When we are far from God, how does he restore us to himself? - Restoration - TouchPoints

Romans 5:10-11, 19For since we were restored to friendship with God by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be delivered from eternal punishment by his life. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God—all because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done for us in making us friends of God . . . Because one person disobeyed God, many people became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many people will be made right in God’s sight.

1 Corinthians 15:21-22So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life.

Ephesians 2:13But now you belong to Christ Jesus. Though you once were far away from God, now you have been brought near to him because of the blood of Christ.

Colossians 1:20-22You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions, yet now he has brought you back as his friends. He has done this through his death on the cross in his own human body. As a result, he has brought you into the very presence of God, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.

Colossians 2:14He canceled the record that contained the charges against us. He took it and destroyed it by nailing it to Christ’s cross.

1 Timothy 2:5For, There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus.

Acts 13:38-39Brothers, listen! In this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins. Everyone who believes in him is freed from all guilt and declared right with God . . .

Sin separates us from God, and the Bible is clear that everyone has sinned (Romans 3:23). The Bible is also clear that as long as we remain separated from God, we cannot experience a relationship with him. And if we die on this earth without a relationship with him, we are separated from him forever in hell. This is called eternal death, and it is the consequence of sinning against a perfectly holy God. That is why God sent his Son, Jesus, to die in our place. He took the punishment for our sins so we wouldn’t have to, and gave us the opportunity to get rid of our sinful nature. When God raised Jesus from the dead it proved his power over sin, and gave us complete confidence in his promise that we can have eternal life with him. So when we believe that Jesus died for our sins and was raised from the dead, and when we confess our sins and ask God to forgive us and then commit ourselves to obeying him, we are restored to fellowship with him both now and forever.