A Friendship with a Purpose

I love how little kids make friends... They meet for the first time on a playground, 'Hey, you want to play tag?' - 'Sure!' - and now they're best friends. They don't care about the others 'net worth' or background or politics - they just play and they're friends. I think that's one of the reasons Jesus said we should become like children. When we grow up 'friendship' becomes a little more complicated, I suppose. But friendship - especially among believers - can be an amazing thing!

When we look at the problems of the world, the problems of our nation, the economy, the growing divide we see - things are kind of a mess. But there is an answer - and it's found in a friendship. One, specifically, that is life changing; something that many people never really even consider. And that is a...

I. Friendship with Jesus

And I'm not talking about 'religion,' but about a relationship, an actual friendship with Jesus. That's probably not something everyone has contemplated. But think about it - God, The All Powerful Creator of the Universe - The Supreme Being without beginning or end - why in the world would He be interested in calling me a friend? And I don't want to diminish God's glory or lessen any awe we're to feel in God's Holy presence - but Biblically speaking, God, in the person of Jesus wants you to be His friend.

In scripture, The Apostle John was referred to as 'the disciple whom Jesus loved'. What we see there is a deep friendship between Jesus and John. At Jesus' death, He even entrusted His own mother to the care of John. They were extremely close. I want to look at a handful of passages from John's writings, starting with this section where Jesus was speaking to His disciples...

John 15:9-17 (NIV)

This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. (9) As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. (10) If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. (11) I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. (12) My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

(13) Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. (14) You are my friends if you do what I command. (15) I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

(16) You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit - fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. (17) This is my command: Love each other.

Jesus told His followers that He considered them 'friends'. That's a big deal! Friends have a unique relationship that brings with it a special 'closeness' and bond. Friends can encourage and lift up in the bad times and share in the blessing and good fortune of their friends in the good times. Who wouldn't want to be friends with Jesus and enjoy all the benefits that come with that relationship?

One of the things I've really enjoyed watching the TV series "The Chosen" - it imagines what the developing friendships might have looked like. It helps you to see Jesus as a real person. I'd say that many people in today's world, our selves included, would like to be found on Jesus' list of close friends. However, most people seem to gloss over...

A. The big "if"

Jesus said, "You are my friends if you do what I command". Many people might want Jesus as their friend, but not as their Lord. And there's a big difference there. Many may want to enjoy the privileges of that friendship without any of the responsibilities. They want Jesus as their friend, but they don't want Him to make any demands on them or the way they live. But the offer of friendship is conditional according to scripture - many miss that.

We see Jesus' words earlier in John echoing that same theme in John 14:21 (NIV)...

Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.

"Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me." It's nice to think about Jesus loving us and being our friend. But when He starts making demands of us - that's when we get uncomfortable, or worse yet - some then simply ignore Him.

I know people who call themselves "Christian," who want to have the blessing of being friends with Jesus, but simply ignore the parts of the Bible that they don't agree with or like. They rationalize excuses for their actions, or think, 'Well, the Bible may say that, but times have changed.' Yes, times have changed, but God has not.

"Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me." What does that imply about us when we don't obey Him? You see, Jesus does desire a friendship with you, but...

B. For a purpose

One purpose - Jesus wants you to obey Him 'at all costs' and in all circumstances for your own good. If you follow what He commands, your life will go so much easier, and you will enjoy the benefits of having God's blessing in your life! One purpose of this friendship is to make your life blessed!

But many try to live their own way, the way they think is best in today's culture and circumstances. They arrange their priorities and family, and relationships, and even money and work in such a way that they feel best suits them - whether it matches up with scripture or not. And then they get upset when they end up with a mess. When we humble ourselves and follow His ways, life is so much better. He designed it to work His way!

And more importantly, Jesus has an even higher purpose for wanting to be your friend. His words, "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit - fruit that will last." Jesus has a purpose for your life and that purpose is to bear fruit, meaning to do good in this world to the glory of The Father. Let's go back to that first verse we read...

John 15:8 (NIV)

This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

Your life is not about you. There are many people who do a lot of 'good things', but if it's not focused on God's glory - it won't last. Where is your fruit? Are you content to occasionally bask in Jesus' friendship on a Sunday morning - or are you intentional about 'bearing' fruit to God's glory? There are many here who we can clearly see their fruit - they are always working and being a blessing to God's Kingdom and God's people! Are you one of those people? Am I one of those people?

When we don't choose to obey God, that's called sin. I know we'd rather not call it that, but sin is deliberate disobedience to the known will of God for whatever reason. When we choose to ignore God's Word and choose our own decisions instead, for our own personal reasons - we won't bear any fruit, which is our purpose!

