‘Christ shed His blood for us *because* we are made in His image.’
what about those who preceded Christ; in whose image were they formed...?
Everyone--believer and non-believer, before Christ or after Christ--is made in His image.
>>>what about those who preceded Christ; in whose image were they formed...?<<<
They had a works-based religion which required the shedding of blood and strict obedience to the law. They had the Torah . . . those that did not had not because they rejected the blood sacrifices of Noah and his sons. This is what explains the lack of a Bible-based faith in many parts of our world.