Why did Christ have to suffer and die before we could appropriate these things by faith?
Christ had to suffer and die because He was smitten for our offenses, once, through the work of the cross—His death, burial, and resurrection. Only after that finished work could we appropriate it by faith, not by another smiting; now we appropriate it through fellowship, speaking, and prayer.
Les explains that on this side of the work of the cross—His death, burial, and resurrection—the believer appropriates that finished work by faith. But before we could appropriate these things by faith, Christ first had to suffer, die, and be smitten for our offenses. He was smitten once, not twice; Scripture stresses He did this once and does not go to the cross again and again. After He arose victorious over sin and death, we do not appropriate anything more by another crucifixion. Instead, Les teaches, we now appropriate it through fellowship, speaking, and communication with God—through prayer, praise, and petition. The smitten rock in Exodus 17 pictures this: the rock was struck and water came out, and later striking it again was contrary to God's instruction because you don't smite Christ twice.