Why did Jesus need to die if we are able to obey Him and are born innocent?
The Blood of Christ had to be shed in order to redeem mans soul from the corrupting influence of sin that initially became enslaved through a choice (sin originates with a choice and becomes habitual through repetition). Yes, children are born with a clean slate, no knowledge and innocent, which means, if they die they are NOT condemned before God (Duet. 1:39; Isa. 7:15-16; Rom. 7:9). The Bible clearly teaches guilt is NOT transferred from the fathers to the sons -Ezk. 18:20, just like, it is impossible for Adams morally depraved nature to be inherited by his offspring. Adam provided an an example of disobedience to God, which can only be followed as opposed to inherited. Mans soul is fearfully and wonderfully created at the moment of conception by God in the womb of his mother and morally free to obey or disobey God at the age of reason (Jas. 4:17).
Unfortunately, due to the evil world around us and 'aimless conduct received by tradition (NOT birth) from our fathers' we all sin and fall short of the glory of God around the age of reason (This is a result of man submitting to his flesh as opposed to man being forced to sin by his human nature -- sin is in the submission to the passions NOT the temptation or desires themselves (Gen. 3:6 & Jas. 1:13-16). The Scripture says the 'wages of sin is death' and that the only way to be redeemed from this curse is to have the penalty remitted by a the precious Blood of Jesus that was without blemish and spot -- think of OT sacrifices (Heb. 9:22; 1 Pet. 1:19). Scripture says God made Christ who knew no sin (sinless) to be a sin -OFFERING for us so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Cor. 5:21). This confirms Christ is the LAMB of God that takes away the sin of the world (Jn. 1:29). This was done by His Blood (Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14), since if He literally became sin on the cross (as supposed by many) His Blood would have not been accepted by God for the sins of mankind because it would have lost its merit by being polluted with mans imputed sinfulness. Just the same if the sins of man were magically transferred to Jesus on the cross, He would still be punished in hell today for the sins of the elect! This is not taught in the OT or NT.
Therefore, Christ Blood provides the Grounds for our Salvation with God (Tit. 3:7), but man must meet the Conditions of repentance and faith in order to be reconciled (Acts 20:21). Man cannot save himself (meaning he cannot redeem his soul), but he has been given free agency by His Creator (as the early church affirmed!). In other words, God is not shown to teak or compel man to Salvation in the Bible, rather ability and willingness are located in the freedom of choice which God implanted in all men alike. Man cannot save himself by obeying God, yet God will not save man unless He 'obeys from his heart'! Jesus did NOT die to remedy a 'sinful nature' that gives people an excuse to wallow in the depths of depravity, rather, He sacrificed Himself to set us from OUR sin (as opposed to Adams original sin imputed to us) and restore us to the favor of God.
