friends and brothers john 15:12-14 human friendship jesus, friend of sinners jesus’ spiritual...

Friends and BrothersJohn 15:12-14

Human Friendship

Jesus, Friend of Sinners

Jesus’ Spiritual Death

Friends of Jesus

Human Friendship “You are my friends” – human terms that

we can understand. Friendship is one of the greatest treasures

of this life. Jonathan and David Friends can even sacrifice their lives! But Jesus’ sacrifice is different!


Jesus, Friend of Sinners Jesus’ death surpasses anything we can

imagine in human terms of love. Jesus’ death is exceptional because

He did not have to die – John 14:6; Heb. 9:27


John 14:6 (NASB)6 Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and

the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”

Hebrews 9:27 (NASB)27 And inasmuch as it is appointed for men

to die once and after this comes judgment,



He did not have to die – John 14:6; Heb. 9:27 He knew He would die He calls us friends but we were anything but

friends when He died for us – Romans 5:8


Romans 5:8 (NASB)8 But God demonstrates His own love

toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.



He did not have to die – John 14:6; Heb. 9:27 He knew He would die He calls us friends but we were anything but

friends when He died for us – Romans 5:8 He died that sinners might become friends


Jesus, Friend of Sinners Only in a proper understanding of who we

were before Christ can we understand the magnitude of Jesus’ statement – Romans 1:21-28


Romans 1:21-28 (NASB)21 For even though they knew God, they did

not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the

incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.



“God gave them over to” – 3x “sexual impurity” – verse 24


24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them.

25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen



“God gave them over to” – 3x “sexual impurity” – verse 24 “shameful lusts” – verse 26


26 For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural,

27 and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.



“God gave them over to” – 3x “sexual impurity” – verse 24 “shameful lusts” – verse 26 “a depraved mind” – verse 28


28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper

Jesus, Friend of Sinners God made us. God made us in His Image. We rebelled and defaced that image. Instead of God’s glory, we have advanced

man’s depravity. Instead of God’s sovereignty, we have

sought human autonomy. Instead of holiness, we have sin. Instead of love, we have hatred.


Romans 5:6-8 (NASB)6 For while we were still helpless, at the

right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous

man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die.

8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Jesus’ Spiritual Death Jesus’ death was a spiritual death. As believers, our death is only physical! Death is separation. Physical death is separation of the soul and

spirit from our physical body. Spiritual death is the separation of the soul

and spirit from God! Jesus experienced spiritual death so we

would not!


Friends of Jesus In verse 13, the text says that Jesus is

our friend (speaking to believers). In verse 14, Jesus flips the coin and says

we are His friends if we obey His commandments. How? Our obedience is to be active. Our obedience is to be continuous. Our obedience is to be in all things.


Application

Is Jesus your friend?

Are you the friend of Jesus?


friends and brothers john 15:12-14 human friendship jesus, friend of sinners jesus’ spiritual...

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