'Last Sermon of Jesus'
John 15:15b-17 "... but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. 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. These things I command you, that you love one another."
Brethren, this verse clearly states that friendship with Christ is exclusively His prerogative to grant and the appointed ones are summoned to bear fruits.
We can only bear fruit when we work out our faith by loving one another for faith without works is dead. Friendship with God cannot be purchased through prayers nor pleading until we fulfil this condition - love others
We can only bear fruit when we work out our faith by loving one another for faith without works is dead. Friendship with God cannot be purchased through prayers nor pleading until we fulfil this condition - love others
1John 4:20-21 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? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.
We know that we truly love God when we love our brethren through act of forgiveness, compassion, mercy, concern and helpfulness. We can sing, declare and testify of our love for God but if we have not loved our brethren, then, we have not loved God.
1John 4:11-12 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.
When we love one another we abide in Him and bear much fruit.
John 15:5 "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing."
Our Father is a just and righteous God and He will only choose those who love and abide in Him to be His friends and to bear fruit.
1John 4:16-19 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.
Warning - All those who still love the world cannot love their brethren because the love of the Father is not in them.
1John 2:15-16 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life- is not of the Father but is of the world.
Brethren, if we desire our Lord Jesus to be our Friend and to bear fruit, then we have no other choice but to love one another by keeping His commands. When God is satisfied that we are abiding in Him, for we have kept His commands. When our obedience brings pleasure to Him, then as a just and righteous God, He will choose us to be His friends and appoint us to bear fruit. Our faithful Father will then grant us, according to His words and promises, whatever things we asked of Him in the name of Jesus.
