Gospel Friendships
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· 7 viewsWe need gospel friendships so that we can be encouraged to follow Jesus faithfully.
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Introduction
As Pastor Micah mentioned last week, I am coming down from a mountain top experience. Last week, I traveled to Louisville Kentucky to attend the Together for the Gospel Conference.
Over 12000 pastors and ministry leaders were in attendance. I loving going to conferences not only because of the excellent messages, the tons of books they give, but also the opportunity to see old friends and new friends. Pastors love conferences like these because of the friendships they develop.
C.S. Lewis said that that the distinguishing mark of friendship is when two or more people discover that they have something in common, or share some common interest, that others do not share, when each person believe he was the only person who felt that way and says, “What? You too? I thought I was the only one?!”
I love attend these conferences every year because I get to catch up with my friends and say, “What? You too? You have that problem in ministry too? You preached a bad sermon too? You saw how God redeemed a broken relationship? You too?!” Friendship is born when two or three people are side to side, shoulder to shoulder, sharing a common love and shared experience.
And that’s why I titled my message “Gospel Friendships”. We know the Christian life can get difficult and discouraging, but I believe one of the gifts God gives us to encourage our souls is the gift of friendship. And what better way to develop friendship than to find people who have a common love for the Lord Jesus Christ. Part of what it means to be human is to have friendships.
Even in the great book Pilgrim’s Progress, an allegory of the Christian life, Christian makes his way to the heavenly city because of some good friends he meets along the way: Evangelist, Faithful, and Hopeful.
In the Lord of the Rings, Frodo has his friend Sam. The first movie is called the fellowship of the Rings.
Even Batman, the lone ranger superhero, now has Superman and the Justice League as his friends.
My little pony has
We need friends when we are down and discouraged. And Paul writes about his friends while in prison. His friends are those in the fellowship of the Gospel. A person’s friends reveal about who they are. And Paul writes about his friends in the ministry.
Background
We turn to Paul’s closing instructions and final greetings in this portion of Colossians. We often gloss over this portion of Scripture, but if you look closely, you will see the intimate friendships Paul developed in Gospel ministry. The only other portion of Scripture that has a large list of names is Romans. This is the second longest list of names.
Main Proposition: In , Paul writes his final instruction to ten of his personal friends. And what we learn about this passage, is that we need gospel friendships for our own encouragement, and also to help us to continue to be faithful in our Christian lives. The big idea of this text is that you need friendships rooted in the gospel. The first point will be the bulk of the sermon while the last two are really subpoints or concluding thoughts from the big idea.
I. You need gospel friendships.
II. You need to have realistic expectations regarding friendships.
II. You need to have realistic expectations about gospel friendships.
III. Jesus is our best friend.
III. You need to Jesus as the best of friends.
Scripture Reading:
Tychicus will tell you all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts, and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here.
Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him), and Jesus who is called Justus. These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas. Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea. And say to Archippus, “See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord.”
I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.
I. You need to have gospel friendships.
I. You need to have gospel friendships.
The greatest irony of living in a Social Media world is that we are less social. On facebook, I have 756 friends. Some of you have over 1000 friends on Friends on facebook. Some 2000 friends.
On Instagram, I have more followers than I do members in this congregation. But the irony is that out of my 756 friends or 169 followers, I really have only a handful of true and meaningful friendships. Out of those “friends” and “followers” I really only get lunch and hang out with a handful of people.
How many of you have real friends? But not only real friends, but real Christian friends?
The Scandal of the Megachurch
Pastors don’t know names. People don’t know pastors or each other. And you leave once service is ended. Christians are lonely.
Friendships are built on truth, love, and knowledge. A true friend “knows” who you really are. A true friend is not one who knows your social media profile, but one who actually knows the real you. A true friend is one who can speak the truth to you when you are wrong, but also encourage you when you are down and when no one else is there.
And the Apostle Paul mention a few of his dear friends. We often think of Paul as a lone-ranger super hero type of Christian. But if you look closely, Paul was a man who had close friends and Paul always did ministry with a group of people. He always traveled with a group and ministered with a group. The only time he was not was when he was in prison.
This is a good lesson for us here: we don’t do ministry alone, but we do it with other believers. Pastors do ministry with other pastors. Christians do ministry with other Christians. The body needs each body part to function properly. Christians should serve with friends in ministry.
