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{"id":35514,"date":"2020-03-28T01:23:09","date_gmt":"2020-03-28T05:23:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/bibleandculture\/?p=35514"},"modified":"2020-03-07T06:24:00","modified_gmt":"2020-03-07T11:24:00","slug":"the-message-of-love-part-twenty-seven","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/bibleandculture\/2020\/03\/28\/the-message-of-love-part-twenty-seven\/","title":{"rendered":"The Message of Love– Part Twenty Seven"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

$\"\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

PATRICK: This links pretty closely to the last question. In our Facebook era the word \u2018friend\u2019 doesn\u2019t have much weight, you can have hundreds of \u2018friends\u2019 many of whom you may never have met face-to-face. But in the ancient world much attention was given to philos in both Greek thought (Aristotle for example) and Roman culture (hierarchical frameworks of friendship between patrons and clients). Also, in the OT, Abraham and Moses are both called friends of God. It\u2019s impossible to know exactly what lay in the background of John\u2019s use of friendship, but it\u2019s clear that believers\u2019 friendship with Jesus is unparalleled for at least four reasons that should lead Christians today to worship.<\/p>\n

1) It was unheard of for \u2018God in the flesh\u2019 to give up his own life for his friends. I say in the book at \u201cIf depth of love is somehow proportionate to that which is given up for the good of others, then the cross represents the greatest act of love in all of history.\u201d<\/p>\n

2) Believers\u2019 status changes from slaves to friends: \u201cI no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master\u2019s business. Instead, I have called you friends.\u201d This is a welcome into a new status and relationship. Again, this is astonishing.<\/p>\n

3) Unlike Greek or Roman notions of friendship, such a change of status does not depend on being virtuous enough or worthy enough to qualify, rather it is a gift of grace: \u201cYou did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you\u201d (15:16a). This is very good news.<\/p>\n

4) As we said in the last question, there is no contradiction between called Jesus\u2019 friends and faithful obedience. Disciples are chosen so that they might \u201cgo and bear fruit \u2013 fruit that will last\u201d (15:16). Love is transformative.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"