Randall Caselman
Bella Vista Church of Christ
11/1/98 pm
What A Friend We Have In Jesus
“A brother helped is like a strong city, but quarreling is like the bars of a castle. From the fruit of his mouth a man is satisfied; he is justified by the yield of his lips. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits. He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the Lord. The poor use entreaties, but the rich answer roughly. There are friends who pretend to be friends, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
Proverbs 18.19-24
Solomon said, He that has many friends must himself be friendly. There is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. I wonder who that could be. I think we know who it is, don't we? Indeed, WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS.
Loneliness is a big problem in our world today. Now you wouldn't think it should be because we have so many ways to communicate with one another - the telephone - E-mail - FAX machines - the postal service, etc. Yet psychologists tell us that loneliness and the need for love and acceptance ranks high toward the No. 1 social problem in America.
The reason for this you see - is that there seem to be two people living in each of us. One is a person who is reaching out for love, acceptance and friendship. Then there is this other person who is kinda the opposite - one who is afraid to be vulnerable. This person restrains that reaching-out - saying, "Don't act so fast. You may get hurt. You may be rejected." So, the bottom line is - making friends is risky business. We have to risk something. We must take a chance. Friendship is not for free - not man to man, not man to God. Friendship has its demands.
But the good news tonight is that there is one who understands our need for friendship ... our need for love and acceptance. Scripture tells us that Jesus was a friend of tax collectors and sinners. Church, if Jesus was a friend of sinners, then He is a friend to us. Some one once said, "If Jesus hadn't been a friend to sinners, then He would have been absolutely lonely because that was all there were - sinners." Right?
- Alien sinners in need of salvation.
- Saved sinners in need of continual forgiveness.
Indeed. Indeed. Jesus is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
QUESTION: ARE YOU A FRIEND TO JESUS?
For the first part of our lesson, let's notice some barriers to friendship with Jesus.
THE FIRST BARRIER IS SIN.
Now it should be obvious that Jesus does not condone sin. In fact, scripture tells us that He is our friend because -
- He came to call sinners to repentance.
- He came to seek and save the lost sinner.
- He came to purchase our pardon.
- To make atonement for our sins, so that we could be His friends.
Paul reasoned like this with his son, Timothy. He says, Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I the worst (or am the chief). He says, if Jesus will (can) save - forgive the worst of sinners, then He can (will) forgive anybody, any sinner, regardless of what that sin might be.
We see an illustration of this in John, Chapter 8 - the woman taken in adultery. The Jews brought her to Jesus asking, What should we do with her? The law says she should be stoned. What do you say? Before Jesus answered He bent down and started writing on the ground. They kept hounding Him. What do you say? So, Jesus said, Let the one without sin cast the first stone. Then He stooped down and continued to write in the dirt.
We don't know what He wrote. I would like to believe --
1. That He wrote the sins of those in the crowd. Those private sins that each would recognize in his own heart.
2. Maybe He wrote the names of those in that crowd who had slept with this lady. That would be pretty powerful stuff, wouldn't it?
What we do know is that as He wrote, the crowd dispersed. When He looked up, He asked the lady, Where are your accusers? Is there no one to condemn you? No Sir! Then neither do I ...
Now, here is the key: Go now and sin no more.
Go now and leave your life of sin.
You see, Jesus came making friendship with Him possible because He forgives our sin. Paul says, In Him we have redemption through His blood, even EVEN the forgiveness of sins.
Friendship with Jesus is possible for each of us here tonight, if, IF we will respond to His terms of forgiveness - IF we will repent and leave our life of sin - IF we will be baptized and wash our sins away - IF we will continue to strive to walk in the Light.
THE SECOND BARRIER TO A FRIENDSHIP WITH JESUS IS PRIDE.
Solomon lists 7 things that God hates, and pride tops the list. You see, pride keeps us from admitting our sins. And until we admit our sins, Jesus can't and won't do anything about them, so there is no friendship.
Listen to Luke 18.5-14. Yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!'" And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: `God, I thank you that I am not like other men--robbers, evildoers, adulterers--or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, `God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
Church, what was the difference between the publican, the tax collector and the Pharisee? Why did one go home justified, a friend of Jesus, and why did the other go home condemned?
- The Pharisee's pride would not let him acknowledge or confess his sins.
- The tax collector freely confessed his faults and asked for God's forgiveness.
David said, God is searching for a broken, contrite heart. No wonder John said, If we will confess our sins, He is just and will forgive all our unrighteousness.
