Temple Baptist Church - 4-24-2024
John 15:12-17
Introduction:
A. Another great benefit of abiding in Christ is that of friendship with Christ. I find this amazing as we consider just Who this Friend is. Three times in these three verses, Jesus Christ called His children friends!
1. Someone once said that if you end up with 5 True Friends in a lifetime, you are wealthy.
2. Here, we fine the possibility of having Jesus Christ as our Friend.
B. The Value of our Friend.
1. Our Friend is Almighty Jehovah God, Creator and Sustainer of all things. Our Friend created us for His pleasure and fellowship.
John 1:1-4 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (2) The same was in the beginning with God. (3) All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. (4) In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
2. Our Friend became our Propitiation. Our Friend died in our place, bearing our sin and our shame. He gave His life as He became sin for us Who knew no sin that we might be made the righteous of God in Him.
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
3. Our Friend is our Mediator between us and God the Father. Our Friend makes peace between God the Father and us.
1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
4. Our Friend is our Advocate with God the Father. Our Friend speaks on our behalf when we cannot speak for ourselves.
1 John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
5. Our Friend is our High Priest. Our Friend continually cleanses us from all sin and defilement with His own blood.
Hebrews 7:25-26 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. (26) For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
6. Our Friend is our soon coming King of kings and Lord of lords. Our Friend said that if He would go away, He would come again and take us home with Him. When He comes back to set up His Kingdom, He will bring us with Him to rule and reign.
Revelation 19:11-16 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. (12) His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. (13) And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. (14) And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. (15) And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. (16) And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
C. And people relish friends in high places? We have the Almighty, completely Sovereign, All Knowing, owns Everything, can do Anything, can Forgive anything God who just happens to Love us.
D. True friendship is a valuable and rare commodity! We make many acquaintances as we pass through this life, but only very few true and genuine friends. In this passage, Jesus reveals something about the nature of His friendship with His people. When you have Him for your Friend, you have discovered a friendship that knows no limits. He is, by definition, the ultimate Friend.
Proverbs 18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
E. In a true friendship, there must be:
1. Investment. While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. The greatest love ever shown was at Calvary. There has never been a greater, nobler, or more costly display of love than that selfless moment when Jesus died for us on the cross.
2. Intimacy. These disciples were Christ’s inner circle. They were privy to the most intimate discussions and sharing that only Christ could give. True friends have a very personal and close relationship with each other. A closeness that makes for personal sharing of our thoughts and lives.
2 Samuel 1:26 I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.
3. Involvement. These disciples could share their inner most thoughts, fears, and cares with Christ. Friends deeply care for what their friends care for. Someone once said, “A burden shared is half a burden!” There is more to intimate sharing than just listening.
John 11:33-35 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, (34) And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. (35) Jesus wept.
F. The Values of a having Christ as your True Friend:
1. A true friend loves at all times. Unconditional love.
Proverbs 17:17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Psalms 41:9-10 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me. (10) But thou, O LORD, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them.
2. A true friend always builds you up and never tears you down.
1 Corinthians 15:33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
3. A true friend is always standing by you. Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Psalms 27:9-10 Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation. (10) When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.
4. A true friend cares deeply about you.
Hebrews 4:15-16 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (16) Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
5. A true friend makes you a better person.
Proverbs 27:17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
6. A true friend gives you godly counsel.
Proverbs 27:9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.
Isaiah 25:1 O LORD, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.
7. A true friend will tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear.
Proverbs 27:6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
Ephesians 3:20-21 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, (21) Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
8. A true friend gave his life for us. When I think of this, I think of the Medal of Honor, our nation’s highest military award for valor. Due to the nature of this medal, it is commonly presented posthumously.
John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Conclusion: What a Friend we have in Jesus! He gave His all for His Friends!
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