Apostles Church

SERMON TEXT:  John 15:1-17

This week, we will hear from God’s Word that friendship with one another is “The Good Life.”

You see, when we think back on our lives, what we remember most is people. We will measure our lives by our friendships.

God is Friendship.  He is the Holy Trinity.  God is Himself the relationships, the friendships He enjoys as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

For Jesus to abide in His Father means that He lives in His Father’s Love (v. 9).  Jesus remains in His Father’s Love, never leaving nor forsaking.  As the Father opens Himself in Love to the Son, so the Son opens Himself in Love to the Father. As the Father enters into the Life of His Son, so the Son enters into the Life of His Father. All of this opening and entering into each Other is in the very Person of the Holy Spirit.  And there is nothing Truer or More Beautiful in all of Creation than this opening, entering, abiding Love of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Our abiding in Jesus means the same thing as Jesus’ abiding in His Father:  For us to abide in Jesus means that we live in Jesus’ Love. (v. 9)  We remain in Jesus’ love, never leaving nor forsaking.  As Jesus opens Himself in Love to us, so we open ourselves in Love to Him.  As Jesus enters into our lives, so we enter into His Life.  And all of this opening and entering by Jesus and us is also in the very Person of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus befriended us out of His Friendship with His Father in the Holy Spirit. Just as Jesus has befriended us out of His Friendship with His Father in the Holy Spirit, so we may befriend one another out of our friendship with Jesus. 

The Gospel frees us to make friends – good friends, lasting friends, memorable friends.

Just as Jesus opens His Life to us, so may we open our life to another.   And just as Jesus enters into our life, so may we enter into the life of another.

And these two movements of friendship – Trinitarian and theological, as they are – are what I want you to take away with you:

First, the Gospel gives us courage to open our life to another.

Second, the Gospel gives us compassion to enter into the life of another.

For Jesus’ sake and yours, let in and move in.  Let a friend into your life and move into the life of a friend.

You’ll be creating your best New York memories …