And here Paul mentions two of his close friends he is sending to Colossae.
A. Friends Sent to Colossae
A. Friends Sent to Colossae
Tychicus will tell you all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord.
A. Tychicus
His name means ‘fortunate’ or ‘lucky’. He was a Gentile and a native of Ephesus. He followed Paul on his missionary journeys and was a messenger for Paul when he was imprisoned. Paul used Tychicus to deliver news about him and was a trusted colleague. Tychicus would be sent to Ephesus and tell the Ephesians about Paul’s condition:
So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts.
Tychicus would replace Titus on the island of Crete.
When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there.
Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus.
Tychicus was called a beloved brother. This is a term of affection. He is also called a faithful minister, one who would read the letters of Paul to the congregation. He was finally called a fellow servant, meaning he was a fellow co-laborer in Paul.
Tychicus job was to deliver the letter and encourage the church concerning Paul. He probably may have not been a great speaker, but he was faithful. He was a dear brother. And was willing to serve.
I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts,
Application:
God uses nobodies to do ordinary faithful tasks to accomplish great things. He just delivered the letter. He was faithful and available. If you want to be useful for the Lord, ask yourself: am I a faithful? Am I willing to serve? And I available?
If it were not for Tychicus ministry, the letter of Colossians and Philemon may have never been received. And if the Colossians never received Colossians, they may have been deceived by false teachers.
God can grow friendships while we labor side by side to the gospel. I have many dear friendships in the church because of so many people who are simply faithful and willing to serve. They become dear to me because we have a common desire and love to promote the gospel.
B. Onsesimus
and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here.
Onsesimus was a converted runaway slave from Colossae. He may have been converted meeting Paul in Rome and Paul was urging him to return home to reconcile with his master Philemon. Tychicus was going to deliver the letter to Philemon as well as accompany Onesimus.
Now he is called a faithful and beloved brother. He wronged his master. He ran away from his master and he could be punished with the death penalty. Yet he heard the gospel probably in Rome, served with Paul, and wanted to make things right.
And Paul is sending him back as a brother in Christ:
I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment. (Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.) I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart. I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel,
Philemon 1:10-13
Application:
God can save those who messed up and bring something beautiful out of their lives. God can make those who were once not useful, useful for his service. If you think you messed up and think you can’t be used, look at Onsesimus.
He messed up and yet we see a new man in Christ who is called faithful and beloved brother of Paul. And part of his repentance was to go back home to his master and Paul appeals Philemon to forgive him and receive him as a brother of Christ.
Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.
God used a faithful man. He also used a forgiven and repentant man.
Transition: These are friends Paul are sending, but notice Paul’s three Jewish friends from Rome...
B. Friends from Rome
B. Friends from Rome
The next three friends Paul mentions are Jews who may have been converted out of their Judaism. That is why they are referred to the circumcision party in verse 11.
Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him),
The next three friends Paul mentions are Jews who may have been converted out of their Judaism. That is why they are referred to the circumcision party in verse 11.
C. Aristarchus the Jew
Aristarchus—a Macedonian of Thessalonica (Ac 27:2), who was dragged into the theater at Ephesus, during the tumult with Gaius, they being “Paul’s companions in travel.” He accompanied Paul to Asia (Ac 20:4), and subsequently (Ac 27:2) to Rome. He was now at Rome with Paul (compare Phm 1:23, 24).
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: Colossians and Philemon III. The Letter Closing: Greetings, Plans, and Instructions (4:7–18)
Aristarchus, like Tychicus (see v. 7), figures in the later stages of Paul’s ministry, being mentioned first as a “traveling companion” of Paul’s from Macedonia during the apostle’s Ephesian ministry (Acts 19:29; c. A.D. 52–55). According to Acts 20:4, he hails from Thessalonica. He accompanied Paul on at least the early stage of his voyage to Rome (Acts 27:2) and may have gone all the way to Rome with Paul.
Gentile from Thessalonica. He may have been in prison with Paul or this may be a metaphor implying he was a devoted servant of God. You see friendship is often born out of adversity.
He may have been in prison with Paul or this may be a metaphor implying he was a devoted servant of God. He was by Paul’s side. A friend sticks close to you at all times.
A man of many companions may come to ruin,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
How can you develop friendships?
You see friendship is often born out of adversity.
