We are told in the Bible that Abraham was called “THE FRIEND OF GOD.” It appears
from an initial glance at James 2:23 that Abraham became God's friend simply by
receiving Christ to be saved; however, we must also consider other Scriptures to
obtain the correct interpretation.
Certainly, a sinner only needs to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ to have forgiveness of sins and eternal life; however, James 4:4 plainly teaches that to be a friend of the world is to become God's enemy. James 4:4, “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” So a worldly believer who is a friend of the heathen world is not God's friend, although they may genuinely be saved.
Some false prophets like Paul Washer errantly teach that there's no such thing as a “carnal Christian,” but he is very wrong. 1st Corinthians 3:1-3, “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?” The apostle Paul called the carnal believers at the church of Corinth “babes in Christ,” not “unsaved reprobates or unbelievers.” Clearly, it is possible to be a child of God while still living a worldly life in the flesh. Albeit, a person is not God's friend if they are friends with the sinful world. 1st John 5:19, “And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.”
In the following passage of Scripture from Genesis 26:1-5, we are told why God chose Israel (i.e., Abraham's descendants) as His nation. It was “Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.”
Genesis 26:1-5, “And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar. And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of: Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father; And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.”
Abraham was saved and living according to God's
commandments. If you want to be God's friend, then you need to believe the good
news (gospel) of Jesus Christ Who died, was buried and
resurrected three days later (1st Corinthians 15:1-4); and then you need to
walk in the Spirit of Christ in you. The moment that you get saved, you are born
anew by the Spirit of God, Who comes to indwell (live within you) for the rest
of your life (Romans 8:9). Scriptural proof for what I am teaching is found in
Galatians 5:25, “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”
I love this Bible verse. Every Christian lives in the Spirit, that is, the
Holy Spirit lives in us. Romans 8:14, “For as many as are led by the
Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” The born-again believer is led
by the Holy Spirit; whereas the unsaved person is led by the spirit of Satan.
Ephesians 2:2, “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this
world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now
worketh in the children of disobedience.” The heathen world is receptive
to the demonic spirit world. This is why the world is so crazy!
Can A Worldly Christians Still Be Saved?
The Bible teaches that Abraham was God's friend, because Abraham trusted upon the name of the Lord (the coming promised Messiah) and because Abraham lived by that faith. There is debate amongst theologians, Bible students and preachers as to whether or not a Christians can be worldly and still be genuinely saved. The answers are clearly, “YES,” if one studies the Bible carefully. The Bible is filled with Christians who sinned horribly—whether it be Joseph's half-brothers betraying him into a life of slavery, Samson's sexual sins, David's adultery and murder, Abraham's lying, Jeremiah's quitting the ministry, Jonah's running from God or Peter's cursing and denying the Lord's name. We're all sinners. This doesn't mean that it's permissible to sin, God forbid!
Romans 3:31, “Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.” The purpose of the Old Testament Mosaic law is to show humanity our sinfulness, and then point us to Jesus Christ for forgiveness. Galatians 3:24-25, “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.” But as we just read in Romans 3:31, just because we came to Christ and the law has done its job, that doesn't mean that we forsake the law. Rather, we establish and keep the law!!!
Having said that, many believers are “saved; yet so as by fire” (as we read in 1st Corinthians 3:15). The very fact that the Bible tells us this is evidence that there will be lousy believers who lived in sin, never accomplished anything for God and wasted their life here on earth. This is why 2nd Corinthians 5:9-11 says that it will not go acceptably for them on judgment day at The Judgment Seat Of Christ. They will face the “TERROR OF THE LORD!” (verse 11). Obeying God as a believer is a matter of consecration and rewards in Heaven, and NOT of salvation. It is our “reasonable service” as Romans 12:1-2 teaches, but NOT required for salvation. Eternal life is a “gift,” plainly taught in Romans 6:23 and Ephesians 2:8-9. Romans 5:15 even calls salvation a “free gift.”
Even the best Christians are still dirty, rotten, sinners! No one is a shining example of what the rest of us should be. Everyone where's a mask to some degree, trying to live above reproach. It is possible to live above reproach if we're careful as Christians, but NO ONE CAN LIVE ABOVE SIN! NO ONE! Romans 3:23 teaches “FOR ALL HAVE SINNED...” When any person gossips or focuses on another's person's horrible sins, it is only because they are sinfully proud, arrogant and fail to see there own wickedness. A mature Christians always says... “WE HAVE SINNED!” (not “she” or “he” or “they have sinned”).
