Which biblical verse emphasizes the necessity of Christ's death for justification?

The verse in Romans 4:25 emphasizes the necessity of Christ's death for justification by stating that Jesus was "delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification." This highlights the foundational Christian belief that Jesus’ sacrificial death is essential for the atonement of sins. In Christian theology, justification refers to being declared righteous in the sight of God, which is made possible through Christ's death and resurrection. The explicit connection made in this verse underscores that without His death, there would be no means to achieve justification before God.

In contrast, John 3:16 speaks to the love of God in giving His Son for the world’s salvation but does not specifically address the concept of justification. Matthew 5:8 speaks to the purity of heart and does not mention the role of Christ’s death related to justification. Luke 1:37 highlights the power of God but does not connect to the specific idea of justification through Christ’s sacrifice. Thus, Romans 4:25 uniquely captures the concept that the death of Christ is central to the justification for believers, making it the correct answer.