John 15:9-17. Proofs of friendship. Jesus is our friend, a giving relationship, a submissive relationship, a sharing relationship, a fruitful relationship, a loving relationship

1. PROOFS OF FRIENDSHIP

2. John 15:9-17 "As the Father loved Me, I also have
loved you; abide in My love. (10) If you keep My
commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I
have kept My Father's commandments and abide in
His love. (11) These things I have spoken to you, that
My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be
full. (12) This is My commandment, that you love one
another as I have loved you. (13) Greater love has no
one than this, than to lay down one's life for his
friends. (14) You are My friends if you do whatever I
command you. (15) No longer do I call you servants,
for a servant does not know what his master is doing;
but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard
from My Father I have made known to you. (16) You
did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you
that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit
should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My
name He may give you. (17) These things I command
you, that you love one another.

3. JESUS IS OUR FRIEND
A. John 15:13-15 Greater love has no one than
this, than to lay down one's life for his
friends. 14 You are My friends if you do
whatever I command you. 15 No longer do I
call you servants, for a servant does not
know what his master is doing; but I have
called you friends, for all things that I heard
from My Father I have made known to you.
B. Luke 12:4 "And I say to you, My friends, do
not be afraid of those who kill the body, and
after that have no more that they can do.

4. I. The First Proof of Friendship:
A Giving Relationship
A. John 15:13-14 Greater love has no one than
this, than to lay down one's life for his
friends.
B. 1 John 3:16 By this we know love, because
He laid down His life for us. And we also
ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
C. Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you:
good measure, pressed down, shaken
together, and running over will be put into
your bosom. For with the same measure that
you use, it will be measured back to you.”

5. II. The Second Proof of Friendship:
A Submissive Relationship
A.John 15:14 You are My friends if you do
whatever I command you.
B.Ephesians 5:21 submitting to one another
in the fear of God.
C.1 Peter 5:5 Likewise you younger people,
submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all
of you be submissive to one another, and
be clothed with humility, for "God resists
the proud, But gives grace to the
humble.“

6. III. The Third Proof of Friendship:
A Sharing Relationship
A. John 15:15 No longer do I call you servants,
for a servant does not know what his master
is doing; but I have called you friends, for all
things that I heard from My Father I have
made known to you.
B. 2 Timothy 2:2 And the things that you have
heard from me among many witnesses,
commit these to faithful men who will be able
to teach others also.
C. Jude 22-23 And on some have compassion,
making a distinction; 23 but others save with
fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even
the garment defiled by the flesh

7. IV. The Fourth Proof of Friendship:
A Fruitful Relationship
A. John 15:16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you
and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit,
and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you
ask the Father in My name He may give you.
B. Galatians 5:22-26 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,
peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such
there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ's have
crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If
we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let
us not become conceited, provoking one another,
envying one another.
C. Matthew 7:18-20 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit,
nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that
does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into
the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know
them.

8. V. The Fifth Proof of Friendship:
A Loving Relationship
A.John 15: 17 These things I command you,
that you love one another.
B.1 John 4:19-21 We love Him because He
first loved us. 20 If someone says, "I love
God," and hates his brother, he is a liar;
for he who does not love his brother
whom he has seen, how can he love God
whom he has not seen? 21 And this
commandment we have from Him: that he
who loves God must love his brother also.

9. ARE YOU A FRIEND TO JESUS
A.Are you a friend of Jesus?
B.What are you doing to show you're His
friend?
1. Are you willing to die for Him since He
died for you?
2. Are you keeping His commandments?
3. Are you sharing Him with others?
4. Are you bearing fruit for Him?
5. Are you showing love for His brethren?