Yes — Christ had to suffer and die because sin carries the death penalty and no remission of sins is possible without the shedding of blood.
The Bible sets this necessity from Adam's day: the soul that sins must die, and without the shedding of blood there is no remission. Christ was smitten for our transgressions, died as our substitute, and rose again. Les Feldick emphasizes that this happened once, and believers today receive its benefits by simply believing the gospel.
Genesis 2:17 — God's first law pronounced the death penalty that makes Christ's sacrificial death necessary.
Isaiah 53:4-5 — The prophet described the Servant as smitten and wounded for our transgressions, showing that His suffering was prophesied.
Hebrews 9:22 — The Bible plainly states that remission of sins requires the shedding of blood, which is why Christ's blood had to be shed.
The Bible connects Christ's suffering and death to the penalty sin brought into the world. God told Adam, "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die" (Genesis 2:17). Through the prophet Ezekiel He added, "The soul that sinneth, it shall die" (Ezekiel 18:20). The Old Testament also foretold that the Messiah would suffer for sins. Isaiah wrote, "Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted" and "he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities" (Isaiah 53:4-5). After the resurrection, Peter declared that "those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled" (Acts 3:18). The New Testament states the necessity of blood and the once-for-all nature of Christ's sacrifice: "without shedding of blood is no remission" (Hebrews 9:22), and "Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many" (Hebrews 9:28). Paul summarized the gospel as "how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).
Les Feldick teaches that the Old Testament was full of the truth that Christ would suffer, die, be buried, and rise again. He points out that Israel could not understand it at the time, but God fulfilled all that He had shown through the prophets — "Christ should suffer" and "all these things had to happen, and they did" (Clip 1). Les anchors the cross in Isaiah 53: Christ was "smitten" for our transgressions, and as a result of the work of the cross God can now pour out living water on the human race (Clip 2). Les also connects the necessity of Christ's death to the first law God gave mankind: "The day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die," and "The soul that sinneth shall surely die." Since every descendant of Adam is a sinner, every person must die. Les calls God's provision a "loophole": we do not have to die in ourselves — we can take Christ's death as our substitution. He plainly calls this the "substitutionary death of Christ": "He took my place. He took yours" (Clips 3, 6). Les stresses that Christ's blood was essential: "Without the shedding of blood there is no remission. You can't bypass the blood, it had to happen" (Clip 5). He also emphasizes the once-for-all nature of the cross — Christ was crucified once, never more than once — and that Jesus did not have to do it. God could have let the human race go, but Christ willingly suffered because He loved us (Clips 2, 7).
The Bible states plainly, "Without shedding of blood is no remission" (Hebrews 9:22). Les Feldick builds on this, saying that Christ's divine blood had to be shed because "you can't bypass the blood, it had to happen." This is why the cross was required before sins could be remitted (Clip 5).
Les Feldick notes that Christ was crucified once and never more than once. He points to the book of Hebrews, which makes emphatic that "this He did once," unlike the high priests who repeated their offerings over and over. Jesus entered in once, so there is no need for another crucifixion (Clip 2).
From the beginning, God law required death: "The day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die" (Genesis 2:17), and "The soul that sinneth, it shall die" (Ezekiel 18:20). Les Feldick explains that since we are sinners, we have to die. But God provided a way out: if we simply believe the gospel, Christ's death takes our place. The old Adam has to be put to death because he is a sinner, and that is why Paul teaches we are crucified with Christ (Clips 3, 6).
Les Feldick asks the question directly: "Did He have to? No, He didn't have to." God did not have to redeem us; He could have let the human race go or removed it entirely. But Christ was willing to suffer that kind of death for one reason — because He loved us. That was the choice He was given (Clip 7).
Christ the Rock: Spiritual Warfare & The Battle with Amalek
In fact, let me take you back even to Matthew, and it's a verse that has, I think, been twisted all out of context in order to make it say something that it doesn't, again simply because people do not maintain a biblical rule of order, and that is that when a word is used in a particular way, it is never used out of that context.
Old Testament Prophecy of Christ's Suffering
Les shows that the Old Testament prophets foretold Christ's suffering, death, burial, and resurrection, and that God fulfilled those prophecies in Christ.
Smitten Once for Our Transgressions
Les teaches that Christ was smitten for our transgressions, that His cross opened the way for living water, and that He was crucified only once — never repeated.
The Death Penalty and Being Crucified with Christ
Les ties Christ's death to God's first law that the day Adam ate he would die, and to Ezekiel's 'soul that sinneth shall die,' explaining that believers are reckoned as crucified with Christ.
The Gospel of Christ's Death, Burial, and Resurrection
Les points to Paul's words that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.
The Blood Had to Be Shed
Les emphasizes that without the shedding of blood there is no remission, so Christ's divine blood had to be shed — it could not be bypassed.
Substitutionary Death of Christ
Les explains that because we are sinners we have to die, but God's 'loophole' is that Christ's death takes our place — the substitutionary death of Christ.
Christ's Willing Sacrifice Out of Love
Les clarifies that Jesus did not have to die — God could have let the human race go — but Christ willingly suffered death because He loved us.
Genesis 2:17: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
This verse establishes the original death penalty that made Christ's substitutionary death necessary.
Ezekiel 18:20: The soul that sinneth, it shall die.
This confirms that the sinner personally owes death, which is why a substitute was needed.
Isaiah 53:4: Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
The prophet describes the suffering Servant being smitten, which Les Feldick says points to the cross.
Isaiah 53:5: But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
This verse teaches that the Servant suffered for our specific offenses.
Acts 3:18: But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.
This verse confirms that God fulfilled what He had promised about the Messiah's suffering.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4: For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.
Paul defines the gospel as Christ's death, burial, and resurrection for our sins.
Hebrews 9:22: And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
This verse plainly states that the shedding of blood is required for the remission of sins.
Hebrews 9:28: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
This verse emphasizes that Christ's sacrifice was offered once, not repeatedly.
Yes. Scripture says the soul that sins must die and without the shedding of blood there is no remission. Les Feldick teaches that Christ was smitten for our transgressions and that His death was the necessary substitution for sinners.
Only once. Les Feldick points to Hebrews to show that Christ entered in once and was never to be crucified again. The high priests repeated their offerings, but Christ's once-for-all sacrifice was sufficient.
No. Les Feldick says God did not have to redeem us — He could have let the human race go. Christ chose to suffer and die because He loved us.
Watch the Teaching: Christ the Rock: Spiritual Warfare & The Battle with Amalek