2. TRUE FRIENDSHIP Studies in John’s Gospel John 15:13-15

3. He should not be our friend! We have nothing in common

4. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person— though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:7-8 ESV) …among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved—(Eph. 2:3-5 ESV)

5. He should not be our friend! We have nothing in common We despise his confidence

6. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? (Hebrews 10:29 ESV) What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.” (2 Peter 2:22 ESV)

7. He should not be our friend! We have nothing in common We despise his confidence We assist his enemies

8. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. (Ephesians 4:26-27 ESV)

9. He should not be our friend! We have nothing in common We despise his confidence We assist his enemies We are unappreciative

10. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:57-58 ESV) Are we Seizing the victory? Rejoicing? Abounding?

11. 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. (John 15:16 ESV) …even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love (Ephesians 1:4 ESV)

12. Real Friendship… Is a two way relationship

13. The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself. (2 Timothy 2:11-13 ESV) Faithful… Worship Giving Communion Daily

14. Real Friendship… Is a two way relationship Is a type of oneness …that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. (John 17:21 ESV)

15. “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.(John 14:1 ESV) Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (John 14:27 ESV) But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. (John 16:5-6 ESV)

16. Real Friendship… Is a two way relationship Is a type of oneness Has sadness in separation

17. Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear. (Isaiah 59:1-2 ESV) And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you. (1 Corinthians 5:2 ESV)

18. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” (John 10:17-18 ESV) Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. (Acts 5:41 ESV)

19. Real Friendship… Is a two way relationship Is a type of oneness Has sadness in separation Shows willingness to sacrifice Classes, home studies, visiting Money, feelings, opinions

20. Real Friendship… Is a two way relationship Is a type of oneness Has sadness in separation Shows willingness to sacrifice Has power to improve self Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy. (Proverbs 27:6 ESV)

21. Friends help us because… Friends influence us Friends set examples for each other Friends say what’s needed

22. 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. (John 15:14-15 ESV) Are we putting any effort into this friendship?