This is why soldiers develop a brotherhood when they are in war. In our seminary, they call the fellowship a band of brothers. This is why sports teams have close friendships because their are brothers who lost and won games together.
How can you develop friendships?
Friendships develop over a common struggle and trial you are going through:
A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for adversity.
I truly believe our church has grown stronger going through trials together. Even after the passing of our beloved pastor. When we weep together and suffer together, God knits our hearts together in love.
D. Jesus (Justus
and Jesus who is called Justus. These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me.
There is John Mark, but we will return to him later. The next friend Paul mentions is Jesus who is called Justus. Some of you have a Filipino name, but also an American name. Likewise, Jesus is the Hebrew name which means the Lord saves, while Justus is his roman name which means just or righteous one. Little is known about him except he refreshed Paul’s soul. He was one of the few Jews who turned to Christ and labored alongside him. His name may mean is was a righteous individual.
and Jesus who is called Justus. These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me.
Paul had a faithful friend. A forgiven and repentant friend. A devoted friend. A just friend. Let’s look at three more friends...
Transition: Paul had some friends he sent to Rome, some Jewish friends from Rome, and now he mentions three more friends who are Gentiles....
Jewish. Little is known about him except he was part of the circumcision party and was an encouragement to Paul. They refreshed Paul’s soul.
C. Gentile Friends
C. Gentile Friends
In other words, Paul was not just friends with his own people. He had friends outside of his culture and race. He had non-Jewish friends because of a common love for the gospel.
I remember the first time I came to CFBC. Everyone was Filipino and I was not. I don’t know why, I was a little intimidated because I didn’t share any common interest with people. People were singing. I didn’t like singing. People liked basketball. I liked skateboarding. People like dancing, I like to play paintball.
But over the years, I began to love the people not primarily because of the culture, but because of our love for the gospel. And the irony is that now God has called me to pastor this church.
I think this is amazing because the reality of the matter is that I would not be friends with some of you if it were not for the gospel. I would not have met my wife if it were not the gospel! Isn’t that a glorious reality. We wouldn’t be friends if it weren’t for the gospel? More than that, we wouldn’t be brothers and sisters if it weren’t for the gospel.
Paul had friends who were different than him, yet because of their common bond in the gospel, their friendship developed.
Pastor, what if I love Jesus and don’t have friends?
I always found this advice helpful. If you want friends, you need to be a friend. Friendship also takes time and trust to develop. You have to labor side by side together and sometimes friendships form over difficulties shared or victories won.
I think this is amazing because the reality of the matter is that I would not be friends with some of you if it were not for the gospel. I would not have met my wife if it were not the gospel!
Our friendships in the church should not primarily be about basketball, or video game, or a hobby, but our friendships in the church should rooted and grounded in Christ.
And if you are not part of a church, the best place to develop common friendships are with people who genuinely love Jesus Christ.
E. Epaphras
Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.
Epaphras was the the founding minister of Colossae and may have been the founding minister of the churches of Laodicia and Heirapolis. He went to Rome to maybe deliver news about the false teaching going on in Colossae. Paul calls him a servant of Christ Jesus and you see how this man was always praying for the Colossians.
The word used is agonizomai, to agonize, in his prayers.
His life teaches us that we should agonize or labor to pray.
But also, it teaches us what to pray. He prayed that they would stand, not be tossed to and fro by false doctrine. He prayed they would be mature, similar to Paul’s prayer in chapter one that the Colossians would grow in the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so they would walk in a manner worth of the Lord.
Application:
Do you labor in prayer on behalf of God’s people?
Do you pray that God’s people would be fully mature in the Lord?
Do you have a concern for other local churches?
For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis.
Paul could testify about this man’s labor for the churches. But not only their church, but the churches in the surrounding cities. This man had a concern for the gospel to go forth in his neighboring cities.
Friendships with other Churches
Friendships with other Churches
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: Colossians and Philemon III. The Letter Closing: Greetings, Plans, and Instructions (4:7–18)
As we noted in our comments on this verse, Laodicea was an important city about twelve miles west of Colossae. Hierapolis, which is not mentioned in 2:1, was located about fifteen miles northwest of Colossae, thus forming something of a triangle with Colossae and Laodicea. All three cities were located on important Roman roads and were therefore significant centers of commerce and industry.
