Why we need a Savior : Sin, Judgment, and Redemption

The story of Christ is the story of sacrifice, redemption, and the unbearable weight of judgment. It is not merely about a historical figure or a theological construct—it is about the deepest existential struggle of humanity: how we contend with reality, with our failures, and with the unattainable ideal of moral perfection.

To understand why Christ took the burden, we must explore the profound psychological and spiritual implications of His sacrifice. At the core of this mystery lies a fundamental truth: if the highest ideal stands as a judge, men are doomed. If the moral perfection of God is imposed as an unyielding standard, we are reduced to nothingness. Christ’s burden was not just the weight of the cross, but the burden of resolving this contradiction—of allowing men to strive toward the highest good while carrying their inevitable imperfection.

The Unattainable Ideal and the Crushing Judgment

At the heart of Christian morality is the recognition that there exists an absolute Good—a transcendent moral order that represents truth, justice, love, and perfection. But herein lies the problem: this ideal is so high that no one can ever reach it.

If the moral standard was applied with absolute rigidity, no human being could stand. Every flaw, every failure, every compromise would be a condemnation. In such a framework, judgment becomes unbearable because the slightest imperfection is sufficient for complete moral failure.

This is why scripture emphasizes that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). The human condition is defined by an inherent limitation—our inability to be perfect while having the moral awareness that perfection is what should be pursued.

The Judge Who Reduces to Nothingness

If God were only a judge, then His righteousness would destroy us. The closer we get to the ideal, the more painfully aware we become of our shortcomings. If justice were absolute with no mercy, there would be no way forward—only despair.

Christ understood that men had to contend with the difficulty of reality. In reality, we must act, we must make choices, and we must do so in the face of uncertainty, weakness, and sin. To live is to err, and yet to err is to fall short of what is Good. This is the tragic paradox of human existence.

If we are judged by an unyielding standard without redemption, then life becomes unbearable. In such a world, the only logical conclusion is nihilism, because no effort is sufficient, and no one is worthy.

Why We Are Sinners: The Necessity of Sin in a Broken World

Sin is often misunderstood. It is not simply a list of wrongdoings—it is the unavoidable consequence of navigating a world where every choice carries an imperfection.

1. Sin as the Price of Engagement with Reality

To live is to be forced to choose. Every action, no matter how well-intended, carries consequences. To be in the world means to make compromises, to prioritize some values over others, to risk failure and harm.

No man can exist without sinning in some way—because reality is structured in such a way that every move forward requires an imperfection. That is why sin is inevitable. That is why we are sinners.

2. Why Real Morality Requires the Capacity for Sin

In many ways, those who are purely “moral” in the sense of being harmless or incapable of sin are often seen as weak, naive, or even ineffective in the real world. This is because true morality isn’t just about avoiding wrongdoing—it’s about having the capacity for destruction but choosing to restrain it.

Jordan Peterson often talks about this in the context of the biblical idea of meekness. The word “meek” in the Bible (like in the meek shall inherit the earth) doesn’t mean weak—it means “those who have swords and know how to use them, but keep them sheathed.”

A person who is “moral” only because they are incapable of doing harm is not truly moral—they’re just harmless. True virtue requires having power, the ability to sin, to do evil, and yet choosing not to. That’s why figures like Christ, who willingly take on suffering and responsibility rather than avoiding it, are so compelling. They aren’t weak; they are the ones who could judge and destroy, yet they choose grace.

This is also why stories often depict truly moral characters as struggling. They face temptation, the burden of judgment, and the challenge of power. A man who never sins simply because he is too weak to act isn’t admirable. A man who can sin but consciously chooses to do good—that’s where true strength lies.

3. Externalizing Our Sin: The Role of Christ

If every man is guilty, if every action carries a stain, then how can we be free? The answer lies in externalization—Christ takes the burden that we cannot bear.

The concept of sacrifice in Christianity is not merely symbolic. It is an ontological necessity. In order for man to continue striving toward the Good without being crushed by his own failure, the burden must be transferred. Christ becomes the scapegoat—the one who absorbs the judgment so that men can continue to strive without being obliterated by their own shortcomings.

This is why Christ’s crucifixion is central to salvation. He does not merely die as a martyr; He takes upon Himself the full consequence of the moral law. He becomes sin itself, suffering the ultimate penalty so that humanity can be redeemed. As Paul writes:

“God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

The Alternative: A World Without Redemption

What would the world look like if Christ had not taken the burden?

1. A Universe of Pure Judgment

If the highest ideal remains only as a judge, then life becomes a courtroom where every action is weighed and condemned. There is no path forward—only the certainty of failure.

2. The Birth of Nihilism

If men are left to bear their own guilt without the possibility of redemption, then despair becomes the only rational response. We would have no reason to strive, no way to atone, and no way to reconcile our imperfections with our knowledge of what is Good.

3. The Tyranny of Self-Righteousness

In a world without externalized sin, people attempt to justify themselves by shifting blame onto others. If there is no sacrifice, there is only scapegoating—condemning others to avoid facing our own guilt.

This is the dark alternative: a world of relentless judgment, where men either collapse under their own sin or attempt to purge it by destroying others.

Conclusion: The Path of Grace and Redemption

Christ’s sacrifice resolves the unbearable contradiction of human morality. He allows us to strive for the highest ideal without being crushed by its weight. He takes upon Himself the judgment that would otherwise reduce us to nothingness.

This is not a free pass to sin but a recognition of the reality of the human condition. We must engage with life, make choices, and inevitably fall short. But because Christ bears the burden, we are not condemned—we are given the grace to rise again, to learn, and to strive once more.

This is why Christ took the burden: because without Him, the moral weight of reality would destroy us. But with Him, we can walk the path of transformation, knowing that even in our failures, redemption is possible.