JOHN 15:12 YE ARE MY FRIENDS

DougE

Well-known member
John 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

15:14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

The disciples of Christ, the believing remnant of Israel were to love one another as Christ; Christ would lay down his life for his friends.

James 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

2:22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

The Lord spoke with Moses face to face, as unto a friend (Exodus 33:11). The prophets declared Abraham was God's friend forever (2 Chronicles 20:7). Abraham was justified by works under the circumcision covenant when he offered up Isaac (Genesis 17:11 Genesis 22:2). Abraham obeyed God and so demonstrated and fulfilled the scripture that he believed God; his faith worked together with his works and his faith was completed.

The disciples would be called friends of Jesus if they kept his commandments.

John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

The disciples were given the promise that whatsoever they should ask would be given.

1 Timothy 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

The church, the body of Christ was not given this promise. The church is to pray for all.

Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Paul says the body does not know what we should pray for and that the Spirit intercedes for us.

Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

We are to know that God is able to do above all that we ask.

John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

15:27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

The twelve disciples were with Christ from the beginning of his earthly ministry to Israel and would bear witness.

John 20:22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:

The disciples would be filled with the Holy Ghost at Pentecost in Acts 2 but in the verse above Jesus breathed on them and they received the Holy Ghost.

Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

The church, the body of Christ after trusting in Christ by believing the gospel (1 Corinthians 15:3-4) is sealed with the Spirit.
 
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