I am reading Colossians 2:13-14. Does God have to sacrifice Jesus on the Cross for our sins? We learned are that our sins separated us from God (Isaiah 59:1-2) and the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Jesus died on our behalf. You have explained in one of your Q&As that each sin is different -- some are more serious than others. Suppose one has only committed a few very minor sins (e.g. gossip). In that case, is the wages of "gossip" also death? Is it necessary for Jesus to die for the gossiper, in the perspective of God? --Andy Yung

Any sin separates a non-Christian from God. Even a "little" sin--whether committed a million times or just once--brings damnation. Sins are not different as to how wrong they are, but rather in their consequences, impact, and gravity. All sins are wrong, and can lead one to be lost.

Of course Jesus does not die each time we sin. Hebrews 7 and 9 affirm that his sacrifice was unique, a one-time offering. He died once. He does not die every time we sin, though we surely depend on his sacrificial death day by day and moment by moment as we strive to live in the presence of God.

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