Christ had to die because the penalty for sin is death, and He provides the only sufficient sacrifice to satisfy God’s justice (Romans 6:23).
In Reformed theology, it's understood that Christ's death is essential due to the inherent justice of God, which requires that the penalty for sin be paid. Romans 6:23 states, 'the wages of sin is death,' and since all humanity has sinned, we could not atone for our sins on our own. Christ, as the sinless substitute, fulfilled the righteous requirement of the law by living a perfect life and then offered Himself as the sacrificial lamb. This act of grace demonstrates God's love and the seriousness of sin, allowing believers to be justified and reconciled to the Father through faith in Him.
Commentary