My friends,

Sometimes the English language is not a friend to accurate Biblical understanding of our great God’s heart. Such is the situation when the Lord Christ clearly uses two different words to describe His “friends.” Of course, modern day teaching has ignored this to help celebrate and spread the Religion of Niceness.

One of the best things about the New Covenant record is that the inspired writings are in the Greek language. None of us has to be an expert in Greek to glean some of the facts conveyed from the mind of God.

To say the least, using this ancient language is an expressive strategy in communicating truth at all levels. Our Lord certainly knows how to teach the deep ways of His faith to us, His most trusted vessels of mercy.

For example, most of us have probably heard of at least the 4 types of “love” that are described in Greek by the single English word. Two of these words, eros and storge, do not themselves appear in the Bible. But their actions are shown plainly.

The most famous Greek word to us is likely called “agape” love used to translate about 250 times an affection towards others that’s both merciful and approving, that is both unconditional and conditional. This might be said to be a love from the heart itself.

Another Greek love type is “phileo” used over 20 times to translate the thoughts of having a fond and dear affection, but more from the head than the heart. You’ve heard of the city of ‘brotherly love’ know as Phil-adelphia, or ‘loving-brethren.’

You can see this concept used one of six times in the NT in Romans 12:10 where it commands us to be devoted to one another in ‘brotherly love.’ Even if the town of Philly here in the USA is not so loving these days, we assume at one time it was more so than today!

Of course, another type of love, eros, is sexual in nature, reserved for the wonderful confines of the marriage bed, a celebratory expression in some limited human way of the oneness God desires with us, and with each other as husband and wife in heterosexual marriage. This is one of the strongest emotions and drives in the human experience.

Storge love is family love, the bond among mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers.

Each type of love originates from the mind of God as only He can orchestrate. Praise be to His nature of loving holiness!

But…have you ever heard of Jesus’ two types of friends?

And which one might you be?

Let me explain my leading if I might.

Only by sifting the richness of the original written language can we uncover clues to the character and nature of God Himself. It’s a terrible sin to misrepresent the character and nature of the Creator.

If we have the tools to do so, and the insight of His Holy Spirit, then we’re obligated to live in such a way that acknowledges these facts. Also, we’re commanded to proclaim these facts to the others He has graciously placed in our sphere of life.

I stumbled upon this truth many years ago when studying the different uses of the word “friend.” My questions to God went something like this. ‘Lord, are all people your friends as we think of that endearing term? Is there anything that can begin to separate us from that love we’ve been erroneously taught is the same no matter what our behavior?’ In faith, He answered quite quickly as I recall.

Let’s take a look now.

The main use of “friend,” then, in the NT record is “philos” (fee’-los) and is used about 50 times to convey the emotions and actions of beloved, dear, friendly, etc. You’ll quickly notice that this Greek word is almost identical to one used in type 2 “love” above, “phileo.” For in actuality, “phileo,” or a type of “love,” is derived from “philos,” or “friend.”

Fascinating, isn’t it, how God weaves His truths to enlighten us to love each other in perfected unity?

How about a sampling of how it’s used to educate us a bit?

First, Jesus is a “philos” of sinners, His enemies using it as a term of derision:

Matthew 11:19 “The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”

Next, Jesus tells us we’re now “philos” to Him, and not just slaves, since His teaching us the Father’s ways prove us to be so:

John 15:15 “No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.”

Are there any conditions on this gracious blessing? Certainly not, you say.

But…that popular notion is absolutely false! Just one verse prior to this, Jesus first  proclaims that this intimate friendship is, at least in part, conditional upon our obedience.

This flies in the face of the teachings of American Christianity. So there’s both an unconditional and conditional part of love, both merciful AND approving based on our actions. Let’s read it together:

John 15:14 “You are My friends if you do what I command you.”

Not convinced yet? Let’s read it backwards, the inverse, for a more profound interpretation:

“You are not my friends (philos) if you do not do what I command you.”

If this shakes you up a bit, that’s good, for it did me too the first few times I dealt with who God really is, not what we’ve mistakenly created Him to be in our own human image.

We need to get over this false notion that Almighty God will compromise His holiness for His love. Never. At the throne, the angels sing from eternity past, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts. The whole earth is full of His glory (Isaiah 6:3).” They don’t sing, ”Love, love, love.”

What else, then, does Jesus say to His real “philos”? Next up are warnings to not fall away from the faith, but fear being cast into hell itself:

Luke 12:4-5 “I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!”

