A friend of mine has never been very open to me talking to her about Christ and tonight that changed. She poured her heart out to me and began asking questions. She wants to know why Christ had to die and shed His blood. She said if God knows our heart and we ask His forgiveness,why would that have not been enough for Him? She seems to be really hung up on the blood. Can you help me answer her?
Sin is a violation of God’s law and it’s punishable by death. This was established in the Garden of Eden when God told Adam if he ate the forbidden fruit he would die (Genesis 2:16-17). Adam and Eve disobeyed God. As a result of doing so, they were changed from immortal to mortal and subsequently died.
Because everyone sins, everyone must die. This is God’s Law. The only way to avoid this penalty is if someone who has never sinned agrees to die in your place. This is what Jesus did. He was the only sinless man who ever lived and He agreed to die for our sins. Now everyone who believes in Him can have eternal life (John 3:16).
Believing that Jesus died for us is the only thing God requires of us (John 6:28-29). People who don’t believe that Jesus died for them cannot be forgiven for their sins even if they ask. Therefore, seeking God’s forgiveness is not enough. We must also believe that the penalty for our sins was paid in full by the death of His son.