Entering Into God’s Presence Knowing God Through His Roles & Titles

Jesus Our Friend (Sphere of Family) To Study and Ponder

• “Many will say they are loyal friends, but who can find one who is truly reliable?” (Pro.20:6).

  God is that “truly reliable” friend who will never let us down. He is that “real friend [who] sticks closer than a brother.” (Pro 18:24), who “is always loyal” (Pro 17:17) in any and all circumstances. Jesus is “a real friend” to us and invites us into the place of intimate friendship with him. He says, “Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn’t choose me. I chose you,” (Joh 15:12-16). You can’t chose who your brother is; but you can choose who your friend is. It is ever so extraordinary that he – the God over all creation – has chosen us to be his friends!

• An enemy seeks to find fault with you to tear you down; a friend always stands with you, to champion and support you. “God is for us” (Rom 8:31) – as only a true friend can be. His attitude toward us in never negative, cynical, critical, nor contrary towards us. He’s on our side, always seeking the best for us. He’s a true friend.

• Because he is such a reliable friend we should pay attention to his words. “The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense” (Pro 27:9). Even when his counsel is corrective it is done with our highest well-being in mind. We are taught that, “Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy” (Pro 27:6). If this is true with human friends, how much more so with God! He never “wounds” us casually, but only brings correction with an intent to bless us and guide us into that which will give us “a rich and satisfying life” (Joh 10:10).

• We listen carefully to a friend; we converse easily with a friend. A friend is the one with whom we share our most intimate thoughts. We feel at ease. We are comfortable when talking with our friend. That’s what our relationship with God should be like. Talk to God about anything and everything – the good, the bad and the ugly. “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you” (1Pe 5:7).

• These three roles/titles related to the family sphere – Father, Son, Friend – correspond to the three persons of the Trinity. Jesus calls the Holy Spirit an “Advocate” (LEB, NET, NLT, NRSV), “Comforter” (ASV, DARBY, KJV, YOUNG), “Counselor” (HCSB, NIV, RSV), “Helper” (ESV, GNT, ISV, NASB, NCV, NKJV), or “Friend” (MESSAGE). The Greek word is parakletos (#3875). It is used of the Holy Spirit in Joh 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7; and of Jesus in 1Jo 2:1. “The noun parakletos refers to the one who is called upon to render aid. It was used in the law courts of one who pleads another’s cause before a judge, a counsel for the defense, an advocate. In the widest sense it means ‘a helper, a succorer, one who aids another.’ In this sense, God is our truest friend. He is for us, on our side as friend, champion, advocate. Many incorrectly see God as our accuser – but that is the role taken up by the enemy (Rev 12:10), not by God. On the contrary, God stands up for you against the enemy as you come into his presence. So, let us enter his presence and allow ourselves to be embraced by his loving friendship and transformational advocacy on our behalf.

• The bridegroom and bride relationship should be the closest of friendships. Throughout the New Testament we have images of the church as the bride, Jesus the bridegroom speaking of the relationship depth and commitment God intends for us all.

  - Paul speaks of the jealousy of God over the church at Corinth, a pure bride to one husband —Christ, who were being deceived by false apostles. (1Corinthians 11:1-5)

  - There are multiple pictures of the bride prepared and beautifully dressed for her husband in the book of Revelation. ( Rev.19:7; 21:2,9; 22:17)

• Let Jesus stir your heart afresh with the wonder of being loved by him as a friend!

• The Greek word for ‘friend’ is philos - he who associates familiarly with one, a companion (philos is the root word for the verb for love, phileō. - Online Bible) A contemporary understanding of friendship is: a person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection (Online Dictionary)

• Friendship is a two-way commitment that takes time and effort. Jesus makes plain that friendship with him entails obeying his command to love each other the way he loved us. (Joh 15:12) Hating a brother is not an option!(1Joh 4:20) We may be in danger of devaluing friendship when we call someone a friend though we hardly know them, when we “friend” hundreds of people on Facebook who are not actually friends. Real friendship is a significant relationship that can be used by God in our lives. Friends celebrate our joys with us and also help to carry and encourage us in difficult times.


  Meditation/Memory: LowerGrades:YouaremyfriendsifyoudowhatIcommand.John15:14 (NLT)
  A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need. Proverbs 17:17 (NLT)

  Middle Grades: This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. John 15:12-14 (NLT)

  Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. 1 Peter 5:7 (NLT)

  Upper Grades: There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. John 15:13-15 (NLT)

  If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see. 1John 4:20 (NLT)