Friendship with Jesus

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Friendship with Jesus

John 15:12-25

May 19, 2024 • Adrian Rogers • John 15:12–25

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Sermon Overview

Scripture Reference: John 15:12-25

It is a privilege to call Jesus our friend—to know Him intimately as a close companion. John 15:12-25 highlights five things about our friendship with Jesus: what it means, and what it makes of us.

First, friendship with Jesus elevates us.

“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” (John 15:15). Simply being His servant would be an honor. But friendship with Jesus lifts us to a level we could not reach without Him. We didn’t choose Him; He chose us (see John 15:16).

Adrian Rogers says, “A man is known by his friends; if you’re a friend of Jesus, you’re somebody.”

Friendship with Jesus also enlarges the company we keep.

“This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12). Friends of Jesus become friends with each other; He is our common bond. Because we love Him, we love one another, and the circle grows.

But we must also remember the cost of friendship with Jesus.

“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:13). Real friendships are expensive, but they are worth it. The highest service is when we serve because we want to, not because we have to. Serving and obeying Jesus does not earn us His friendship; it proves our friendship.

However, friendship with Jesus still enriches us.

Healthy friendships with good people sharpen us and make us better. On the contrary, unhealthy friendships make us dull and drag us down. Friendship with Jesus, who is the Vine, makes us fruitful.

Finally, friendship with Jesus means entering inevitable conflict with the world.

“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you” (John 15:18). Just as His friends become our friends, so do Christ’s enemies become our enemies. But it is an honor to be counted worthy of suffering as Jesus suffered.

Our deepest need is to have someone who understands us, and Jesus does; He is all we need.

Apply it to your life

Are you friends with Jesus? Have you made friends with His friends and seen His enemies rise against you? Consider your relationship with Jesus today.

The God-Man, Our Mediator

June 16, 2024 • Adrian Rogers • Job 9

Sermon Overview Scripture Reference: Job 9 Many of us wonder why bad things happen to good people. But the real question is: How can good things happen to bad people? Sin cannot be explained away by weakness or illness; man is a sinner by birth and by practice. We are too sinful to lift ourselves up to God, and He is too holy to lower Himself down to be only a man. The only way a holy God and sinful men can come together is through Jesus, the God-man, our Mediator. Job 9:2 says, “Truly I know it is so, but how can a man be righteous before God?” After experiencing disaster and loss, Job’s three friends came to him, asking the right questions, but giving the wrong answers. The first man, Eliphaz, spoke of a seducing spirit that appeared to him in a dream and gave him a satanic revelation to pass onto Job. (See Job 4:12-17.) Like Eliphaz’s experience, New Ageism, cults, and false doctrine run rampant today, spreading deceit. If we are neutral, we open ourselves up to demonism. The second friend, Bildad, spoke of humanism and sophisticated reason. (See Job 8:10.) He suggested that for Job to understand what he was going through, he needed to study the ancient wisdom and philosophers of the ages. Nowadays, those like Bildad point to the scientists and evolutionists for answers. These empty ideas are not only wrong but also poisonous. Job’s final friend, Zophar, suggested that the answer is legalism. (See Job 11.) Like Zophar, a lot of religious people will turn to sterile ritualism and self-reformation to try to be right with God. But Job recognized his real need for a mediator. He saw his need for Jesus before he even knew his name. 1 Timothy 2:5-6 says, “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time…” Jesus was a qualified mediator: being both God and Man. Adrian Rogers says, “As much a man as if not God at all… as much God as if not a man at all. Not half-God and half-man, but all God and all man, never another like Him, the God-man.” Apply it to your life Have you accepted Jesus, the God-man, our mediator? Do you see your need for Him, and seek Him first in times of need?

Jesus, Friend of Sinners

June 9, 2024 • Adrian Rogers • Luke 15

Sermon Overview Scripture Reference: Luke 15 Adrian Rogers says, “A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.” In Luke 15, Jesus responds to the Pharisees’ criticism with three parables: the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son. In these three stories, we see how much God loves us, and why Jesus is a friend of sinners. “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?” (Luke 15:4). Sheep are dumb and defenseless; they are completely dependent on shepherds to protect them from predators. They can't find their way home. In spiritual terms, we are very much like sheep. “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?” (Luke 15:8). A coin is meant to be spent or treasured, but one that is lost is worthless and unprofitable. This coin was lost in darkness, dirt, and disgrace. Likewise, we were created to know, love, and serve God; when we are lost, we are worthless. “...A certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood…” (Luke 15:11-12). In this final parable, Jesus begins the story of the lost son. After he received his inheritance and squandered it, there was a deep depression in the land. As a result, the son was broke; he was degraded to feed pigs in a foreign country, which brought great dissatisfaction. Like this lost son, we’ve gone astray and find ourselves desperate and spiritually starving. These parables not only explain the sinful nature of Man, but they also reveal the saving nature of God. Jesus Christ is the shepherd who rescues the lost sheep. The woman searching for her lost coin represents the Holy Spirit. God our Father is the father running to receive his prodigal son. God loves us; He is the Good Shepherd seeking us. He is the Holy Spirit shining light upon us. And He is the Father with arms open wide, welcoming us home. Apply it to your life Have you been rescued, revealed, and received by God? Worship God the Father, God the Son, and the Holy Spirit today. Let Him begin a good work in your heart.

Jesus, the Sinner's Refuge

June 2, 2024 • Adrian Rogers • Joshua 20:1–3

Sermon Overview Scripture Reference: Joshua 20:1-3 Jesus Christ is the hero of the Bible; every book, every illustration is about Him. If we look closely, we see He stands in the shadows of the Old Testament; when we do, every detail of Scripture is given a new meaning. In Joshua 20, God instructs Joshua to explain the cities of refuge to His people: “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘Appoint for yourselves cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses, that the slayer who kills a person accidentally or unintentionally may flee there; and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood’” (Joshua 20:2-3). These six cities of refuge are highly symbolic and teach us more about Jesus, the Sinner’s Refuge. Hebrews 6:18 says, “...we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us…” There is great significance in the names of these six cities, which reflect Jesus Christ. -Kedesh means a place of holiness. Above all things, Jesus Christ is holy. -Shechem means shoulder or support. We are carried on the shoulders of our Savior, who gives us strength. -Hebron means fellowship; it speaks of Christ, our satisfaction, and the divine joy of fellowship with Him. -Bezer means stronghold or fortification; Christ is our security, the One who keeps us. -Ramoth means exalted; it speaks of Christ our sovereign, the One whom we worship. -Golan means separate; after Jesus, we are not the same. Through sanctification, we are made new day by day. God wanted people to have safety and refuge, so He strategically placed the six cities throughout Israel. The roads were clear and level with signage that pointed travelers in the right direction. Likewise, Jesus has made a way to Himself; our City of Refuge is always near. He is closer than our next breath, for everyone who confesses He is Lord and believes in Him can be saved. (See Romans 10:13.) It is not enough to be near the city of refuge: we must enter in and begin a relationship with Jesus Christ. Apply it to your life Adrian Rogers says, “To be almost saved is to be altogether lost.” If you are inside the city of refuge, thank God for Christ our salvation, strength, and satisfaction. If you’re not, come in today; receive Jesus Christ. Warn and educate friends and tell them about the city of refuge.