How To Become A Friend of God

John 15:13-17
By Harold Dinsmore, M.Div.
© 2007 Harold Dinsmore

             This morning we are going to explore a passage of scripture that took place during the time of the Passover Supper with Jesus and his disciples.  We covered the second coming of Christ last week which was based out of John 14.  Today I want us to focus on John 15:13-17.  Please stand as we read the Word of the Lord. 

            How does a person become a friend of Christ?  By doing whatever he commands you.  By being a doer of the word.  James puts it to us this way in James 1:19-25.  This begins by saying swift to hear.  I remember my parents telling me I need to listen twice as much because the good Lord gave me two ears and only one mouth.  Now notice how he concludes verse 21, receive the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.  This goes along with what Jesus was saying back in our John 15 passage about abiding in the vine.  Have you ever read about engrafting a limb from one tree and placing it into another?  Look back at John 15:4-5.  He is the vine….the trunk….if you will and we are the branches.  We can do nothing apart from the vine.  We are engrafted into Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit.