Never A Friend Like Jesus - Part 1 of 2

In this Junior welcoming her to another part cast of the Baptist Bible.

Our in law and he will will be in and in will will will show from school say in an since these programs are prepared in advance. I'm not able to know exactly where everything stands with regard to the coronavirus, but we are addressing that issue in minibar messages. We invite you to go to our website Baptist Bible. Our dock port where he can receive some up-to-date information.

I hope that the messages were bringing on this daily broadcast will be a comfort to you will be listening today to a message entitled, never a friend like Jesus.

We do need to hear from you if you're not able to get out my stamps send a letter you can go to the website Baptist Bible. Our talk or communicate with the slab able to make a donation. We do need your help with what a writer sets the Baptist Bible. Our Box 1737, Cincinnati, OH 45217 is on the plane, traveling to Oklahoma last week something of a heavy heart that morning. I tried to call on the Lord asked for his blessing was attempting to bring to mind, various scriptures that had been used of the Lord to give me comfort and strength in days gone by, and some of them I had already reviewed in my mind and then the tune of one of our hymns was coming to man. The first act couldn't get it placed could recall the first just came it was but as the tune continued to impress itself on my mind and I tried to pull a little bit in the words started coming to me. I couldn't get them altogether, but the words I could recall were a great comfort to me the Scripture say that we are to speak to ourselves in hymns Psalms and spiritual songs and God uses not only the songs that are given us the divine inspiration, but some of the marvelous hymns and spiritual songs that praise our Savior describe our experience to give us comfort and to teach us, giving us the instruction that we need in many areas of life. Couldn't wait to get to church that night so I can find the him in the book and read all the words to him expresses this thought loving me air. I knew him calling with voice so sweet burdens of life.

I brought him knelt at his wounded feet, not from that love can separate wonderful changeless free master I'll serve the ever never a friend like the reviews that came here many times.

But somehow it spoke to my heart that day and that evening, like it never had before.

Sunlight of gladness giving filling my heart with cheer air in his life I'm living ever. I know him near master in the abiding shadows of earth, mostly ever by children guiding never liked like the giving the gifts immortal life that endures for a thing the heavenly portal leading and Royal Way counting with joy excelling air of his grace, I'll be master thy praise. I'm telling never keying like the and in the course sing of a friend so loyal sing of a friend so true, giving his gifts so Royal blessings that a our new King of the heavenly glory lowly of earth was he master way saying my story never was one like the never a friend like the we all feel a great need to have friends. What a blessing to have many friends whose company you enjoy people who love us to care enough about you to encourage you to help you if necessary, to warn and rebuke you but the best of friends on this earth sometimes disappoint us, and friends can hurt us most deeply. Occasionally you hear somebody say well I have been hurt so terribly that I don't ever want to again have a close friend, but as followers of Jesus Christ.

It would have fellowship with one another. We are never allowed to reach the place to say. I will no longer open my life and open my heart to embrace a friend even when the disappointments are sometimes difficult to take, but isn't it good to know that in spite of the fact that our friends here they sometimes disappoint us, and sometimes harmless.

There is a friend that sticks closer than a brother and his name is Jesus the Gospel of John chapter 15 Jesus speaks to his disciples.

The 14th verse he says he are my friends if you do whatsoever I command you are not saying that if you will begin to keep my commandments, and perceived by some legalistic approach to gain my favor that I will be your friend.

Rather, he is saying the evidence that your my friends is that you do what I command you. Since these to whom Jesus spoke were his friends, and I trust today that we are able to save not only is Jesus Christ our friend, but we are his friend. How does this friendship originate by nature are not friends of Jesus we are alienated from them going in the wrong direction fact we read this in the fifth chapter the book of Romans talks about our natural condition.

The fallen state which we were because we were related to Adam and Adam willfully transgress the law of God and plunged his seed and posterity into a state of corruption. Romans chapter 5 verse seven. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die yet. Peradventure for a good man. Some would even dare to die. But God commended his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us, Christ did not die for the good, the working but for sinners like came to this earth, he came to seek and save that which was lost. The disciples could not envision that their master would have to die it was ready to fight in defense of the Savior when they came to carry him away. But Jesus knew that from the time you left the ports of glory the mission before him was the work of redemption and redemption can only be accomplished by his death so is looking toward the cross. It was when we were without strength and in due time Christ died for the ungodly. But God commended his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him when we were what enemies if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God with the death of his son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life, somebody might save a preacher I can't remember a time in my life when I was an enemy of Jesus Christ.

It could well be that the sovereign operation of the Holy Spirit to work of grace was wrought in your heart and early on the authority of God's word. I can say today that is a part of Adams family. You are alienated from God you were at enmity with him you were not his friend lift yourself, you would never come to him. Romans three tells us that there is none that understand that there is none that she could after God. Ephesians 2 and one says UFT Quicken who were dead in trespasses and in sin, one who is spiritually dead, has no ability to get up and move toward God, Jesus, as you will not come to me that you might have life, you cannot come. You will not come you don't desire it, you're not interested in a man in his human nature can become very religious is religious activities or extensive the rituals that he develops are sometimes quite involved. As far as one becoming a friend of Jesus because he determines it by his own free will.

This is never occurred and never will. All of us were going astray.

All of us were moving in the wrong direction. How then is it that we have become his friend because he chose us back to John chapter 15 says of the 13 first greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends were making love person might say I would do anything for you and make any sacrifice on your behalf to come down to the point of actually giving one's life for another would be a tendency to be somewhat reluctant about, so there's no greater love than this, that a man should lay down his life for his friends.

