FRIEND OF GOD

Sermon Text: John 15:9-17

Introduction:

“I am a Friend of God” this is the song we hear very commonly in all the churches which is written by “Hillsong”. Anyone can claim themselves as friends to God; my question today is that, “Can Jesus call you as His Friend.” It is a great honor when a president or Prime Minister calls someone as my friend that would be a great honor than someone calls the leader as his friend. Jesus in this passage says, “you are my Friends, if you do what I command you. (v.14)”

Today we see lot of positive and negative examples for friendship in the daily news. Due to the arrival of social medias and internet maintaining friendship became very easy. The comfort in the passage we saw above was spoken by Jesus before his passion event. This is the time the disciples were much discouraged because Jesus said that He is going to the Father (John 14), the disciples thought that they are going to be left alone. Jesus comforted the disciples through this passage that “He is no more their Master but Friend. (v.15)”

Proverbs 17:17 says, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” Friend is someone to whom we share all our innermost secrets. Jesus by calling himself as a friend to the disciples try to say that “A Master” is someone who is beyond approach (since there was slavery in the time of Jesus, the word “kurios” – means Master who has slaves) but a friend who is more intimate than anyone in the world. 

John 15:14, Jesus said, “You are My friends if you do what I command you.” Jewish community basically believed the 10 Commandments given by Moses, other than that there are 510+ sub commandments given in the scriptures. In later day Jewish groups such as Scribes, Pharisees and Sadducees made the commandments numerous than originally it was. The commandments of Jesus are simple they are based on the foundation of “LOVE”

Jesus summarized the Ten Commandments into two in Matt 22:36-40, i.e Love the Lord (Which is the summary of first FOUR commandments given through Moses in Exodus 20) and Love the neighbors (Which is the later SIX in Mosaic commandments). Jesus always had one thing in mind that is to reduce the burden of people which they were carrying so long. I have summarized the four major parts involved in the commandments of Jesus.

If anyone wants to be a friend to Jesus, the requirement is to do the commandments which are prescribed by Jesus Christ. It is not the way of sending friendship request to someone in facebook, even we send a request the requirement from the side of Jesus is “Do My Commandments!” The first part of the verse is quiet interesting that, “You are my Friends…” that would seem like good news to everyone but the requirement comes second, that is to do/follow His commandments.

1. Command To Love One Another: (John 13:34-35)

The word love is repeated in all the books of the New Testament, which prove the importance of Love in the view of Jesus. John, the disciple of Jesus is known to be the beloved disciple – in all his writings we see the His intention to emphasis the Love of God which must lead us to love one another. The first and foremost command in the view of Jesus is love; the lack of love leads the world into disorder, hatred, anger, vengeance, jealousy and disunity. When there is love all the differences among the people vanish away.

John 13:34-35 Jesus gave a new commandment to the disciples that is love one another (v 34); He compared this love to the love he showed upon them. “A new command I give you: love one another, as I have loved you, so you must love one another”. The disciples must display the love of Jesus to the future generation to make them friends of God.

1 John 4: 18-21 we see the description of that divine love. This love is not just words but actions in truth, this love do not have fear of judgment. We see a perfect love and phony love. The one who love God must love people too. The love for God is always leading us to love people. The friendship in the world foundationally depending on love from both sides, so also if anyone wants to be a friend to Jesus must follow the basic commandment “Love One Another.”

2. Command To Forgive One Another: (Eph 4:31-32)

The command of loving one another is leading us to “Forgive One Another.”  In Eph 4:17-32 is speaking in the context of living us children of light. In this passage we see the characteristics which make the ordinary people as children of God. Vv.25-31 speaks of the attitudes which grieve the spirit of God; Paul is turning the believers’ attention to live as the children of light in verse 32.

V 32, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you.” It is not option to believers but a command from the Lord. Kindness leads into forgiveness which is an act of love.  Love leads to forgiveness. Since God loved the world (John 3:16), Jesus forgave the people even in the cross (Luke 23:34).

Jesus in several occasions commanded the disciples to forgive others, in Lord’s prayer (Mat 6:12), If someone do not forgive others they shall not be forgiven (Mat 6:15). Forgiveness is the prime part in friendship, without forgiving others it is not possible to have strong friendship.

Col 3:13 Paul encouraged the Colossians to bear with each others and forgive whatever grievances you have with others,  Forgive as the Lord forgave you. It is counted as a virtue of love, a binding element for perfect unity. Therefore Jesus commanded the believers to forgive one another. When someone forgives others unconditionally, they prove that they observe the commandments of God – Eventually the Friend of God.

3.  Command To Accept One Another (Rom 15:7)

A true friendship is all about accepting others in spite of many differences among them. There cannot be true friendship if someone don’t accept others wholeheartedly. We see lot of strange friendships in the history even though there is lot of physical differences. The command of Christ is to accept one another in a way Christ accepted the deadly sinners (People in the world).

Accepting others bring glory to God (v 7). In a way this is the third step in the friendship. Love leads to forgiveness which leads to acceptance. We hear a lot in these days, people merely say they forgive others but don’t accept them – This is not a true forgiveness or acceptance.

Whether we like it or not the truth remains the same which is the commandment of Christ urges us to accept others. There cannot be a friendship without acceptance; Jesus wants to call us as his friends only when we accept others.

4.  Command To Encourage Each Other: (1 Thes. 4:18)

Friendship does not end with acceptance but care through the action of encouragement and comfort. A well-known proverb says, “A friend in need is a friend indeed”. Jesus took care of his disciples so that he encouraged them in the time of discouragement and hopelessness. John 14: 1-3 is a key passage where Jesus encouraged the disciples by saying, “I will not let you as orphans. (Jn. 14:18)”

Friendship laid in the foundation of sacrifice and care, encouragement is a key part of showing friendship in the form of action. A true friend encourages and comforts others in the time of need. This is the commandment of Jesus to encourage each other. When you encourage and comfort others in the time of their need, you prove that “You are a Friend to God.”

Conclusion:

Do you want to be a friend of Jesus? It is simple but requires lot of efforts from us to love, forgive, accept and encourage one another in a way Jesus showed examples. We‘ve got a supreme teacher who practiced through His actions and taught others. When we do these commandments, Jesus calls us as his friends (John 15:14). Let us live up to the standard which God expects in us. Let Jesus be our True and Forever friend.

Michael W Smith sings in his “Friends” song as follows,

“And friends are friends forever
If the Lord's the Lord of them
And a friend will not say never
'Cause the welcome will not end
Though it's hard to let you go
In the Father's hands we know
That a lifetime's not too long to live as friends”

Happy friendship Day!

(This Sermon Was Preached By Pr. Asap Singh @ IGL New Life Church on August 2, 2015)

asapsingh@gmail.com