Paradise Cafe Discussions - A Place For Bible Research And Christian Encouragement

Why Doesn't GOD have more friends?
This is a totally serious inquiry.

I have found that only in the Bible did GOD ever call one man friend.
Maybe it was a mistranslation and something less was meant.

I think it is very accurate as even our Lord Jesus will only call a small group his brothers from what I have read.

My take on it is this. Our Lord said “a friend would stick closer then a brother” or something like that.
We have a saying that we can’t choose our Family but we can chose our friends.
We love our family but our friends if we are honest with ourselves are very hard to come by. I mean a real friend not the acquaintance type.

So maybe Even thou GOD does Love us all. He makes a distinction between the one who chooses GOD as friend over all others. Because maybe that one tried to understand the mind of GOD so to speakand became intimately familiar with his ways.

Pls add what you can.

I think it ties in with "LOVE"
Jesus said "if his disciples LOVED him they would do as he asked.
our free will allows us to be all we can be GOOD or BAD.
So how do we know we LovE him?

you have reminded me of something frank. when I was about 6 or 7 my parents started sending myself and my two brothers to sunday school. I LOved the Bible stories that were read to us. It was a Baptist church at the time as I grew up Baptist. One day the teacher read the story of the three Hebrew boys being throw into the firey furnace and I cried and cried because I felt so bad for God that he didn't have people who loved him like that any longer--I couldn't think of anyone that would go into a fiery furnace like they did and I thought all love of God was gone--I too wander through my life and wonder where all of God's friends are sometimes as I don't experience them through work associations or even family relationships but I know they are out there-- :heartbeat:

how do we know? to me whatever felt more real or more true? what would life be worth without God and Christ? It wouldn't even be life...to me :love:

Why doesn't God have more friends?

"And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil." - John 3:19

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. " - Romans 1:18

"The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." - Genesis 6:5

"You who are a of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong." - Habakkuk 1:13

"What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, as it is written:

“None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” “Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.” “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.” “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
in their paths are ruin and misery, and t the way of peace they have not known.” “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
- Romans 3:9-18

But that's not the end of the story. We have reconciliation with God.

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved- Ephesians 2:1-5

Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. - Ephesians 2:11-13

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but l God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by r his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. - Romans 5:6-11

Friendship with God is not just for the 'super spiritual', as is taught and implied by the Watchtower. All who are blood bought, born again, believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are not only God's friends, but his children and fellow heirs with Christ. Now how AWESOME is that. As the hymn writer wrote "Amazing pity, grace unknown, and love beyond degree."

Thanks for the replies, so far

"I couldn't think of anyone that would go into a fiery furnace like they did and I thought all love of God was gone--I too wander through my life and wonder where all of God's friends are sometimes as I don't experience them through work associations or even family relationships but I know they are out there--

how do we know? to me whatever felt more real or more true? what would life be worth without God and Christ? It wouldn't even be life...to me"

I believe that is why GOD calls the maority "DEAD"
the shell of a man that is without god is just an animated eat / sleeping / craping machine. And when let loose into the world can only destroy and tear down.

I think that since our Lord was here many have indeed stood by our father to the best of their ability over the past 2k yrs.


and Mavos nice scriptural reasons. But is their more? are you able to put your experince of life into a reason.
I am not trying to put you on the spot. so do not feel inclinded to answer if u are uncomfortable.

I like this
"I My God, why would You shed Your blood
So pure and undefiled
To make a sinful one like me
Your chosen, precious child?

But I differ in my beliefs with the many. I am not as much being saved from my sins as much as I am being randsomed from my accuser.
Does that make any sense?

For instance. if i was a little child and I slapped you in the face and you slapped me back we are even YES?
what if we are being scrutinized under a microscope of sorts to "Prove" a point of sorts. Maybe one that GOD is not a fit Father or is LOVING..
And all the thing we do to eachother are part of the "case" against GOD? We are a flawed and utterly hopeless creation? maybe.

I m just thinking/feeling out loud..
God has, felt regret, has hope, needs to make a reply to our accuser when we do make a good choice.
these are not the feelings of anyone who is only counting our "sins"
they seem to be the feelings of one who is sitting at the edge of his seat waiting for enough people in unison to make a reply to our accuser. the feeling of a DAY being a thousand years. or forever.
just waiting for

The final
I TOLD YOU SO.
A proud PAPA..

I'm not sure I understand your question. Would you be able to phrase it differently? Can you explain?

I think that the atonement does save us from our own sins, but it isn't limited to that. Here are some things I can think of that the atonement accomplished

1 - Defeated of Satan and Demons
2 - Gives us redemption
3 - Is our New Covenant sacrifice
4 - Buys our gift righteousness and Justification
5 - Ransom's us from anything and everything that would put us in bondage and slavery
6 - Gives us an example to live by and follow
7 - Reconciles us to God and restores our relationship with Him
8 - Is the ultimate revelation of God, his justice, holiness, wrath, love.
9 - Obsorbed the Wrath of God due us
10 - Is the legal payment of our dept
11 - Saves us from our sins

Of course there is much more, but those are a few things it has done.

A great book that's online is "Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die."

http://www.desiringgod.org/media/pdf/boo...jc_all.pdf

It's a small book. Each entry is about one page or so. You can read one entry a day or so. I think he does a great job. Enjoy it.

the only thing i can think of is.

gretting cards and songs.

we use them when we cannot find the words. or if what we feel is said better.

so while you quoted fine scriptures.

Does the life you live offer more then the scriptures.

As Jesus Life proved to me. That LOVE is a more acceptable LAW!!
and it allows for mistakes with repentance. and perfection is not what it is cracked up to be.

