Bible Lesson 15

Types and Metaphors

CHRIST THE BELIEVER’S FRIEND

John 15:14,15

Introduction:

            Who is a true friend?  Some have said, “A friend in need is a friend indeed.”  In other words, it is someone who sticks with you through thick and thin, and doesn’t leave you when things get rough. 

            God’s Word has much to say about the Lord Jesus Christ as a friend, not in the common sense of simply being ‘friendly,’ but in the true sense of love, attachment, and faithfulness. Our English word friend corresponds to the German “freund,” which root means, ‘to love.’

·         He is the friend who shows himself friendly and sticks closer than a brother, Proverbs 18:24.  If any are friends of Christ’s it is because He has first loved them, and drawn them to Himself in redeeming love, and He is ever faithful, though the sinner may falter ten thousand times over.

·         He is that one who is described as altogether lovely, Song of Solomon 5:16.  As one writer describes him, “he is altogether lovely in his person, offices, people, word, and ordinances. His loveliness is perfect, nothing wanting in it.  He is so to all, to his Father, angels, and saints: or, he is "all desires"; exceeding desirable, having all excellencies, perfections, and fullness in him; and being so in all his characters, offices, and relations that he stands in to his people; to whom he is all things, even all in all; they desire none but him.”

What other ways then is Christ compared to a TRUE FRIEND?

1.      A TRUE FRIEND loves at all times, Proverbs 17:17.   Even as God is eternal, so His love is everlasting, therefore, those who are loved of God in Christ are loved from eternity, and forever.  This is a great source of comfort and security to those He loves.  He loves them to the end, John 13:1.

2.      A TRUE FRIEND is ever present, no matter what the time or need.  Christ encouraged his disciples with this truth saying, “I will not leave you comfortless (orphans):  I will come to you,” John 14:18.  He also told them (and his church), “…lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world,” Matthew 28:20.

3.      A TRUE FRIEND defends the cause of those that He loves and takes their cares and infirmities on Himself, Hebrews 4:15.  Before a Holy God, He is their Substitute and Sin-Bearer who intercedes on their behalf.  Before Satan, sin, and the world, he is their advocate, taking on himself ALL of their faults and accusations.  Whatever wrong is done to his people, he takes it as done to himself, Acts 9:4,5.

4.      A TRUE FRIEND does not seek his own honor but the good of the other.  While the Lord Christ is worthy of all honor, He does not keep it for himself, but shares it with his saints to such a degree that what may be said of him, is attributed to them, Romans 8:17; I John 4:17. He being the Son of God, holy and exalted on high, makes his people to be sons of God, holy and exalted with him on high, Ephesians 2:6.

5.      A TRUE FRIEND will do what he has promised; swearing to his own hurt, rather than go back on his word, Psalm 15:4.  Christ, the Word of God, cannot lie nor fail to accomplish what He has promised. He is faithful and therefore He is trustworthy.  Has he said it?  He will do it!

6.      A TRUE FRIEND spares no cost, effort, or sacrifice for those that he loves, 2 Corinthians 8:9.  Christ spared no pains nor cost is saving those that the Father gave him, and He is ever faithful in keeping them at all costs, John 10:28,29.  He so loves them that he will never cast them off, nor put them away.  His word is his bond!