We have heard it said in the Bible that Abraham was the friend of God. He obeyed God and it was counted as righteousness. Jesus also said that He would call us friends if we do as He commanded us. We are exhorted to love one another even as He loved us. Love is the greatest of laws and can never be satisfied. It's an eternal debt of gratitude to God for His ultimate and supreme sacrifice on the cross. He gave His all and wants us to be willing to take up our crosses and follow Him. Now, my point is that God may be our friend but we may not live or love as His friend, but as enemies and even practical atheists who can live like there is no God and let one's faith have little effect on one's ethic and way of life.
In reality, we can be servants at the same time as friends because we must not put God in a box and say something like, "I like to just see Jesus as my friend," when He is Lord and Judge! God would never treat us as His enemies no matter what we do, but if we go astray, He will discipline and chastise His wayward children but only in love, Note that only he who believes is obedient; only he who is obedient believes. These two go hand in hand and cannot be divorced. In other words, there can be no disobedient believers by definition.
Now when two instruments are tuned to the same pitch they are in tune with each other and can make music in perfect harmony. It' the same with friendship: If two believers are obedient and walking in the Spirit, they should be in harmony or fellowship with each other. or as they say on the same page. This is why no one can claim to love God and not his neighbor and anyone can love his friend, family, or lover, but we to love our enemies. Note that Jeus defined the greatest possible love as laying down your life for them. And this is what Jesus did for us while we were yet His enemies. The important thing is that we abide in Christ's love and manifest it to the world as ambassadors of it. Soli Deo Gloria!
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