Introduction

1. The Puritan Thomas Watson describes friendship as ‘the marriage of affections'. It involves a deep commitment to one another as seen in David and Jonathan. False friendships often cause very deep and bitter pain in those betrayed.
   
   
2. James 2:23 declares concerning Abraham, ‘he was called the friend of God.'  (2 Chronicles 20:7, Isaiah 41:8 ) Being the friend of God was not a claim made by Abraham of himself, but by God through His prophets.
   
   
3. Jesus in John 15:9-17 makes it very clear that every believer is called His friend. Jesus would have everyone born from above know that he or she is His beloved friend. It is a staggering thought that Jesus calls you (if saved by grace) His friend.

 1. The Wonder of God's grace in making believers His friends.

1. Why would God make you His friend?
   
   
1. God has no need for friendship outside the Godhead.
2. The Angels in heaven have more merit than any man has.
3. God has the power and might to create ex-nihilo a perfect friend.
4. Before you were saved by grace according to Romans 5:6-10 you were:
Verse 6.  ungodly, Verse 8. a sinner, Verse 10. an enemy.
5. Even after being saved by grace, we at very fickle vacillating between obedience and sin.
   Why would the Almighty Jehovah, the Holy One make pathetic sinners his friends? The only answer is - It was a Sovereign Free Act of God's grace. God in his absolute free will decided to make elect fallen men and women His friends.
   
   
2. To make a sinner a friend of God cost the Lord of Glory more than you or I could imagine. The humiliation of Jesus in his incarnation, life and cruel death. Philippians 2:5-8.
   Jesus left the realms of Glory. His life is well described for us in Isaiah 53:2-3.
   Jesus' death on Calvary was physical as well as spiritual. Matthew 27:46.
   
   
3. Jesus in John 15:13 declared His supreme love for His friends.
   Jesus' death was required before the friendship could be established, it was not an act of duty.
   Jesus loved his friends from eternity to eternity.
   Jesus' love for his friends is a total commitment to them.
   Jesus' action in shedding his blood for His friends is an act of sovereign free grace.
   
   
4. The very idea that God should stoop to make fallen humans His friends ought to fill us with the deepest sense of awe and wonder. Psalm 8:4 asks the question ‘What is man that you are mindful of him, and what is the son of man that you should visit him?'  The fact that Jesus through His work of atonement makes friendship with God factual for all who have received saving grace ought to fill us with the deepest humility possible, with the fullest degree of gratitude and with joy unspeakable. A friend of God - what a privilege, what an honour for one so unworthy. What a glorious grace to receive.

2.  The Reality of God's Friendship To His People.

1. Friendship with God is a real working friendship. It is not like having an imaginary friend, nor is it some ongoing mystical experience, it is a living friendship.
   
   
2. Abraham in some ways enjoyed ‘face to face' meetings with God in a number of theophanies. Whether Abraham realised that he was meeting with the Lord is debatable, but within the boundaries of friendship we ought to mark the following:
   
   
1. The Lord confirmed His friendship with Abraham by cutting a covenant. Ruth's declaration of friendship towards Naomi is very moving and extremely loyal. (Ruth 1:16-17) This marvellous declaration of love and friendship is as nothing when contrasted with the love and friendship of God in the covenant made with Abraham.
1. The covenant made by God is eternal.
   
2. The covenant is made by God not a man.
   
3. The promises of the covenant are guaranteed.
   
4. The covenant included descendants.

The New Covenant in Jesus' blood is a declaration of God's love and friendship with His people. God's commitment to His people is very real it is a fact of history. History is measured by Jesus' coming.

2. God's friendship with Abraham was real in that God disclosed secrets to Abraham. 
   1. God's purpose with the Amorites.
      
   2. God's plan to give Abraham a son.
      
   3. God's promise of a Saviour. Gen 12:3/Acts 3:26  
      
   4. God's wrath against Sodom.

   Has not Jesus' friendship embraced this aspect of sharing with us the secrets of heaven? John 15:15. Peter in 1 Peter 1:10-12 tells us of the great things the Lord has revealed to His people.

3. God's friendship with Abraham was real in that the Lord provided, protected, guided, supported him and had sympathy for his weakness and frailty. This is to be expected for God committed Himself : ‘I will be your God, I will be with you.' Abraham knew God's friendship during times of hardship and joy. Is there anyone who belongs to Jesus who has not experienced the comfort of Christ in times of sorrow and pain? Has Jesus not promised never to leave or abandon His people?
   
   
4. God's friendship with Abraham was real in that they fellowshipped together. It is impossible to have friendship with the Almighty and not have fellowship. Abraham drew near and spoke to God, God drew near and answered Abraham. For those washed by the blood of Jesus it is no different, through prayer and the ministry of the Holy Spirit from the Word, fellowship is enjoyed with the King of Kings.
    

The friendship between Jesus and His people is very real, wonderful and greatly to be enjoyed.

3. The Essentials of Friendship with God.

1. Before you can even think of God as your friend perfect reconciliation is obviously necessary. This full reconciliation is a great matter when we remember our sinfulness. Col 1:21 is true of every child of God. Without the work of Jesus in reconciliation there can be no friendship with God.
   
   
2. Friendship as Thomas Watson says is the marriage of affections, this is especially true of the believer's friendship with God. In heart, mind and will the believer must love the things God loves and hate the things that God hates. Jesus in John 15:14 makes this an essential: ‘you are my friends if you do whatever I have commanded you.' James makes this point in chapter 4:4 ‘Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God.'
   
   
3. Friendship includes mutual delight. We do not think of ourselves as being a delight to God - as sinners we cannot understand how God can delight in us, yet in Isaiah 62:4 we are told that God delights in His people. We delight in God when we worship Him. It is a delight to sing His praise, to tell of His grace, to thank Him for His mercies, to listen to His word and draw near the Throne of Grace. Can friendship exist where there is no delight in God, and worship seems a burden?
   
   
4. Friendship includes hearts being united in purpose. What is the common purpose between God and His friends? That God be glorified. God's creation exists for glorifying God. Those who are friends of God strive to glorify Him deliberately in their words, deeds, thoughts, affections, motives and attitudes.

Conclusion.

There is no greater privilege on earth than to be made a friend by God. Only those who have been reconciled to God through Jesus by the Spirit can be friends of God. Does God call you a friend?