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...in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their sins against them...2 Cor 5:19
...Through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Acts 13:38
"I will forgive their iniquity, I will remember their sin no more.” Jer 31:34b
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Servant and Friend – Ken Barnes
I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. (John 15:15 NIV)
When we become a friend of Christ, are we no longer a servant? Or, does friendship with Christ make us a more perfect servant?
Jesus calls his disciples friends, but they were still servants. A quick reading of this could lead us to conclude that a servant and a friend are two separate categories. Scripture must always be compared with other scripture before we can interpret it correctly. If there was ever anyone who was a friend of Christ, it was the Apostle Paul. Yet, at the beginning of the Epistle to the Romans, Paul says, “Paul, the servant of Jesus Christ,” not a friend of Christ. Adding friendship to service is determined by our motivation for serving. Service to Christ should never be just legal or compulsory in nature. We serve Christ because we want to, not because we have to, based on genuine affection. It is possible to serve Christ and not be his friend, but it is not possible to be his friend without a desire to serve him.
Context is essential for understanding the meaning of any verse of scripture. The previous verse (14), Jesus tells them that his friends do what he tells them to do, and what is that? To lay down their lives for their friends (13). Discipleship only happens through obedience, and without it, you will never be friends with God. Friends confide with each other, and God reserves his secret thoughts for his servant friends. It is not servant or friend, but servant and friend.
Contact Ken and read more from him HERE. |
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WRITE FOR JESUS!
Be a Better Christian Writer Six Month Program The world desperately needs more excellent Christian writers. FaithWriters is offering a plan to dramatically improve your writing for Jesus in six months. Go HERE to learn more. |
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Guaranteed to Improve
Your Writing!
Now Offering Direct Feedback on Your Entry From the Judges.
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FREE READS FOR REVIEW
Be inspired while you encourage and support new Christian authors. Read great Christian books for FREE in exchange for a brief review.
This is one of over 40 Great Christian books you can read for free in exchange for a simple review on Amazon. New Books come into the program on a regular basis.
Today's featured book in Free Reads for Review.
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The Gift of Self Esteem
Jim Thomson
Jesus taught us to love our neighbor just like we love ourselves. Often, "love ourselves" is the hardest part of that command. Counselor James Thomson shows us how to embrace The Gift of Self Esteem graciously given by God so that we can truly love ourselves as He wants us to do.
Go HERE to see today's book.
Go HERE to learn how Free Reads works.
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Now available in over 100 languages.
Unique Free Gospel tract that you can copy and reprint. This tract is being used in many locations around the world and producing much fruit. Print one out in your own language and then make copies to hand out. |
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Perfect to equip the believer for defending their faith. Ideal to send to a skeptical friend or family member. Great for teens and young adults who have never reviewed the objective evidence for God's existence and identity.
An in-depth study of the factual evidence leads a person to realize how little faith they need to believe, while they gain great faith at the same time.
Free e-book and bulk orders of print copies at our cost for handout HERE.
Recent Email:
"James told me that originally he saw and read this book at the Erie County Holding Center in Buffalo, NY. He told me that the book is amazing and had 6 signatures of men accepting Jesus as their Savior in the back before his." Email message from the spouse of an inmate who asked that 10 copies be sent to her husband in prison so he could share the gospel.
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