God's Part: Scriptural Foundations
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The Bible teaches that God loves us and desires to have a relationship with us, but our sin separates us from Him. No matter how hard we try, we cannot remedy this separation on our own. Fortunately, God has provided the solution. In this activity, we look at several of the scriptural foundations behind this reality.
Created for Fellowship
The Bible often references God's desire for fellowship with humans. We see in Genesis 1:26-27 that we were created with his likeness. We see in Jeremiah 29:12-13 that God listens to us when we call upon him. Psalm 50:15 indicates that he will be present for us in times of trouble. And Matthew 7:7-8 demonstrates his desire for us to come to inquire of him as he stands ready to answer.
Sin Creates Separation
The scriptures tell us that "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Further, we are made aware that sin has resulted in separation. God is holy, and for this reason, he cannot have sin before him: "But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. (Isaiah 59:2). Indeed, it is an eternal separation, for "the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Simultaneously, we also recognize that God is "abounding in love" (Psalm 103:8).
The Need for a Savior
No matter how hard we try, we cannot remedy this separation on our own: "know that a person is not justified by the works of the law" (Galatians 2:16). We "all fall short of the gloary of God" (Romans 3:23).
God's Solution
God, in his love, saw fit to provide the solution himself. "This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." (1 John 4:9-10) In other words, Jesus died on the cross to take the punishment we deserve, due to sin. He has become the bridge by which we can cross over into eternal life in heaven with God the Father.