Why did Jesus have to be the God of creation in order to die for mankind?
Jesus had to be the God of creation because only the Creator of the universe could taste death for every man and pay the sin debt of every human being. The same God of Genesis 1:1 took on flesh and went to the cross, so God was in Christ reconciling the world.
Les teaches that verse 19 shows God was in Christ as He hung on the cross, and that it was the Creator of the universe who hung there. Jesus of Calvary was the same God of Genesis 1:1 who called everything into being. He had to be, or He could never have tasted death for every man. He had to be the God of creation, or He could never have paid the sin debt of every human being. Les also recounts a gentleman asking who Jesus Christ is, calling it the best question, and answering first that He is the Creator of the universe and the God of creation, the same God who took on flesh and went the way of the cross. Paul tells us God was in Christ, reconciling the world back to Himself after He lost it in Adam, not imputing their trespasses unto them. Les concludes that until a lost person dies and has lost his opportunity for believing the Gospel, his sins are not being held against him.
To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.