ONE OF your more regular contributors finds it difficult to grasp how Christ’s vicarious sacrifice was necessary to atone for the sin of mankind (Letters, January 27).

Perhaps I can help.

It’s natural for us to want to settle our own debts to maintain our dignity. But because of our inherent sin nature, neither all our good works nor our religion can purchase our redemption from a holy and just God.

This is why, God in his mercy, paid the penalty for us in Christ. What we couldn’t do, He did. ‘This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.’ (1 John, 4, 10) Awesome!

R. H. Aston Woodland Place Blackwood