More to the Story

Friends of God

In John 15:15, Jesus said:

"No longer do I call you servants (slaves), for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you."

For most people grammar is near if not at the top of their “most boring” list. However, at times the grammar of what and how something is said is insightful. So have patience as we explore the details of the above verse.

The form of the word “call” in the beginning of this verse in the original Greek is present indicative active tense indicating that Jesus is no longer calling (that is continuously calling) them servants. However, the second use of the word is in the perfect tense, that is, an action performed in the past with continuing consequences. The action is summarized and presented in its entirety - English analogy — “he loosed the arrow”. The perfect tense is considered by many to be a third type of aspect (perfect or stative) that is focusing on a state that arises from a previous action. This is complicated Greek grammar but here is how it breaks down: Jesus is saying that in some time in the past he called us friends even though he was also calling us slaves. He was a friend to the slave.

The real surprise is this, since the members of the Trinity are in complete unity, John 10:30:

I and the Father are one.

Then by implication each member of the Trinity calls us a friend!

Once we realize that each member/person of the Trinity considers us as a friend, let us consider what this or any friendship means.

1. The apostle Paul said bad company corrupts good morals (1 Corinthians 15:33). The converse of this statement is: good company enhances good morals/character.

This is hinted at in Romans 12:2:

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

And Hebrews 10:24, 25

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

2. In everyday life one strengthens friendships by conversation, activities and spending time together. So naturally proceeding from the previous concept, intentionally spending time with each member of the Trinity enhances your friendship as well as your character and morals! Practically speaking, this is not only limited to your quiet time and bible study! How about considering inviting your Friends along to enjoy mundane/secular activities with you?! A whole level of intimate friendship is possible when doing chores, your job, doing sports or spending time with your spouse. Jesus defined love in terms of a friend’s sacrifice in John 15:13:

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

If one thinks about it, God is intimately interested in every aspect of our individual lives.

Finally, Jesus said: “I have called you friends”, this "have called" raises an additional question. To whom was he talking? It does not make sense that it was the disciples, since this appears to be new information for them. (Jesus did not say “You remember me telling you . . . “). Why would he phrase it this way unless it is only to remind them of the fact of something He had said previously? A surprising alternative answer could very well be that it was part of the conversation occurring from the foundation of the world, as referenced in Matthew 25:34:

Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

Ephesians 1:4

Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love

And Revelation 13:8:

And all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.

We certainly know there was a conversation from Genesis 1:26:

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

From this verse and the many instances of Jesus talking to the Father we see that communication is inherently part of the divine community and may very well be part of being created in God’s image. This proclamation of friendship may very well have occurred in the divine community before the time of Genesis 1:1. Such is the magnitude of the Trinity’s love and friendship toward us!

Lesson:

Friendship is usually a two-way affair. However, in God’s case He loved us while we were yet sinners and estranged. Now that we accept Jesus as our personal savior, the sky is the limit as how rich and rewarding the friendship can be.

Questions for pondering:

Are there any areas in my life I would be uncomfortable inviting my Trinitarian Friends to enjoy with me?

If so why? What am I going to do about it?

Am I being honest with these friends – they already know all my secrets!