Yes—Christ had to die because humanity's sin problem had to be settled, but He was not forced; He willingly chose to die out of love and mercy.
Les Feldick teaches that Christ's death was necessary to settle the sin problem, yet it was not something God was obligated to do. God could have let the human race go or removed it entirely. Instead, because He loved mankind and desired to pour out mercy, He allowed the God of creation to suffer and die on a Roman cross. His divine blood had the power to cleanse the whole world's sin problem.
2 Corinthians 5:19 — This verse states that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, showing that Christ's death had a cosmic purpose for humanity.
Romans 15:3 — This verse shows Christ did not please Himself, pointing to His willing acceptance of suffering for others.
The Bible reveals that God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself and not imputing their trespasses to them (2 Corinthians 5:19). It also shows that Christ did not please Himself; the reproaches directed at God fell on Him (Romans 15:3). In addition, Scripture describes the god of this world blinding the minds of unbelievers so the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, cannot shine to them (2 Corinthians 4:4).
Les Feldick teaches that Christ died because He loved mankind and because the sin problem had to be settled. He emphasizes that God was not obligated to redeem humanity—He could have let the race go or removed it from the earth's experience—but out of love and mercy He chose the cross. Christ could have rejected the cross, but He didn't; motivated by love, He went to the cross to purchase our salvation.
Les Feldick says Christ had to die in order to settle the sin problem, but He could have rejected the assignment. He chose to go to the cross out of motivating love for mankind. In the same way, God did not have to redeem us—He could have just let the human race go or removed it from the earth's experience—but He did it because He loved us.
Les teaches that when Christ died on the cross, He took all the wrath of God for the sins of the world. God also poured out His mercy, so we no longer have to beg for mercy—it has already been poured out. All we have to do is appropriate it by faith. Christ paid the sin debt for every human being that has ever lived, so no one can say God didn't supply their need.
Les Feldick maintains that Christ died for the whole world, not just for believers. He died for every individual. He makes the point that if you were the only person on earth, Christ would still have gone through the work of the cross. His blood was divine and holy, with the power to cleanse the whole world's sin problem.
Les explains that the god of this world has blinded the minds of the lost so that the light of the glorious gospel of Christ cannot shine to them. This is why it is so hard to convince the masses of their need—they are blinded by the God of this world.
Blinded to the Gospel
Les says the god of this world blinds the minds of the lost, which is why people don't recognize their need for Christ's death.
No Obligation, Only Love
Les says God didn't have to redeem us; He could have let humanity go, but Jesus willingly suffered death because He loved us.
A Personal Death for Every Person
Les teaches that if you were the only person on earth, Christ would still have gone through the cross, making salvation personal.
Necessary to Settle Sin
Les says Christ had to die to settle the sin problem, but He could have refused; motivated by love, He chose to purchase our salvation.
Divine Blood Atonement
Les teaches that Christ's blood was divine and holy, capable of cleansing the world's sin problem, and He died for the whole world.
Wrath and Mercy Poured Out
Les says Christ took God's wrath for the sins of the world, and mercy has already been poured out, awaiting appropriation by faith.
The Sin Debt Paid for Every Human Being
Les teaches that when Christ died He paid the sin debt for every person who ever lived, so no one can claim God didn't supply their need.
The Creator Died for Love of Mankind
Les says the holy, sinless God of creation walked among fallen humanity and died on the Roman cross simply because He loved mankind.
2 Corinthians 4:4: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
Les cites this verse to explain why the lost cannot see their need for the gospel and the cross.
2 Corinthians 5:19: 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.
This verse frames Christ's death as God reconciling the world to Himself, which Les connects to the payment of sin debt.
Romans 15:3: For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.
Les uses Christ's example of not pleasing Himself to show the selfless love behind the crucifixion.
Les Feldick teaches that Christ had to die to settle the sin problem, but He was not forced to do it. He could have refused, yet He chose the cross because He loved mankind. God could also have simply let the human race go rather than redeem it. The necessity of the cross came from the problem of sin; the willingness came from love.
Les says Christ died for the whole world, not just for believers. He paid the sin debt for every human being who has ever lived. If you had been the only person on earth, Christ would still have gone to the cross.
No. Les Feldick holds that God did not have to redeem us; He could have let us go or removed humanity from the earth. He provided a way back to Himself because of His mercy, not because we deserved it.
Watch the Teaching: What Does "Justified by Faith" Really Mean? Romans 5