II. Whether it was necessary that Christ should die for us.

It was necessary for Christ, in order that he might make satisfaction, not only to suffer, but also to die:

1. On account of the justice of God. Sin is an evil of such magnitude, that according to the order of justice, it merits and demands, the destruction of the sinner; for the reason, that that which is an offence against the highest good, can only be expiated by the most severe punishment and extreme destruction of the sinner, which is by his death according as it is written, “the wages of sin is death.” (Rom. 6:23.) Christ now assumed our place, and took upon himself the person of those who had sinned, and deserved death not only eternal, but also temporal; for we had merited that destruction which consists in a dissolution between the soul and the body, which being once effected, the body itself is also dissolved, as a house is said to be destroyed when the parts are separated from each other. It was necessary, therefore, that the Son of God should die in order that a sufficient ransom might thus be made, which could not have been effected by a mere creature.

Obj. But we have merited eternal death ; therefore our souls ought not to be separated from our bodies, that they might suffer eternal condemnation.

Ans. This is not a just conclusion, because nothing more can be properly inferred, than that it is necessary that our souls and bodies should be again united that they may suffer eternal death, which will also, at length, come to pass. Therefore it was necessary that Christ should die for us, and that his soul should be separated from his body.

2. On account of the truth of God. For God had declared that he would punish sin with destruction, and the death of the transgressor: “In the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Gen. 2:17.) It was necessary that this threatening of God should be fulfilled after sin was once committed.

Obj. But Adam did not immediately die.

Ans. He did not, indeed instantly suffer temporal death, yet he straightway became mortal, and by degrees died, whilst he already experienced the beginning of eternal death: “I heard,” said he, “thy voice, and was afraid, because I was naked.” (Gen. 3:10.) There was a fear, and sense of the wrath of God, a struggling with death, and a loss of all the good gifts which God conferred upon man. And yet the lenity, and compassion of the gospel was not wanting; for God had not expressly declared that he should certainly die wholly and immediately. If this had been wanting he would have perished forever. The Son of God offered, and brought in a mitigation, and raised man to a new life that, notwithstanding he remained subject to temporal death, this was no longer injurious or fatal to him.

3. On account of the promises made to the fathers, by the prophets, such as that contained in Is. 53, 7, “He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep is dumb before her shearers, so he opened not his mouth;” and also on account of the types and sacrifices, by which God signified that Christ should die such a death as would be a sufficient ransom for the sins of the world. This, now, was the work of no creature but of the Son of God alone. Hence it became him to suffer such a painful death in our behalf.

4. Lastly, Christ himself foretold that his death was necessary. “For if I go not away the Comforter will not come unto you.” “If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.” "And I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto me.” (John 16:7; 13:8; 12:32.) Three things, therefore, concur in this question: that it was necessary to make satisfaction to the justice and truth of God that this satisfaction could only be made by death and that by the death of the Son of God.

From what has now been said the following conclusions may be drawn:

1. That sin should especially be avoided by us, inasmuch as it could not be expiated except by the intervention of the death of the Son of God.

2. That we ought to be grateful to the Son of God for this great benefit which he has, out of his great goodness, conferred upon us.

3. That all our sins, however great, however many, and grievous they may be, are expiated by the death of Christ alone.