1st John 2:15-17, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”
It would appear that 1st John 2:15-17 requires forsaking the sinful world to be saved, but it does not mean that. What the Bible DOES teach is that sin hinders people from getting saved, to avoid having their sins reprimanded as John 3:20 teaches, “For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.” The wicked world avoids Christ and His Word, because they love their sins. To be saved requires repenting (that is, changing one's mind about sin, acknowledging one's self as a sinner). To be saved, the homosexuals must admit, “Yes, homosexuality is a sin and I am guilty before God for violating His commandments.” Even though a person does NOT have to cease from committing any sins to be saved, we DO have to at least admit (agree) with God that we are SINNERS in need of the SAVIOR. Salvation is so simple. All you have to do is trust upon the name of Jesus for what He did to pay for your sins. To be saved, simply receive the gospel as full-payment for YOUR sins. The gospel is the good news that Christ DIED, was BURIED and then miraculously RESURRECTED after three days. Christ has risen!!! (Romans 8:34). Salvation is of the heart (Romans 10:9-10).
Something that I have learned as a Christian is that the Bible automatically associates being saved along with loving Jesus and forsaking ther world. This is why 1st John 2:15-17 speaks of doing the will of God along with forsaking the world. Taken by itself, the reader could misinterpret the Bible while reading 1st John 2:15-17. However, if we cross-reference this passage of Scripture with John 3:20 and John 6:40, then we find the truth. John 6:40, “And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” We see Christ in the Scriptures and then believe on Him to be saved. The Godless world rejects Christ, but we receive Him and trust upon His name! If truly saved, there should be some type of desire to pleasure the Lord. We live right because WE ARE saved, and NOT to GET SAVED. That's the big difference! If you try to live right to get saved, then that's wicked self-righteousness and you'll go to hell forever. Salvation is obtained only through CHRIST'S RIGHTEOUSNESS, which God imputes to us by faith at the time of salvation (Romans 4:5-6). We are saved by resting in Christ's finished work of redemption. Adding anything to faith is a false plan of salvation!!!
We try to do right because we are already saved (if you are indeed saved) and the Lord's Spirit in us compels us to live right. This does NOT mean that good works are required for salvation. IT DOES NOT! Salvation is a free gift, paid for by Jesus' precious blood. Salvation is received, not achieved. We are saved solely by God's grace, through faith. Grace is God giving us what we don't deserve; whereas mercy is God not giving us what we do deserve! We all deserve to burn in the Lake of Fire forever. That's hard for humans to grasp because we aren't as holy as God is, so we cannot comprehend the depth and extent of our wickedness. However, if the Bible says that all Christ-rejecters will spend eternity suffering in Hell (and it does in Revelation 20:11-15), then we know it is true because we trust God and God cannot lie (Titus 1:2).
I have provided numerous Scriptures to explain the
differences between being a worldly believer verse being a religious unbeliever.
That's what it really all boils down to. Yes, there are many worldly believers,
but FAR MORE religious unbelievers. Over 1,000,000,000 Roman Catholics are
unsaved. They have religion without truth. I've attended several Catholic masses
and I get the creeps every time I visit. No one opens any songs books or Bibles,
because it's all memorized chants and recited dead prayers. Jesus even
acknowledged that unsaved heathens do pray. Matthew 6:7-8, “But when ye
pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they
shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for
your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.” Only
the unsaved religious people fail to recognize their dire circumstances, because
Satan has blinded their minds to the gospel as 2nd Corinthians 4:3-4 teaches.
Are You The Friend Of God?
Amos 3:3, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” Most people are NOT saved. Most religious people are NOT saved. The Bible plainly teaches in Amos 3:3 that we cannot walk with God unless we're in AGREEMENT with God. Abraham obeyed God's laws, commandments and statutes. The Bibles refers to the different principles, laws and instructions from God on how we're supposed to live. The Creator of the human race didn't leave us to guess, wonder or figure out what to do. On the contrary, He gave us exact instructions on what He expects from us. God is a good God. The Godless world puts God on trial every day, slandering and blaspheming the Lord. We are dirt from the earth, yet man can be so arrogant against his Maker. What saith the dirt to the Creator? God spoke the universe into existence, but He lovingly “formed man of the dust of the ground” (Genesis 2:7).
