The Importance of Faith in Jesus

The word God means different things to different people and it always has done in the ancient world. If you take Jesus out of the picture, then the word Christian simply wouldn't mean the same thing at all. Matt asks, love all you do, podcast and books. It's about forgiveness. Did Jesus need to die on the cross in order for the sins that he forgave beforehand to be forgiven? And I've heard it is his death that forgives them.