According to Christian doctrine, Jesus was necessary to save us from our sins, and hell (due to origional sin). So, am i to understand that pre-Jesus people had predetermined fates? No free will (or, atleast it didnt matter because of predetermined fate)?

If free will was given to humans from day 1 (another Christian doctrine), then why was Jesus necessary? Was Jesus meant to be a shortcut to bypass leading a sinfull life?

Side note: Jesus went through a horrible death to save humanity from its sins. How is his death any more important than the thousands of others who have been tortured to death? Why is his death glorified while the persecuted early Christians are forgotten? And those people practically volunteered to die!!!

I know the bible like the back of my hand, but i cant figure this out. If a more highly educated Christian could help me out, that would be awesome.