So many people these days are fools, thinking that God makes people homosexual and approves of such wickedness as a form of love and affection. If you believe such nonsense, then you are NOT in agreement with God. You are only in agreement with God to the same extent that you're in agreement with the Scriptures. People who are woefully ignorant of the Word of God usually are the first to allege that the Bible has too many different interpretations to agree upon. The truth is that they've never even studied the Bible. Hebrews 11:6 says that only by faith can God be pleased, and that God rewards those who diligently seek Him. You can't seek God if you don't “SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES” as Jesus commanded in John 5:39-40, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” No man can come to God nor Heaven without acknowledging that Jesus Christ came as the Godhead incarnate (in the flesh). John 1:1-3,14 plainly teach that the Godhead became flesh and dwelt among us as the only begotten Son of God. Jesus is precious!!!
You'll NEVER become God's friend if you support pride,
arrogance, abortion, homosexuality, fornication, public nudity, dirt-mindedness,
rebellion, feminism, Rock 'N' Roll, greed, humanism, evolution, covetousness,
taking the Lord's name in vain, dishonoring one's parents, gossip, slander,
lust, false religion, corrupt Bibles, witchcraft, psychics, idolatry and
drunkenness. These are horrible sins that bring the judgment of God (1st
Corinthians 6:9-10; Jude 1:7; Colossians 3:5-6; Romans 1:24-32). God's way is
the King James Bible way!!! The Lord doesn't have many friends these days. Jesus
foretold that the end times would return as it was in the apostate times of
Noah, when people married and were given in marriage (Matthew 24:37-39). They
went from one adulterous relationship to another, living in today's hookup
culture of sexual looseness and lack of commitment, fleeing from one marriage to
another in adultery and fornication. God's way is one marriage between one man
and one woman for life! (Hebrews 13:4-5; Matthew 19:8).
Are You Resting In The Gospel Of Jesus Christ?
Thankfully, and fortunately, every person is offered the free gift of eternal life and forgiveness in Christ. I can't believe that so many people flaunt God's mercy and grace, even blaspheming the very God Who has given His Son for their sins. Wow! I am not worthy, and neither are you! Can any man truly grasp the greatness of what God has so marvelously done for us? I think not.
There's no other book, nor religion, nor prophet, nor teaching, nor philosophy in existence that can even compare or compete with the awe, greatness, amazement and grand scale of what the Bible reveals; of all that God has done for mankind through the Lord Jesus Christ!!! Oh my friend, whoever you may be, I plead with you... “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him” (Hebrews 2:3). Acts 4:10-12 plainly states that there is NO other name given among men, whereby we must be saved, than the name of JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH!!!
Romans 4:5, “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” Repeatedly we are warned throughout the Scriptures that God's salvation is offered freely to mankind (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 11:6; Titus 3:5); paid for by God's gift of His dear Son, and the blood that He shed for us. How much greater then are we insulting God, even trampling underfoot the blood of His covenant, when we ADD anything to it. Don't be deceived, no one who professes to be a Christian is truly saved if they HAVEN'T yet ceased from their own human efforts...
Hebrews 4:10, “For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works...”
Those who teach that faith alone cannot save, but that there must also be human effort—to depart from sin, forsake the world, and surrender to Christ—are NOT SAVED!!! Hebrews 4:10 confirms this! There's a fine line between faith and foolishness, between Heaven and Hell, between salvation and damnation. The dividing line is human effort. Add it and your doomed. Cease from it, and trust upon the Lord, and you're saved! Any attempt to improve mankind spiritually without the Gospel is religious humanism. Don't leave out the cross!!! Jesus DIED, was BURIED and RESURRECTED after three days. That's the Gospel according to 1st Corinthians 15:1-4.
What an awesome God!!! I encourage you whoever you may be to place your total trust in “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Christ bore our burden of sin upon the cross, so we don't have to go to Hell forever. Thank you Lord Jesus for dying for my sins!