Also, Jesus warns His “philos” about what might happen in this dangerous world and that even our own family and the dearest of friends (or so it may seem) will betray us to the world system, with some of us being murdered for our faith:

Luke 21:16  “But you will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death…”

Thus, we might have, and should be ready at a moment’s notice to exercise, the eternal privilege of martyrdom:

John 15:13  “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.”

Lastly, what happens when a “philos” of Jesus drifts away from Him, and commits treason? This is now described as the type 2 friend. Hold on as we explore this chilling fact.

This type of friend is called: hetairos, het-ah’ee-ros; (a clansman); a comrade, fellow, friend. The image conveyed is one that was once intimate with the other friend, a once trusted person and past member of the in-group, but now….no longer a member for the distrust and treason that has appeared in their life.

There’s still an affection from the original faithful party to the departed “friend,” but the relationship has changed forever.

The once tight relationship was sweet. But the key word to notice is “was.” Past tense. It’s not longer intimate. Trust is broken irreparably. It’s actually severed. Why else would the sacred Word go through the point of making so obvious a distinction?

Three times this severed friend is seen in the Word of God in the NT, all in the gospel of Matthew and all dealing with Jesus to illustrate one vital point.

Drifting away from the faith is a real, frightening, and frequent possibility. So, be on the alert, and trust the Father by staying rightly related. Perseverance is a key ingredient, but active faith on or behalf is the element that needs to be present to be kept by the power of God (1 Peter 1:5).

First up is the story of the man who struck a deal with his employer and then bears the toughest work of the day, but later complains about the late comers unfairly getting the same wage, i.e. eternal life. The employer (the Father) is not pleased with his response:

Matthew 20:13 “But he answered and said to one of them, ‘Friend (hetairos), I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius?

Next up, this particular “hetairos” is ill prepared to meet His Maker and has catastrophically wasted his life thinking he was still a safely saved “philos,” but tragically now will be cast into hell for treason. He was not ready for the coming of Christ. Like the foolish virgins (Matthew 25), his lamp was not trimmed with oil waiting for the bridegroom and now bears this consequence, for he, like all, was called but eventually not chosen for eternity:

Matthew 22:12-14  and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without wedding clothes?’ And the man was speechless. “Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ “For many (meaning all just like Romans 5.15) are called, but few are chosen.”

How sober is all this to us? Does it get our attention at all?

Is God just a permissive grandfather always accepting all we do in His name, even fornicating with the world’s ways? Even when we do not come out from among them and actually become more like the people of the world than the people of God?

Are we walking daily as a “little Christ,” the real meaning of the word “Christian?”

Lastly, most chillingly, we have a real world example of a “philos” than eventually turns into a “hetairos:” Judas Iscariot, a disciple turned traitor.

Matthew 26:50 And Jesus said to him, “Friend (hetairos), do what you have come for.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and seized Him.

Drifting away is just that: drifting. It’s often not obvious in bold ways.

The word picture is a ship looking for safe harbor that loses its focus and drifts unsuspectingly unto the shoals of life, the underlying rocks of destruction, even the hidden reefs than our brother Jude warned us about (Jude 1:12). It drifts into spiritual no-man’s land.

So, then, the original question remains. Which type of friend would Jesus consider you and me to be? Not the type we think we are to Him, but what matters is the type of “friend” He considers us to be: is it faithful to His cause, His heart, His purpose?

Again, what type of friend are we? We all love something. Faithful in loving sacrificial service to God the Father, intimately related, a “philos?” Or drifting away and a “loving friend” more faithful to the devil’s world, a “hetairos?”

This is the God we serve in contrast to the one served up by the current Christian culture that portrays Him as the New Trinity: baby manger Jesus, Santa Claus Holy Spirit, and Rambo Father.

Other valuable links to learn about the true identify and nature of God:

IDENTITY CRISIS: WHICH JESUS DO YOU FOLLOW?  [MONDAY MANNA 31]

WAS JESUS MEAN? [AT THE BATTLE FRONT 33]

NICE IS NOT THE POINT  [AT THE BATTLE FRONT 34]

Please comment on this post right below. Feel free to write and proclaim your leadings in the Spirit in an honorable fashion.

Your friend and brother in fighting the good fight,

Marc

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Saints, we’re one day closer to Home, and Him! Love Him wholeheartedly!

You may view our Archives here: MONDAY MANNA – ARCHIVES;   Complete Archives; feel free to write and proclaim your leadings in the Spirit in an honorable fashion. May our Father richly bless you with His grace, through Jesus Christ our Lord, in order to walk worthy of His name.

Please comment on this post right below. Feel free to write and proclaim your leadings in the Spirit in an honorable fashion.