Page 015 - Do You Have Christian Friends?
*Verses from AMP
"I do not call you servants (slaves) any longer, for the servant does not know what his master is doing (working out). But I have called you My friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from My Father." [I have revealed to you everything that I have learned from Him]---Amp: John 15:15.
"Peace be to you! (Good-bye!) The friends here send you greetings. Remember me to the friends there [to every one of them personally] by name" (Amp: 3 John 15).
Usually Christians address one another as brother or sister. This is because we share a life relationship with one another through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God is our Father and all His children partake of His life and nature (2 Peter 1:3-4).
Nevertheless, Jesus made it clear to His disciples before He departed from this earth, that He regarded them as friends. He explained that His disciples were not just those who dutifully obeyed, but were partners and intimate associates with Him and His heavenly Father (1 John 1:1:3). The Apostle John had similar sentiments to those he wrote to in his epistle.
No doubt, as Christians we do love other believers. Yet, this does not mean that we like one another. The capacity of the divine life is so powerful that one can even love his or her enemies [which just might be the person sitting next to you] (Matthew 5:43-44). So it is no small thing that some brothers and sisters develop genuine friendships and reliable confidants. This is a higher level of fellowship and interaction which is not just about doing spiritual activities. The deepest love that God will ever display among Christians is when a strong commitment is made to one another as friends!