Historical Posts
I Will Be a Friend to Jesus
Introduction
A. There are all kinds of friends: old, new, close, distant, and even best friends.
B. Perhaps some friends seem better than others. What makes a good friend?
C. To whom shall we be a friend?
Body
I. We must be a true friend.
A. A friend loves at all times (Proverbs 17:17).
B. “A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24).”
C. “Every man is a friend to one who gives gifts (Proverbs 19:6).”
D. The king will be a friend to one who “loves purity of heart and has grace on his lips (Proverbs 22:11).”
E. A friend gives hearty counsel, does not forsake another, and sharpens his countenance (Proverbs 27:9-10,17).
F. A friend is trustworthy (Micah 7:5-7; Jeremiah 9:4-6).
II. We must follow the example of true friends.
A. Abraham was called the friend of God (2 Chronicles 20:7; Isaiah 41:8; James 2:23; Genesis 15:6).
B. Pilate was accused of not being a friend to Caesar by wanting to let Jesus go (John 19:12).
C. Was Judas truly a friend of Jesus (Matthew 26:47-50; Psalm 41:9; 55:12-13)?
D. Was Peter truly a friend of Jesus (Matthew 26:31-35,69-75)?
E. Paul became a friend to all that he might save some (1 Corinthians 9:19-22).
F. Perhaps the best example of a true Friend is Jesus (Matthew 11:19; 9:9-13).
III. We must choose our friends wisely.
A. We are a friend to Jesus if we keep His commandments (John 15:9-17).
B. To be a friend to Jesus, we cannot be a friend of the world (James 4:4; 1 John 2:15-17; Galatians 1:4; 6:14; Luke 16:13).
Conclusion
A. To be a true friend to Jesus, we must understand what it truly means to be a friend.
B. He showed us how to be a friend, and we must follow His example.
C. We must choose to be His friend, and not to be a friend of the world, by following His commandments.
Salvation: Hear - Believe - Repent - Confess - Be Baptized - Live Faithfully
Content by Richard Dillon
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Choose Your Friends Wisely
A person’s friends can reveal a lot about him. By associating with good people, a person becomes better; by associating with bad people, a person might get into trouble. It is always a struggle to see who has more influence: a person, or his friends.
The wise man wrote, “He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed (Proverbs 13:20).” He tells us that it is easier for others to influence us, rather than us to influence them. By associating ourselves with God’s people, we can be influenced for good and set better examples for the world. On the other hand, if we closely associate ourselves with those who do not live the kinds of lives that Christ would approve of, we can easily become corrupt.
The apostle Paul acknowledged, “Do not be deceived: ‘Evil company corrupts good habits (1 Corinthians 15:33).’” Earlier, he told the Corinthians and Galatians, “…Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump (1 Corinthians 5:6; Galatians 5:9)?” Just as others can influence us for evil, we should try to influence others for good!
Let us pick good friends, and be a good friend to others. Perhaps by doing something good, we can lead lost souls to Christ. Is He your friend? After all, we are friends of Christ if we do whatever He commands us (John 15:14).
Content by Richard Dillon
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A Friend of the Father
Thanks to Johnny O. Trail from the Sycamore Chapel Church of Christ for the content of this post.
Scripture calls Abraham a “friend of God.”
One such characterization is made of Abraham in James 2:21-24. The verses say, “Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness” – and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.” This description of Abraham is more significant than we sometimes think. The implication is that God was proud to call Abraham His friend.
Would God be proud to call you his friend?
A friend is “somebody who trusts and is fond of another.” “Somebody who thinks well of or is on good terms with somebody else.” Does God think well of you? Are you on good terms with Him? These thoughts are worthy of much consideration.
James’ words in James 2:21-24 could very well be an allusion to 2 Chronicles 20:7 which says, “Did you not, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?” This passage promises to give the land to the descendants of Abraham. Again, Abraham is called God’s friend, but why?
Abraham was God’s friend because he was obedient to God’s commands.
