Understanding the Necessity of Jesus' Death

Many Christians assert that Jesus had to die for humanity's sins due to God's justice and righteousness, claiming that sin merits punishment. However, this perspective misinterprets divine justice, as God, in His sovereignty, is not bound by external standards and can forgive without compromising His holiness. St. Thomas Aquinas elaborates that God could simply choose to forgive sin without the necessity of Christ's sacrificial death, thereby highlighting an inherent misunderstanding of how divine justice operates. The discussion emphasizes that God's ability to forgive stems from being the highest authority who can exercise mercy without violating justice, challenging the notion that justice must always manifest as punishment.