneration and eternal life.