Genesis 22:1-2 says, “After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” One would imagine that there was much trepidation that went along with this commandment. After all, this was Abraham’s only son according to the covenant promise of God. Moreover, there was an emotional toil that went along with this commandment from Jehovah. Most parents could not imagine being put in such a situation, but Abraham was.
It is incredible to consider, but Abraham was completely obedient to God’s will.
Genesis 22:9-12 “When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” God knew that Abraham was faithful, because he followed through with the commandment of God, knowing God was his friend. By the same token, God knows that we are faithful and are His friend when we follow through with all of His commandments – not just the ones we chose to obey.
Scripture teaches that obedience and faith are inseparably linked.
Hebrews 11:8; 17-19 says, “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going…. By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.” Abraham’s life was characterized by faithful works of obedience. If one wants God to call him His friend, he must be faithfully obedient to His commandments.
All people should want to be counted among God’s friends.
How does one do this?
John 15:14 says, “You are my friends if you do what I command you.” Once again, the importance of obeying God’s commands is underscored in this passage. The disobedient cannot be saved or counted among God’s friends.
Jesus is the Author, Source, Architect, and Originator of our salvation.
Who can be saved?
Only the obedient have the expectation of eternal life. Hebrews 5:8-9 says, “Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him.” That is, Jesus learned the cost of obedience which was death upon a Roman cross at Calvary.
One must be obedient to the gospel in order to have eternal life.
2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 says, “In flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might.” The obedient will be a friend of God and obey the gospel, but what is the gospel?
Simply stated, the gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4, teaches, “Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you – unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.” How does one obey the gospel?
One obeys the gospel at the point of baptism. Romans 6:1-4 “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” Notice from these passages that baptism is likened unto a death, burial, and resurrection.
Would you be a friend of the Father?
If you would be His friend, you need to submit in faithful obedience to His will by observing and practicing all of His commands. All other friendships are worthless if God is not able to call us His friend.
Johnny O. Trail preaches at the Sycamore Chapel Church of Christ
2699 Old Clarksville Pike
Ashland City, TN 37015
615-746-8624
Content by Zachary Van Tassel
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Galatians 04:16-20 True Friends and False Friends
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Text: Galatians 4:16-20
Introduction
1. Friends can be a wonderful blessing
a. A source of comfort in times good and bad – Proverbs 17:17
b. A source of good counsel – Proverbs 27:9
2. It is not always easy to know who your true friends are
a. Sometimes a true friend tells you what you don’t want to hear
b. Sometimes a false friend tells you what you do want to hear
3. In writing to the Galatians, Paul found it necessary to remind them of that truth
a. As he defended the gospel of justification by faith in Christ
b. As he battled against the influence of those who sought to bind the Law of Moses
Body
I. TRUE FRIENDS SAY WHAT YOU NEED TO HEAR
A. THEY WILL TELL YOU THE TRUTH
1. Even if it makes them your enemy – Galatians 4:16
2. Even when the tone hurts – Galatians 4:20
3. Paul had been a true friend to his brethren
B. YOU NEED TRUE FRIENDS
1. When hearing the gospel of Christ
a. Who will tell you the full gospel as preached by Christ and His apostles – Mark 16:15-16
b. Not just what is popularly believed, or what may appeal to our sensitivities – Galatians 1:8-9
2. When growing in grace
a. Who will tell us of the need to grow, and the danger of apostasy – 2 Peter 3:17-18
b. Not just tickling our ears with things we enjoy hearing – 2 Timothy 4:3-4
3. When drifting from God
a. As Paul reached out to the Galatians in our text – Galatians 4:19-20
b. As Paul encouraged them to do the same to others – Galatians 6:1
4. Do we appreciate the value of such friends in our lives?
C. HEED THE WISDOM OF DAVID AND SOLOMON
1. “Let the righteous strike me; it shall be a kindness. And let him rebuke me; it shall be as excellent oil; let my head not refuse it.” – Psalm 141:5a
2. “Poverty and shame will come to him who disdains correction, but he who regards a rebuke will be honored.” – Proverbs 13:18
3. “The ear that hears the rebukes of life will abide among the wise. He who disdains instruction despises his own soul, but he who heeds rebuke gets understanding.” – Proverbs 15:31-32
4. “Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold is a wise rebuker to an obedient ear.” – Proverbs 25:12