If we aren't a blessing to God's Kingdom, if we aren't ever talking to anyone about Jesus outside of these walls - what does that say about our relationship with Him…? Jesus desires a genuine relationship, a friendship with us on the condition that we choose to obey His commands for His purposes. So, on the flip side, what should we expect...

C. ...If we don't?

What should we expect when we don't follow God's commands? Many expect no consequence. "God's a loving God; He just wants me to be happy." Yes, God is a loving God - but He's also a righteous God and a just God and what He really wants is for you to be faithful. - How can we expect to call ourselves 'friends of Jesus' - and enjoy the blessings that come with that relationship - if we ignore Him?

Now, it's important to acknowledge here that when Jesus died on the cross, He paid the price for our sin and wiped away the eternal consequences for that sin for those who accept Him. However, there are still consequences of sin. I've heard some preachers lament that they wish that God would just immediately strike down all the sinners in the world. I'm really glad that God doesn't do that - because I am one of those sinners, by definition.

But there's a reason that God doesn't just strike us dead and it's because of something that came when Jesus died on the cross. It's a beautiful thing I just talked about last week, and it's unique to the Christian faith - it's called grace. I've heard it said that mercy is when God doesn't give me the punishment that I deserve for my sin, and grace is when I do receive the gift of eternal life and the promise of Heaven on top of that. It's a pretty good deal, if you ask me.

Years ago I read a short article that really stuck with me. A man asked his preacher, "Can God really forgive me for any sin?" "Of course", the minister replied, "God can absolutely forgive any sin." "Even really things like adultery and murder?" "Yes, God gives us many examples in the Bible where He forgave His children. Paul even tells us that nothing can separate us from God's love."

The man continued, "Well, then, I need to ask you another question. I've fallen in love with another woman and I'm planning on leaving my wife for her. Will God forgive me for that?" The preacher replied simply, "No." Confused, the man protested, "But you just told me that God can forgive anything!" The preacher then told him, "God can forgive anything, but that doesn't mean He has to. God's not a fool."

I'm sure you've heard in the news and in politics, people are sometimes accused of 'playing the race card'. It's a tactic that steers the issue away from one thing to the sensitive issue of race. Sometimes Christians are guilty of playing the 'grace card'. We do whatever we want and then flash the 'grace card' - "Look God, I'm a baptized believer. I know I'm disobeying You, but I'm covered by Your grace! You have to forgive me!"

One preacher wrote, "We all agree that Jesus forgives us for our past sins, but did Jesus come so that we can continue to sin without guilt? Did Jesus come to set the captives free from guilt, or did He come to set us free from the bondage of sin and to destroy our sin?"

God wants to forgive us - that's the whole reason Jesus came to earth; to provide us a way to the Father. But there's a great deal to be said for repentance and obedience. Back to John's words again - but this time from 1 John 1:5-10 (NIV)...

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. (6) If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. (7) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

(8) If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. (9) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (10) If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

If we deny that the sin we're committing is wrong, or intentionally do something even though we know it's wrong and then have no remorse or intent to change, to repent - how can we call ourselves Christian?

1 John 2:3-6 (NIV)

We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. (4) The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. (5) But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: (6) Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.

Nowhere does it say that we have to be perfect to follow Christ. But it does say that we are to obey His commands. And when we stumble - we're to admit our sin as sin, stop doing that sin and if we don't fight against that sin going forward, we make Christ out to be a liar.

Now at this point I want to switch gears and to go back to an overarching theme that appears repeatedly in our texts today...

II. Love each other

Yes, there are some who are quick to point out sin in others lives - and when it's not done in love it usually pushes that person farther away from God. But obedience to God is always coupled with love for God and love for each other.

When Jesus was asked what was the greatest commandment - remember His reply? - "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'

If our first priority is 'loving God,' obeying Him will come a lot easier. And if our second priority is to truly 'love others', we'll learn to confront sin in our lives and to love each other with grace. John's words one more time...

1 John 5:1-5 (NIV)

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. (2) This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. (3) This is love for God: to obey his commands.

And his commands are not burdensome, (4) for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. (5) Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

So What?

When you think about John's friendship with Jesus - The Son of God - it's extraordinary! And that offer still stands for each of us. But you have to make a conscious choice - you choose God and fully embrace His Word for what it is, or you reject it. You choose to obey God and accept Jesus' offer of friendship or you choose to make your own rules and reject that friendship.

Christians are to measure themselves against God's Word, not the values and morals of the majority. It's not always easy or comfortable, but that's why Jesus told His disciples to pick up their cross daily and follow Him. If you claim to love God, you'll do your very best to obey everything He says.

Do you want a genuine friendship with Jesus? It's on His terms. How do you measure up according to the scriptures we read today? If there's anything in your life, your actions or attitudes, that doesn't match up with God's commands - humble yourself and make things right.

"This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did."