Some of my closest friends are friends from other churches. I get coffee with other pastors throughout the week to encourage one another in the Lord. God has other Christians who are faithful in gospel ministry that we develop friendships with in other local churches. In fact, I’ll be at a pastor’s lunch tomorrow to see some of my friends.
Take advantage of friendships with others in local churches. Take advantage of fellowship with other churches. Our God is not a tribal deity, but we have a God who owns every tribe nation and tongue.
F. Luke
Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas.
Luke was a traveling companion of Paul. He is mentioned as the physician or doctor. Luke was also a historian. Without Luke, we would not have a detailed account of the early progress of the church in Acts. Without Luke, we would not have one of the gospels. And Luke was not a pastor.
Application:
You can be faithful to serve the Lord in your current vocation. Ministry is not for Pastors only. Ministry is for normal people like Luke, the physician. Luke may have used his medical skills to treat and serve Paul. And God can use your secular vocation as a means for the progress of the gospel; whether through serving unbelieving neighbors; or supporting gospel ministry from your vocation.
Friends in Laodicea & Heirapolis
Friends in Laodicea & Heirapolis
G. Nympha
Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.
Nympha may be a wealthy gentile woman who was from Laodicea who simply exercised biblical hospitality.
Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
Nympha may have may some good home cooking.
H. Archippus
And say to Archippus, “See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord.”
and Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier, and the church in your house:
Archippus needed encouragement. Maybe he was a pastor who needed extra encouragement. And Paul reminds him to continue in the ministry.
Archippus needed encouragement. Maybe he was a pastor who needed extra encouragement. And Paul reminds him to continue in the ministry.
Application:
Encourage friends in other local churches. Praise God for the church universal where we can have a common bond and friendship with those who are in Christ.
We pray for other local churches because there are faithful believers in other cities carrying out the work of the gospel.
It is good to have friendships in Christ. It is not good for man to be alone. Part of what it means to be human is to have friends.
Paul
Transition: You need to have friends in the gospel, but have realistic expectations regarding friends in the gospel.
II. You need to have realistic expectations regarding gospel friendships.
II. You need to have realistic expectations regarding gospel friendships.
The reality is that sometimes friends will disappoint you. Where do you get that from the text? It’s implicit.
A. John Mark the Jew
Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him),
Colossians 3:
The New American Commentary: Philippians, Colossians, Philemon (2) Mark (4:10)
Mark had a significant place in the early advance of Christian missions. He accompanied Paul and Barnabas on the first missionary journey (Acts 13:5). For some unknown reason, he returned home after the group entered Asia (Acts 13:13), and this became the occasion for division between Paul and Barnabas before the second missionary journey (Acts 15:39). Most likely, Barnabas, who had discipled Paul in his early Christian years, discipled Mark from that point and saw him develop into an effective Christian minister
Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 4
John Mark accompanied Paul and Barnabas during the first missionary journey, but returned home in the middle of it (Acts 13:13). The Gospel of Mark is commonly attributed to John Mark. When Barnabas wanted John Mark to accompany him on the second missionary journey, Paul refused. Because of this disagreement, Paul and Barnabas parted company (Acts 15:39). Mark later joined Paul in his missionary work, and Paul commended him to others (2 Tim 4:11; Phlm 24).
Sometimes friends can disappoint in the ministry. There are conflicts in the ministry where people cannot agree and reconcile.
John was his jewish name. Mark was his roman name. He was the cousin of Barnabas. For some unknown reason, he left Paul.
I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord.
Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry.
2 Timothy 4:
Mark became useful later because he reconciled and was restored to fellowship with Paul. Peter writes,
She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings, and so does Mark, my son.
So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
By Silvanus, a faithful brother as I regard him, I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it. She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings, and so does Mark, my son. Greet one another with the kiss of love.
Peace to all of you who are in Christ.
Mark followed Peter and Peter calls him a son. Peter may have encouraged him with his own failures.
Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him),
He tells the church to welcome him because he may have received a bad reputation for deserting Paul.
But friendships could be healed and restored because of the good news of Jesus Christ. It takes time, healing, and forgiveness. Towards the end of Paul’s life, he writes:
Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry.
If Mark was not restored, we may have not had a gospel of Mark. Sometimes strained relationships will be healed over time through forgiveness and reconciliation.
and Jesus who is called Justus. These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me.
Jewish. Little is known about him except he was part of the circumcision party and was an encouragement to Paul. They refreshed Paul’s soul.