5. May we always appreciate the value of true friends.
II. FALSE FRIENDS SAY WHAT THEY WANT YOU TO HEAR
A. THEY WILL TELL YOU WHAT THEY WANT
1. When it makes you on their side – Galatians 4:17
2. When you have something they want – cf. Galatians 6:12-13
3. The Judaizing teachers were not true friends of the Galatians
B. YOU NEED TO BEWARE OF FALSE FRIENDS
1. When you are being courted with zeal
a. Their motives may not be right – Galatians 4:17; cf. Romans 16:17-18
b. Their knowledge may be wrong – cf. Romans 10:1-2
2. When you are being manipulated
a. As the false teachers were trying to manipulate the Galatians – Galatians 4:17
b. A tactic first used by Satan, and since by many others – 2 Corinthians 11:3,13-15; 2 Peter 2:1-3
3. When you are pursued only in their presence
a. Paul sought their devotion even in his absence – Galatians 4:18; Philippians 1:27; 2:12
b. False friends often forget about you when they are no longer with you
4. Do we appreciate the danger of the wrong kind of friends?
C. HEED THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON
1. “Fervent lips with a wicked heart are like earthenware covered with silver dross. He who hates, disguises it with his lips, and lays up deceit within himself; when he speaks kindly, do not believe him, for there are seven abominations in his heart; though his hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness will be revealed before the assembly.” – Proverbs 26:23-26
2. “Open rebuke is better than love carefully concealed. Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” – Proverbs 27:5-6
Conclusion
1. Many people have been led astray by the wrong kind of friends
a. Good habits have been corrupted by bad company – 1 Corinthians 15:33
b. Immature Christians have been tossed around by cunning and deceitful teachers – Ephesians 4:14
2. May we learn from the interaction between Paul and the Galatians
a. True friends say what you need to hear
b. False friends say what they want you to hear
3. Speaking of true friends, the greatest friend we can have is Jesus – John 15:13-14
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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John 15:09-17 True Friendship – audio
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Text: John 15:9-17
I. What are the characteristics of a friend?
A. One who loves at all times (Proverbs 17:17)
B. Shows himself friendly and sticks closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24)
C. Gives gifts (Proverbs 19:6)
D. Loves purity of heart and has grace on his lips (Proverbs 22:11)
E. Gives hearty counsel, is not forsaken, and sharpens the countenance of another (Proverbs 27:9-10, 17)
II. Can we always trust our friends?
A. Do not trust them nor put confidence in them; rather, trust in God (Micah 7:5-7)
B. They are deceitful and speak lies, refusing to know God (Jeremiah 9:4-6)
III. Jesus was a friend…
A. …to tax collectors and sinners (Matthew 11:19; 9:9-13)
B. …as was Paul (1 Corinthians 9:19-22)
IV. Abraham was a friend of God (2 Chronicles 20:7; Isaiah 41:8; James 2:23; Genesis 15:6)
V. Was Judas a friend to Jesus?
A. Jesus called him “friend” after he betrayed Him with a kiss (Matthew 26:47-50)
B. A friend does not betray another (Psalm 41:9; 55:12-13)
VI. Was Peter a friend to Jesus?
A. Peter claimed that he would not deny Him, even if he had to die with Him (Matthew 26:31-35)
B. He denied Him three times before the rooster crowed, as Jesus said (Matthew 26:69-75)
VII. The Jews accused Pilate of not being a friend to Caesar because he allowed Jesus to call Himself a king (John 19:12)
VIII. Are we friends to Jesus?
A. We are if we keep His commandments (John 15:9-17)
B. Friendship with the world is enmity against God (James 4:4; 1 John 2:15-17; Galatians 1:4; 6:14)
Content by Richard Dillon
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