1. Friends and Brothers John 15:12-14 Human Friendship Jesus, Friend of Sinners Jesus’ Spiritual Death Friends of Jesus

2. 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! Friends and Brothers John 15:12-14

3. 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 Friends and Brothers John 15:12-14

4. 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,

5. 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  He knew He would die  He calls us friends but we were anything but friends when He died for us – Romans 5:8 Friends and Brothers John 15:12-14

6. Romans 5:8 (NASB) 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

7. 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  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 Friends and Brothers John 15:12-14

8. 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 Friends and Brothers John 15:12-14

9. 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.

10. 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  “God gave them over to” – 3x  “sexual impurity” – verse 24 Friends and Brothers John 15:12-14

11. 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

12. 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  “God gave them over to” – 3x  “sexual impurity” – verse 24  “shameful lusts” – verse 26 Friends and Brothers John 15:12-14

13. 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.

14. 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  “God gave them over to” – 3x  “sexual impurity” – verse 24  “shameful lusts” – verse 26  “a depraved mind” – verse 28 Friends and Brothers John 15:12-14

15. 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

16. 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. Friends and Brothers John 15:12-14

17. 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.

18. 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 and Brothers John 15:12-14

19. 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. Friends and Brothers John 15:12-14

20. Application Is Jesus your friend? Are you the friend of Jesus? Friends and Brothers John 15:12-14