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I've heard Christians say that an appropriate title for a Christian is, "friend of God." I've also heard preachers (e.g. Beth Moore) say that this is inappropriate: only certain people (Abraham and the Disciples) can be called friends of God.
What is the Biblical basis for saying modern Christians are generally "friends of God"?
I believe we can be friends of God. (And not just because I'm a fan of the song)
Jesus tells us if we do what he commands we are his friends.
John 15:13-15 NIV
13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
Yes we can; In the Old Testament Abraham was an exception. For example, Paul wrote:
For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
or another translation (NLT)
For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son.
So yes, we can believe that Christians are God's friends.
