A relationship with God, based on mutual love, matures into friendship.
Text John 15:13-15 Isaiah 41:8; James 2:20-24
In these texts, Abraham became a friend of God; the disciples became friends of Jesus Christ. A relationship with God based on mutual faithfulness, obedience, love, faith, and hope becomes a friendship with God.
Our Objective: As part of your New Year’s resolution, use both your good and bad experiences in 2024 to build a good relationship with God.
WHY GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD?
God's special blessings come upon those who have a good relationship with Him (Mark 10:28-31; Isaiah 26:3). Most people really want God to treat them uniquely; they want God to be just and nice to them, but they don't even love God.
A good relationship with God will affect all other relationships positively and vice versa. E.g., when Adam sinned, it affected his relationship with Eve (Gen 3:8-13); Cain killed Abel (Gen 4:); When people have a poor relationship with God, this will breed a wicked society (Gen 6:5-8).
To have a good relationship with God is the ultimate goal of life (John 17:3; Luke 12:13-21).
WHAT IS A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD?
A relationship with God based on mutual love leads to friendship with God.
HOW TO BUILD A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
Be Born Again. Thus, God does not tell a sinner how to do good deeds but to repent and to receive forgiveness of sins and cleanings (John 3:3-35; Ezekiel 36:24-28). When you tell a wicked person to do what is right, they become a hypocrite and remain in their sins.
After being born again, walk before God blameless, doing what will please Him (e.g., Enoch Genesis 5:21-24; Abraham Gen 17:1-2).