So I have difficulty putting this together. What you said that by nature. We were his enemies. That's true, how then is it that he gave his life for his friends. He says in verse 16. You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit and that your fruit should remain that whatsoever he shall ask the father in my name he may give you know you by nature or an enemy don't you even in and of yourself would never have come to him.

God according to his sovereign purposes determined to save people from before the foundation of the world and he chose them is not under any obligation to pacify the entire Adamic family and save no one but according to his love.

According to his grace and his mercy he determined to save the people and make choice of them chose them and accepted them. The beloved and predestinated them to be conformed to the image of his son given a lot of thought to what amazing love that is was nothing lovable about you about you or any member of this fallen race description is very vivid in Romans three.

There a part of ashes on their lips. The mouth is full of cursing and bitterness was no part of us nothing about us that would bring us into favor with God, or obligate him to us were very much like that in front of Ezekiel chapter 16 it was cashed out polluted in its own blood, and the date it was born. Nothing attractive. Nothing beautiful about that. It was the time of love and I passed :-) I spread my skirt over the end. This is what the Lord does brush by his amazing love and grace, unworthy and deserving as we are his chosen people and that he has made choice of a people is made all the arrangements necessary for them to ultimately be with p.m. and be like him forever in the 10th chapter of the Gospel of John, Jesus speaks these words in verse 27 my sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me. My sheep, the sheep are the friends that were given given the covenant of grace.

Those for whom he laid down his life. I know them, they follow me and I given them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My father, which gave the me, is greater than all and no man is able to pluck them out of my father's hand.

I and my father are one. What brings about this tremendous change.

These individuals who by nature were not friends of Jesus Christ were at enmity against God were going in the wrong direction. He first chose them. He then redeemed them at the cross.

He says I given to them, life, and they shall never perish and suggest to you that eternal life is provided on something of a conditional basis.

Worst of all, that you must do something to secure it and then secondly, you must do something to retained what a dreadful thought that you have eternal life today and lose it. Tomorrow would really be put life after all. I talk to people who live in a constant state of misery and fear because they were concerned though they believed to have been made. A recipient of the grace of God and that they had an experience of salvation, but if they did not meet a perfect standard or lease the standard that they had sent that they would have fallen out of God's love, care and grace and still be lost. According to this text.

He says I given to them eternal life doesn't offer it. It gives it and they shall never perish, never, never perish. No one is able to pluck them out of my hand. I mention we want, like I concedes the text says no man is able to pluck them out of his hand. But somebody could get out but I did get there's nobody in that wants out looking for an escape hatch. All green is handled like me.

There been no man is able to pluck them out. Satan himself cannot make such an attack that they would separate any of these from the love of God and a secure place that they have in the father's hand. So how do we become his friend was because of his choice because of his grace because of his love. What is he to for us as friends.

While I was recording this text. He keeps us he secures us he holds us up. He defends us he carries us in the midst of all of our trials here. And finally, shall present us in that great day when he stands in the presence of the father and says behold, I am the children, which thou was given me the whole family will be there. None will be missing every single soul given to him of the father every single one that he purchases across every single one in whose heart is taken up his abode by the operation of the Holy Spirit whereby these relate new creatures in Christ Jesus in Price's mailing you the hope of glory. They will all arrive safely. Behold, the children, which thou hast given me, he sustains them. In the meantime, he intercedes, we need one to plead our case in spite of the fact that the work of redemption was complete. In spite of the fact that when we are born of the Holy Spirit, that brings us into a living relationship with Jesus Christ which cannot be severed. There is still sin in our life from day to day. We promise that if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

We need one then to intervene, to intercede to be our advocate and Jesus Christ occupies that room. Romans chapter 8 verse 34 this is that wonderful portion of Scripture where the design of God's grace is laid out in beautiful detail. Speaking of the fact that those omitted for Nokia also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Verse 30 moreover whom he did predestinate let me also called in who we called them he also justified and whom he justified, them he also glorified once more. The emphasis is made that all of those that were he is in the covenant. All those having been chosen and predestinated or finally glorified start with a number you conclude with the same number displaying the certainty of the salvation which is by his sovereign grace.

What shall we then say to these things of God before us, who can be against us doesn't mean that you're not never have an opposition there many enemies but none can prevail.

None can be successful in their attempts to destroy you. None can be against us spared not his own son, but delivered him up for a small house and not with him also freely give us all things. He's given us the greatest gift. His son, Jesus Christ the apostles and find me under God for his unspeakable gift. If you that is giving you the greatest gift he will give you such lesser games as you have need of. We sometimes reluctant to ask and we sometimes feel such a sense of our unworthiness that we hesitate.

Will the Lord actually grant this mercy and give me this blessing that I so need at this time but he's proven that is a loving father. He's not going to satisfy all of our fleshly desires and all of our greedy ambitions, but he's going to give us such things as we have need to be used for the glory of his name, and he's proven it by first given us his son Jesus Christ and deeded to wonderful truth that we can say there is never a friend like Jesus. He's the friend that sticks closer than a brother. So in the most difficult of times we turn to him for the comfort and strength that we so desperately need. I hope you'll be back with us at the same time tomorrow. Until then, this is share Bradley Junior beating you goodbye and may God bless you all day and see all and all in the will and all