CLOSE FRIENDSHIP (2)
(Message by Tanny Keng)
0. Introduction
a) For believers it is easy to think of ourselves as God's servants or his children. However, is that ALL God wants? Can we be a FRIEND, a very close friend, with our Father in heaven? This article will show that God wants FAR MORE from us than most people think.
b) The book of Revelation is almost always studied from a prophetic point of view. There are, however, statements within it that reveal God's character and his purpose for creating man. One such statement, spoken by Jesus, is in Revelation 3.
i) if any hear my voice and open the door, I will come into their house and eat with them, and they will eat with me. (Revelation 3:20)
c) Jesus is giving us a hint at the kind of special relationship he ultimately wants with each of us. He wants us to recognize his voice, open the door and invite him in. Once inside he is more than willing to sit down, enjoy a meal, and fellowship with us ONE TO ONE. How fantastic! Notice it does not say Jesus will come to our residence, pound on the door to demand we let him in, then when inside start commanding we do certain things - or else. Jesus comes to us in friendship with a desire to commune with his creation and to enjoy their presence. Our Savior also promised this intimate relationship with us while he was on the earth (John 14:22-23).
d) God and Jesus greatly want a close relationship with those who believe and love them. They wants to be our close personal friends! Those people throughout history who are friends of God are able to effectively interceded with him. The most striking of one of God's closes friends is Abraham.
i) "And the LORD said, 'Shall I hide from Abraham the thing which I do (visit Sodom and Gomorrah to see how great is their sin) . . . For I KNOW HIM, that he will command his children and his house after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment'" (Genesis 18:17, 19)
e) The fact that we humans like and greatly enjoy friendships is evidence that God wants the same thing.
1. Forgiving and Forgetting
a) Our Creator constantly proves to us that He is our very best friend in this area.
i) But God commends His own love to us because, when we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more, therefore, having been justified now by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. (Romans 5)
b) How much does our Creator want a relationship with his creation? He was willing to pay the highest price possible -- the life of Jesus, His only Son. This awesome sacrifice reconciles us to him and opens the door wide open to a relationship that will last forever.
c) When we come under the shed blood of our Savior, that which we have done in sin are forgiven and washed away. The apostle Paul tells us, in no uncertain terms, what our relationship is with our Father when we are forgive.
i) "Consequently, there is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who are not walking according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit;" (Romans 8:1).
d) God forgives completely. There are no strings attached to His love and mercy. His forgiveness is so perfect and wonderful that there will come a time when our sins will be totally forgotten - FOREVER.
i) "'And they shall no more teach each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD;' for they shall all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,' says the LORD. 'For I will forgive their iniquity, and I WILL REMEMBER THEIR SINS NO MORE.'" (Jeremiah 31:34)
The End ...
0. Introductiona) For believers it is easy to think of ourselves as God's servants or his children. However, is that ALL God wants? Can we be a FRIEND, a very close friend, with our Father in heaven? This article will show that God wants FAR MORE from us than most people think.
b) The book of Revelation is almost always studied from a prophetic point of view. There are, however, statements within it that reveal God's character and his purpose for creating man. One such statement, spoken by Jesus, is in Revelation 3.
i) if any hear my voice and open the door, I will come into their house and eat with them, and they will eat with me. (Revelation 3:20)
c) Jesus is giving us a hint at the kind of special relationship he ultimately wants with each of us. He wants us to recognize his voice, open the door and invite him in. Once inside he is more than willing to sit down, enjoy a meal, and fellowship with us ONE TO ONE. How fantastic! Notice it does not say Jesus will come to our residence, pound on the door to demand we let him in, then when inside start commanding we do certain things - or else. Jesus comes to us in friendship with a desire to commune with his creation and to enjoy their presence. Our Savior also promised this intimate relationship with us while he was on the earth (John 14:22-23).
d) God and Jesus greatly want a close relationship with those who believe and love them. They wants to be our close personal friends! Those people throughout history who are friends of God are able to effectively interceded with him. The most striking of one of God's closes friends is Abraham.
i) "And the LORD said, 'Shall I hide from Abraham the thing which I do (visit Sodom and Gomorrah to see how great is their sin) . . . For I KNOW HIM, that he will command his children and his house after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment'" (Genesis 18:17, 19)
e) The fact that we humans like and greatly enjoy friendships is evidence that God wants the same thing.
1. Forgiving and Forgetting
a) Our Creator constantly proves to us that He is our very best friend in this area.
i) But God commends His own love to us because, when we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more, therefore, having been justified now by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. (Romans 5)
b) How much does our Creator want a relationship with his creation? He was willing to pay the highest price possible -- the life of Jesus, His only Son. This awesome sacrifice reconciles us to him and opens the door wide open to a relationship that will last forever.
c) When we come under the shed blood of our Savior, that which we have done in sin are forgiven and washed away. The apostle Paul tells us, in no uncertain terms, what our relationship is with our Father when we are forgive.
i) "Consequently, there is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who are not walking according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit;" (Romans 8:1).
d) God forgives completely. There are no strings attached to His love and mercy. His forgiveness is so perfect and wonderful that there will come a time when our sins will be totally forgotten - FOREVER.
i) "'And they shall no more teach each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD;' for they shall all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,' says the LORD. 'For I will forgive their iniquity, and I WILL REMEMBER THEIR SINS NO MORE.'" (Jeremiah 31:34)
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