He Calls Us Friend, When!

He Calls Us Friend, When!

Truths to Enjoying the Lord’s Friendship

In John 15:10-17, Jesus presents the truths to enjoying being a friend of Christ. Our Lord spoke forth the elements of being a child of God which, involves living in a reverent fear of God, living as Jesus is their Friend and walking in step with the Holy Spirit of Christ. The Bible says, “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.”

Richard Baxter quoted a poem written by an unknown author, “Lord, it belongs not to my care whether I die or live. To love Thee is my share. And this Thy grace must give. If life be long, I will be glad. That I may live long to obey. If short – yet why should I be sad, to soar to endless days? Christ leads me through no darker rooms than He went through before me. [Too anyone] that God’s Kingdom comes, must be maintained through [obedience.]” (Galaxie Software (2002) 10,000 Sermon Illustrations Biblical Studies Press,)

Jesus Sets the Example

Jesus begins with telling us a truth He lived by, “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. In a modern-day phrase – Jesus lived out on this earth what He commands us to do so we may enjoy what God and Christ’s had in their relationship. It is a relationship which is founded on being obedient. Jesus lived out what He taught and we are expected to do the same. No obedience – no joy – Obedience is a key element to living a joyful life with Christ. The Lord is not moved by our successes or our proclaimed motivations, but by our trusting and seeking Him to enable us to walk in obedience to His call upon our lives. In Philippians we read, “And being found in the appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:8) The prophet Isaiah wrote, “Therefore, I will give Him a portion among the great, and He will divide the spoils with the strong, because He poured out His life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” (NIV – Isaiah 53:12)

If the Holy Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead resides in us (Romans 8:11), then living a life of obedience is a possibility for us.

Chosen and Appointed

Enjoying the Lord’s friendship is not like us choosing a club house, us choosing a group of people we like hanging out with or us deciding – I will try this Christ movement ideology out. Jesus said, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide…”

Holy Spirit revelation leads the children of God to understand life in Christ is more than privilege, it is also finding your purpose. The word “abide” (µ??? méno) means to remain and live [out what we are called to do in our service to the Lord and mankind]. (Zodhiates, S. (2000). The complete word study dictionary: New Testament (electronic ed.). Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.) Jesus said we are to love one another. Love here (??ap?? agapáo) means finding our joy in something or someone [and it may require us disciplining our thoughts and actions.] When exercising our Spiritual gifts for the good of all of mankind in 1 Corinthians 12-14 the love there is a different Greek word (???p? agápe) which means an affectionate regard for the good will of whom we are serving. Both these types of love are in reference to God loving through us, doing what is best for those we are serving, not necessarily what that person desires. (Zodhiates, S. (2000). The complete word study dictionary: New Testament (electronic ed.). Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.)