Does your Journey shed more on GOD's person and the why he has few friends.

I can give you my perspective. But I have more then enough opionions for evryone who has ever visited this place.

So I do try even thou it may not be apparent to keep them to myself.
BUt I am interested in peoples more personal relationship with our Father and each other.
We get a guide book for this life. "the bible" But when we get an education is when we start to see how to actually apply the bible to life.
I am an ignorant person by nature. And something forces me to continually beat things with my head no matter how much pain.
IN other words I am hard headed.
So I have lived a very long life in a short time.

SO let me see if I understand the question....

What does my personal relationship with the Lord and experience as a Christian tell me about why God has few friends?

Well God has few friends because many do not desire God. In fact, the majority of mankind hate God. They love their sin and rebellion, and they want to stay in it. God can't just forgive them either. He is Holy, completely separate and other from us. God must have some legal basis to forgive them. The demands of his justice must be met. Mankind is guilty of high treason. It would be unjust if God were to just forgive a person. Not only this, but God hates sin. Why does God hate sin? He hates it because it is a slap in His face. It is exactly opposite of his character. Sin is a revulsion in the sight of God. It deserves nothing but his wrath and hot displeasure. He can not befriend anyone so filled with sin, rebellion, and wickedness.

That is why the Creator and Judge, in his infinite mercy and wisdom, to the praise of his glorious grace and justice, added humanity to his divinity by becoming a man and then died upon the Cross as a substitutionary sacrifice in the stead of sinners. There the Lord Jesus, who didn't know sin, became sin for us, so that those who by God's grace repent of their sins, and place their full confidence, trust, faith, and love in the Lord Jesus might be freed from the curse of sin and enjoy the sweetness of reconciliation and restored friendship with God. God is able to have friendship with them because he doesn't see them or their sin, but because of their union with Christ, he sees them as they are in Christ. When God sees a saved sinner, he sees his Son. He sees how we one day will be perfected and conformed to His image. So upon that basis, restored friendship is available. We preach this wonderful opportunity to all who are still at enmity with God and beg them to be reconciled to him.

Hope that helps,

Matt

John 15:14-16 (New International Version)

14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 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. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

The thread is called "Why doesnt GOD have more friends?"


And here, you have quoted Jesus....are you now saying, that Jesus is God?


1 OF MINI, I dont know what to say!! ;);););)

Hi Mavos,

Thank you!! yea more or less I am ust trying to get to know how we all see this whole mess..

I agree with this "Well God has few friends because many do not desire God. In fact, the majority of mankind hate God. They love their sin and rebellion, and they want to stay in it"
100 %

The rest I agree with in parts.

I am under the impresion that GOD is not to far from being an onion..

when sealed by its skin we do not see the layers inside or get to crying as it is peeled away.

One thing I think I have come to understand about him is .

He is very misunderstood. no matter how many ways e has tried to explain his thought process to us dust particles we just don't really get it. even thou we think we do sometimes..

think about how afraid of him Moses camp was.. they didn't even want to see the glory on moses face.

Oh! Brother Digital,

Don't say anything dear Brother, all I did was quote the words of Jesus.

Here are some more of Jesus words...

John 5:19 (English Standard Version)

19 So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.

And... there that little snippet from John 15:15, where Jesus said, "for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you."


Our Master Jesus has merely imitated the Father's method of choosing friends.

Still, there is only one person mentioned in Scripture as "God's friend".

Abraham.


"two lepta"

LTA,
John

John, I think you're original quote of John 15 is very applicable. However, the text you have quoted from John 5 needs some explaining. There are far more implications in those texts than just mere imitation. “Whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.” This is much different from saying: Jesus chooses some things to do that he sees the Father doing and so only does what the Father is doing. Nor is it saying he is doing them by imitation. It says, “Whatever the Father does,” Jesus does. When the Father acts, Jesus acts. He is saying "I can do whatever God does, absolutely anything." This is the sort of thing the Jews heard Jesus say. And they concluded rightly: You talk like you’re equal with him. You talk as if for him to act is for you to act—as if there is some kind of essential connection or union. You're really treating yourself as equal with God in the way you talk about God. And the amazing thing is, Jesus let's it stand. Here's what's going on in this passage, the Jews are saying, "Hey, you're talking as if you're equal with God." Jesus responds by saying, "Yeah, I can do whatever God does. I am the one who is going to judge, and you ought to worship, honor, and love me just as you do the Father." No mere creature can claim these things. The main issue in this text is the way the Father and the Son are equal. Jesus places himself in a subordinate role and function to the Father, but claims ontological equality. When one is acting the other is acting—there are two implications, first if we don’t honor the Son, we don’t honor the Father, and second, if we believe on the Father through the word of Jesus, we have already passed from death to life and are on the other side of condemnation.

So to bring this back on subject, Jesus said we are his friends if we obey him. Therefore another reason why God has so few friends, is because so few obey the God who was manifested in the flesh, the Lord Jesus Christ.

This also got me wondering.

i do not know much about abraham. except I believe it was he who contended with an angel all night.

I wonder if Jesus critrea for friends is "new" since he imitates or if it is the same as has always been for Ou Father?

One note Friends Love eachother in a way that seems different then the parental love .
I tend to think Friends take eachother for granted less then family not sure thou

No, the one who contented with the Lord was Jachob. His name was changed to Israel, "to struggle with God".

Abraham was the one who "believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness."

thanks for the correction..
my mermory is not what it used to be for sure..

now that you said that
it is very similar to believing on christ we can gain grace thru faith..
did not make that connection before to abraham.
I wonder if thathas something to do with his being called friend