Jesus Will You Be My Friend?

I know Jesus as my Savior, so will God be my friend? OH HEAVENS YES! Scripture refers to believers being "in Christ" Colossians 3:3 says: "For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God." When we come to Christ as broken sinners, He exchanges our sin nature for His righteousness as we see in 2 Corinthians 5:21: He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. We cannot remain as we were and enter into the presence of a holy God. We must “die” to self and be “hidden” in the righteousness of Christ. Look with me at Galations 3:27 says, "For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ." Here the purity of Christ is presented as a garment we wear when we repent and accept God's offer of salvation. Since we cannot come to God on our own merit, we must be escorted by His Son. No amount of self-cleansing can make us pure enough to warrant the attention of Perfection. The Bible says that in our natural, sinful state we are enemies of God according to Romans 5:10. “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” But, escorted by the Son, we are welcomed into His presence. Through repentance and acceptance of Jesus' death on our behalf, we are even called His children in John 1:12. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, God no longer sees our imperfections; He sees the righteousness of His own Son instead. We are forgiven by God because of His so.n Hebrews 8:12 NASB "FOR I WILL BE MERCIFUL TO THEIR INIQUITIES, AND I WILL REMEMBER THEIR SINS NO MORE." Because we are in Christ, God sees Christ’s righteousness covering us. Only "in Christ" is our sin debt canceled, our relationship with God restored, and our eternity secure. And, because you have believed in the salvation God has offered (Jesus Christ his Son) you are a friend of God. John 15:15-17 NASB (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. (16) "You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you. (17) "This I command you, that you love one another. Since you are a friend of Jesus, you are a friend of God! What a great friend we have in Jesus. Reminds me of a song: What a friend we have in Jesus All our sins and griefs to bear And what a privilege to carry Everything to God in prayer… If ya get a chance, go to the internet and listen to it. I like the Alan Jackson version! Love to all Pastor Mike