C. Gentile Friends
C. Gentile Friends
F. Epaphras
B. Demas
Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.
Perhaps the founding minister. He may have been in prison with Paul and kept praying for them.
Heirapolis was about 15 miles NW of Colossae.
Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas.
F. Luke
Gospel Writer. Physician.
H. Demas
He abandoned Paul. He deserted the Lord.
Philemon
and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.
Sometimes you will have friends who will with Christ, who no longer walk with Christ because the the temptation of sin, the world, and the devil. Sometimes you will have friends abandon the Lord. Sometimes you will have people in this church no longer follow Christ.
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: Colossians and Philemon III. The Letter Closing: Greetings, Plans, and Instructions (4:7–18)
As we noted in our comments on this verse, Laodicea was an important city about twelve miles west of Colossae. Hierapolis, which is not mentioned in 2:1, was located about fifteen miles northwest of Colossae, thus forming something of a triangle with Colossae and Laodicea. All three cities were located on important Roman roads and were therefore significant centers of commerce and industry.
The New American Commentary: Philippians, Colossians, Philemon (1) Laodicea (4:15–16)
Laodicea was located in the Lycus valley and was a neighboring city to Colossae. The church there dated from approximately the same time as the one at Colossae, and most likely someone other than Paul founded it
Jesus understood failures of his friends.
Nympha—Hospitality. Small Churches.
Our Lord understand this. He was deserted by all of his disciples in his greatest time of need.
Application:
Archippus—Fulfill his ministry.
You will have some friends desert the Lord and no longer walk with him.
You will have some strained relationships, but God can redeem the relationship through time and grace.
Friendship with the Lord
Friendship with the Lord
You will be some members leave the church for poor reasons.
Be realistic that we live in a fallen world and sometimes sin distorts our friendships.
Transition: You may have friends in ministry, but sometimes some friends will disappoint. This is why we end with a reminder of grace.
III. Jesus is the Best of Friends
III. Jesus is the Best of Friends
Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea. And say to Archippus, “See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord.”
I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.
Paul says that this letter should be read to the Laodiceans as well. This is authoratative because it comes from the pen of Paul himself. The letter from Laodicea may be a lost letter. Some have speculated it was the letter of Ephesians.
Paul ends his letter by saying that this is a genuine letter from him. He signs it himself proving its authencity.
Paul is in prison and he says remember my chains. This is a call to prayer for the faithful apostle. Paul towards the end of his life said while in prison:
At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
2
And he ends the letter where he began. Grace be with you.
Christ the Best of Friends
You need gospel friendships.
It is because of our love for the Savior, we develop friendships with those who have the same love.
You need realistic expectations.
But sometimes friends will disappoint and fail.
Look to Jesus, the Best of Friends
But we need to be reminded of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. The King of Heaven, the Son of God, the second person of the Trinity became a friend of sinners.
Jesus Christ, entered into our common humanity, shared our common struggles, and proved himself to be the best of friends by willing to die for us.
No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
:
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.
Jesus was the ultimate friend who laid down his life for sinners. When friends disappoint, we need to look to Him once again who doesn’t disappoint.
Lonely?
Are you a friend of Jesus? Is Jesus your friend?
Are you looking to much to friends who disappoint? Look to the Savior
Gospel Friends have a common goal (the glory of God) and common language (the word of God). If we are a true friend of Jesus, we will listen to what he says.
Need encouragement?
Find a friend who has a common love for Jesus. What better way to find friends then in the local church by which we gather to worship our Savior.
Lonely?
Are you looking to much to friends who disappoint? Look to the Savior who never disappoints and a friend of sinners.
Encouraged?
Have you been encouraged by the kindness of God and his friendship to you? Be a friend to others. Be a friend of sinners just like our Lord was to you.
You and I need friendships centered in Christ to encourage us. But realize there is no better friend than Jesus. And because of his friendship towards us, we can be a friend to others. A friend to the discourage. A friend to the hopeless. A friend to the lost.
Jesus what a friend of sinners. Lover of my soul. Friends may fail me and foes assail me. He, my Savior, makes me whole.
Hallelujah what a Savior. Hallelujah what a Friend. Saving, helping, keeping, loving, He is with me to the end.
Pastors don’t know names. People don’t know pastors or each other. And you leave once service is ended. Christians are lonely.