Gospel of John 09.vp

Ses s i on 6: Our Lover , Our Way -Truth-and- L i fe , and Our Vi ne 163

3. Jesus’ definition of friendship: access to the mind and heart of the Father through continued obedience to his will, 15.15

a. You are my friends if you do what I command you , 15.14.

b. I have called you friends for I have not withheld from telling you all that the Father’s has told me , 15.15.

4. The nature of authentic Christian calling: You did not choose me but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should remain, 15.156a.

5. As this occurs, you may ask the Father in my name for whatever you wish and he will give it to you , 15.16b.

6. The heart of the matter: These things I command you, so that you will love one another, 15.17.

a. Love is the great commandment in all the Hebrew Scriptures , Matt. 22.30-31.

b. Love is the fulfillment of the law , Rom. 13.8-10.

c. Love is the new commandment given to us by the Messiah himself , John 13.34-35.

d. Love is the greatest of all , 1 Cor. 13.1-8.

e. Love is not a burdensome commandment , 1 John 5.3 – For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.