You are My Friend

​Why do we need friends, and how do we make them?
 
We need friends because we are made in the image of God. Our God, the Trinity, includes three entities. From eternity, before the existence of the world, these three entities are the best of friends.
 
God also said it was not good for Adam to be alone (Genesis 2:18). Adam needed someone suitable for him to be his helper, whom he could share, trust, and love. It is also not good for us to be alone. So, we need friends.
 
What are the main attributes of a friend?
 
First, a friend lets us in his inner life, willing to share with us his secrets. We should learn from Christ. He lets us in by sharing with us everything He learned from His Father (John 15:15).
 
Christ lets us in by being with us. He doesn’t lay out our whole life before us and leave. Instead, through the Holy Spirit, He dwells in us, accompanying and guiding us along the way.
 
Learn to open up to others but do it slowly. Don’t force others to get into your inner life by opening up too quickly.
 
Second, a friend doesn’t let us down. Christ never lets us down. There is no greater love than laying down one’s life for one’s friends (John 15:3). That was what Christ did, and His sacrifice has given us life.
 
Christ loves us not because we are good. We are far from it, but He still loves us. Christ treats us as His friend, yet we rebel against Him. We are not surprised if our enemies harm us, but it is difficult to endure insults from our close friends. Since Christ treats us as His friends, our rebellion hurts Him deeply.
 
Learn from Christ regarding friendship. He lets us in by opening Himself to us and by being with us. Christ never lets us down. He even died for us. We should follow Him.
 
Similarly, we need friends because we are made in God’s image. To build friendship, learn to let others in and not let them down.
 
Summarized from a Tim Keller sermon:
http://www.gospelinlife.com/free-sermon-resource
https://gospelinlife.com/downloads/you-are-my-friends-5770/



你是我的朋友
 
我们为什么需要朋友，又怎样交朋友呢？
 
人都需要朋友，因为我们是按照上帝形象被造的。三位一体的上帝包括三个个体。在世界存在之前，自永恒以来，这三个个体就是最好的朋友。
 
上帝也说亚当独处不好（创世记 2:18）。亚当需要一个适合他的人来帮助他，一个他可以分享、信任和爱的人。 我们独处也不好，所以也需要朋友.
 
朋友的主要特点是什么呢？
 
首先，朋友让我们进入他的内心。他愿意告诉我们他的秘密。
 
应该向基督学习。祂分享从天父那里学到的一切，让我们进入祂的内心（约翰福音 15:15）。
 
基督也通过与我们同在，让我们进入祂的内心。祂没有将我们的一生摆在我们面前然后离开。相反地，祂籍着圣灵住在我们里面，一路陪伴和引领。
 
要学会慢慢地敞开心扉。 不要太快强迫别人进入自己的内心。
 
其次，朋友不会让我们失望。基督从不让我们失望。没有比为朋友舍命更大的爱了 (约翰福音 15:3)。这就是基督所做的，祂的牺牲带给了我们生命。
 
基督爱我们不是因为我们良善。我们远非如此，但祂仍然爱我们。
 
神视我们为朋友，然而我们却悖逆他。如果被敌人伤害，我们并不会感到惊讶。但我们很难忍受亲密朋友的侮辱。基督把我们当作祂的朋友，我们的背叛深深地伤害了祂。
 
总而言之，向基督学习友谊。祂敞开心扉与我们一起，让我们进入祂的内心。基督也从不让我们失望，甚至为我们而死。我们应该跟随祂。
 
我们需要朋友，因为我们是按照上帝的形象被造。为了建立友谊，学习让人进入我们的内心，并且学习不要让人失望。