Why was the cross necessary? Could God not have just said that our sins are forgiven without Jesus having to suffer in our place? The reasons for the cross are that sin is far worse than we realise, that justice demands that sin be punished, and that because of God's love he has taken the punishment himself so that those who accept his forgiveness through faith in Jesus Christ will not perish but have eternal life. There was no other way for love and justice to be fulfilled.

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