Church, do you know what keeps us - men and women, boys and girls - from walking church aisles?? Our own pride. Oh yes, we may give this excuse - or that excuse - but the bottom line is we do not want to admit that we are sinners. And here it is - Jesus cannot, will not, forgive sins not acknowledged with broken hearts.
No, I am not saying we must name every sin, but we must acknowledge our sins, confess our faults, with broken contrite hearts. Indeed, pride is a barrier to our friendship with Jesus.
Oh yes, before we leave pride, there is another form of pride that is a barrier to our friendship with Jesus. That is the individual who says, "I would never obey the Gospel because I am just not good enough." Now that sounds like humility, but it is only a subtle form of pride. No one is good enough. We can't be good enough to forgive sins. Our own goodness is not the basis of our salvation. It is His goodness, not ours, that is the basis of our salvation. We just need to rid ourselves of our pride and come to Jesus. Become a friend of Jesus.
LET'S NOTE ONE MORE BARRIER. SOMETIMES WE HAVE THE IDEA THAT GOD IS UNAPPROACHABLE.
That He is so Sovereign, so Mighty, so Holy, so Busy, so above it all that we couldn't possible become His friend.
Question: Don't you think one of the reasons for the Incarnation was to dispel such a notion? In our study this morning in class - that Jesus came
- Showing us God.
- Explaining God.
- Demonstrating God.
Listen to these scriptures that dispel the concept of an unapproachable God.
- Come unto me all you that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.
- Come learn of me. My yoke is easy, my burden is light, and you shall find rest.
- Permit the little children to come unto me for of such is the kingdom of Heaven.
- If one will come to me, I will in no wise cast him out.
Does this sound like Jesus is approachable? Jesus came to tell us God is approachable. Folk, a friendship with Jesus is a friendship with God. Jesus said, The Father and I are one.
I like the way today's English version renders 2 Corinthians 5.18 - Christ has changed us from enemies unto His friends - and gave us the task of making others His friends also.
OK. NOW LET'S LOOK AT SOME BLESSINGS OF A FRIENDSHIP WITH JESUS.
For this I want to notice the passage in Ecclesiastes, Chapter 4, verses 9-12. Look at it with me. Now, I know that these verses are speaking of friendship - man to man - Right. But if these concepts hold true for human friendship, think of powerful truths it holds in our friendship with God. Read it with me again.
Verse 9. Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work.
10. If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!
11. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?
12. Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
FIRST: TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE FOR THEY HAVE A GOOD RETURN FOR THEIR WORK.
Friendship with Jesus helps us with our duties, our labor in the Kingdom. Listen to Ephesians 3.20 and 21.
He is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work (where?) in us. To Him be the Glory, in the church, in Christ Jesus, through all generations.
I need this kind of help, don't you?
SECONDLY: FRIENDSHIP WITH JESUS MEANS HELP IN DISTRESS.
Note Verse 10: If one falls, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls with no one to help.
Jesus is a friend in distress, when life tumbles in, Jesus is there.
- For those who lose loved ones, Jesus is there.
- For those who have fear, Jesus is there.
- For those who suffer financial collapse, Jesus is there.
- For those who suffer ruptured relationships, Jesus is there.
David said, Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I'll not fear. Jesus is there.
The Hebrews writer promises, He will never leave us. He will never forsake us.
I want a friendship with Jesus. Don't you?
THIRDLY, JESUS WANTS TO HELP IN OUR DISCOMFORT.
Verse 11: If two lie down together, they will keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone?
Class, I don't know what it is like to be without a companion to help when I am discouraged. Georgia is my encouragement. You are my encouragement. But even when we have an earthly companion, we need Jesus. And there are some private discouragements that only He, only He, can help with. I need this kind of friendship, don't you?
FOUR -- HE WANTS TO HELP US WITH OUR DEFENSE.
One may be overpowered, but two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
God, plus one, equals majority! I want God with me.
- I want Jesus with me in temptations.
- I want Jesus with me in trials.
- I want Jesus with me in death.
WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS.
OK. Let's close the lesson by noting how we can become friends with Jesus.
No. 1. Faith makes us a friend of God.
James 2.23 tells us, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. He was called the friend of God.
Hebrews 11.6 tells us, Without faith, it is impossible to be God's friend. Without faith, it is impossible to please Him.
No. 2. Acknowledging - Admitting - Confessing - Leaving - Repenting of our sins with broken, contrite hearts makes us friends with God. We've already noticed that.
No. 3. Jesus said in John 15.14, You are my friend if you do what I ask.
Will you become a friend to Jesus by Faith - Repentance - Confession -Baptism - by doing all He asks?
