Are you a friend or an enemy of Jesus? A rather serious question, isn’t it? The answer cannot be given based on feelings, popularity, political correctness or any other standard that man may devise. Listen to the answer that Jesus gives, an answer by the way, by which we will be judged. Hear Him: “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you” (John 15:14). Here Jesus makes use of the law of the excluded middle again. The “if” is significant. Language could not be plainer. Jesus did not say that you are His friend by doing what your pastor, preacher, priest or creed book says. Question: What if one neglects or refuses to do what Jesus commands? Is he a friend or an enemy? Listen to what Paul said in Philippians 3:18: “For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ.” If one is a friend of Jesus because he obeys His commands, would it not also be true that he is an enemy who refuses to obey His commands? Again, there is no middle ground. As a friend of mankind, Jesus laid down His life. He gave this same mankind commands on how to be saved, and how to worship Him acceptably. Looking at your practice in the light of the Holy Scriptures, are you His friend or His enemy? Which do you truly want to be?
