You have read about destructive friends and devoted friends. Now we look at the Divine friend. There is only one divine friend. Proverbs 18:24 says, “There are ‘friends’ who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.” That is how the New Living Translation reads. In John 15:13-14, the Lord Jesus said, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.”
The Lord Jesus laid down His life by submitting to death by crucifixion. He did that to take upon Himself all the sins of the world for all time. in 2 Corinthians 5:21, Paul wrote, “For God made Him Who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” Did you catch that? The One Who never sinned became sin on our behalf. Everyone who ever lived. Everyone who lives and everyone who will ever live. The Lord Jesus took upon Himself all that sin. It is no wonder that as He suffered on the cross, the sun did not shine because of the darkness of sin displayed. It is no wonder that our Lord would cry out the words of Psalm 22, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” As the Lord Jesus bore your sins and mine, for the first and only time, the Father glanced away because of the wickedness of humanity.
This was always His plan. Humanity was the crown of His creation. Through Adam, sin entered the world and death through sin. It was not just physical death. It was a separation from the Creator God. Even before the fall of Adam, this omniscient God had this plan. When the time was right, He would send His only Son to live a perfect life in a world overrun with sin. Ultimately, He would die, the innocent for the guilty, taking the wrath of the God the Father upon Himself so that whosoever believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.
This is what the Divine Friend does for you. He can make you righteous before God by His sacrifice (Romans 5:1). He can guarantee your eternal salvation by sending the Holy Spirit to live in you to teach you truth, convict you of sin, and direct you to the right path. He will empower you to do God’s will until God calls you home. Who is this Divine Friend? His Name is Jesus!!
