Once Far Off - Now Brought Near

"Christ also suffered, once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring us to God." - 1 Peter 3:18

"But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ." - Ephesians 2:13 

Peter and Paul give us a double knock out punch of grace... in both these passages we see that a believer's status has changed from being unrighteous (Peter) 1 Peter 3:18 and far off (Paul) Ephesians 2:13, to being "brought near" to God. Peter and Paul both attest that this miraculous change of status is because of the suffering and blood of Christ. We who were away from God because of unrighteousness and sin are drawn in close to God through Christ... We who once were His enemies are now His friends... Once strangers - now family... For a believer, Jesus Christ has changed the conversation... From hostility and aloofness on our part and sacrificial love on God's part. Once we were far away from God... but He has brought us near... very near... REJOICE!