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I am a born-again Christian, who is Reformed, but also charismatic, spiritually speaking. (I do not speak in tongues, but I believe glossalalia is a bona fide gift not given to all, and not as great as prophecy, for example.) I have several years of college education but only completed a two-year degree. I was raised Lutheran and confirmed, but I didn't "find Christ" until I was in the Army and responded to a Billy Graham crusade in 1973. I was mentored or discipled by the Navigators in the army and upon discharge joined several evangelical, Bible-teaching churches. I was baptized as an infant, but believe in believer baptism, of which I was a partaker after my conversion experience. I believe in the "5 Onlys" of the reformation: sola fide (faith alone); sola Scriptura (Scripture alone); soli Christo (Christ alone), sola gratia (grace alone), and soli Deo gloria (to God alone be the glory). I affirm TULIP as defended in the Reformation.. I affirm most of The Westminster Confession of Faith, especially pertaining to Providence.

Monday, April 15, 2019

Are We Friends Of Jesus?

Some Christians imagine that they are "buddies" with the Lord. Paul calls us doulos or servants. John MacArthur says we are not His "sidekicks." What they are is bond-servants as Paul was Jesus will call us "good and faithful servants." Jesus called us all "friends" in the sense that we know His will and what He is doing. "I lay down my life for my friends," and we are His friends if we do what He commands. Doing His will doesn't mean we won't do things not His will!

We cannot be egotistical in thinking we are above other Christians or a "cut above" others because Christianity is egalitarian and we are all one in Christ. There is neither male nor female, etc. If we are not His friends we are His enemies; there is no middle ground. Let's not let it go to our heads that we are all as believers the "friends" of Christ. Saying one is a special buddy of the Lord like Abraham was indeed the "friend of God" is a bit grandiose.

We are only friends if we do His commandments!  He is our friend even when we aren't His.  Christians are never His enemies!  Soli Deo Gloria!

  1.  We are the "adopted" sons of the Father and "brothers" of our Lord.


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