Sermon
#17 The
Song Of Solomon Notes
Title: “THIS IS MY FRIEND”
Text: Song of Solomon 5:16
Readings: Office:
Ron Wood Auditorium: Paul Harries
Subject: Christ
- The Sinner’s Truest Friend
Date: Sunday Evening - September 27, 1998
Tape # U-85b
Introduction:
The title of my message tonight is found in
the words of my text
Song of Songs 5:10-16 My beloved is white and
ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand.
(11) His head is as the most fine
gold, his locks are bushy, and black as a raven. (12) His eyes are as the eyes of doves
by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, and
fitly set. (13) His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers: his lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling
myrrh. (14) His hands are as gold rings set with the beryl:
his belly is as bright ivory overlaid
with sapphires. (15) His legs are as pillars
of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold: his countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars. (16) His mouth is most
sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely.
This is my beloved, and this
is my friend, O
daughters of Jerusalem.
The
wise man, Solomon, tells us that - “A man that hath friends must show himself
friendly.” And I want you to see that there was never a person who
showed himself so friendly as the Lord Jesus Christ. We are also told, “And
there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” The Lord Jesus
Christ is that Friend. “This is my Beloved, and this is my Friend.”
What kind of Friend is Jesus
Christ? I cannot fully describe him. I cannot even tell you all that I know
about him. But I do want you to see some blessed characteristics of my Heavenly
Friend. I want you to know him.
Proposition: He is the truest Friend a
sinner has.
I. Christ is a Friend of
transcendent excellencE.
A. The Lord Jesus Christ is a Friend who has fully
demonstrated his friendship.
The
true extent of a man’s friendship must be measured by his deeds. Do you want a
friend indeed? Christ is a Friend in deed.
Tell me not what a man says, and feels, and wishes. Tell me not of his words.
Tell me rather of what he does. “Friendly is as friendly does.” The things
which our Lord Jesus Christ has done for his people, are great proofs of his friendship for us.
1.
Our Lord agreed to become our Surety in the Covenant
of Grace.
Proverbs 6:1-2 My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger, (2) Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken
with the words of thy mouth.
Hebrews 7:22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a
better testament.
a.
When our cause was
desperate, he engaged it.
b.
When justice was ready to
give us the death blow we deserved, he intervened and absorbed it.
c.
When he knew that we would
run through all our stock and become bankrupt, he became our bondsman, agreeing
to pay our whole debt.
d.
When he saw that we would
fall into the depths of sin and misery, he undertook to bring us out, to
cleanse us from all sin, to clothe us in his own righteousness, and to bring us
safe to eternal glory.
Was
there ever such an eternal Friend as Christ? No, not one can compare with him.
2.
For our sakes, the Lord Jesus Christ took upon
himself our nature, and was born of a woman - “Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, though he was rich
yet for our sakes, he became poor, that we through his poverty might be made
rich” (2 Cor. 8:9).
3.
For our sakes, the Christ of God lived thirty three
years in this world, despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and
acquainted with grief - “He took on himself the form
of a servant, and humbled himself” (Phil. 2:7-8).
4.
It was for our sakes that the Son of God suffered
the painful and shameful death of the cross.
John 15:13 Greater
love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Though
innocent and without fault, he allowed himself to be condemned and found
guilty. Though he was without sin, he was made to be sin for us, that we might
be made the righteousness of God in him. He who was the Prince of Life was led
as a Lamb to the slaughter. He poured out his soul unto death. He died for us.
a.
Behold the Christ of God, dying in your stead. Mark his sighs, his groans,
his death, his victory as your Substitute, and know that “This is my Friend!”
b.
Was Christ in anyway obliged to die for us? Perish the thought!
He might have summoned the
help of more than twelve legions of angels, and scattered his enemies with a
word. He suffered voluntarily and of his own will and purpose, to make
atonement for our sins. He knew that nothing but the sacrifice of himself could
satisfy God’s law. He knew that nothing but his blood could wash away our sins
and make peace between sinful man and a holy God. He laid down his life to pay
the price of our redemption. He died that we might live. He bore our shame that
we might receive his glory - “He died the
just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God” ((1 pet. 3:18).
c.
O matchless love! Here is unparalleled friendship. “Greater
love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” But
the Christ of God gives even greater evidence of his friendship, “for when we were enemies, we were
reconciled to God by the death of his Son.” “God commendeth his love toward us
in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
I ask you, was there ever such a friend who
was so high and stooped so low for his friends? Was there ever a friend who
gave himself at such a cost in proof of his friendship as Christ? Never was
there such a friend in deed as Jesus Christ. Yet, this is not the end of his
deeds for us.
5.
Christ, our Friend, has also gone to glory to take
possession of it in our name, in our room, and in our stead.
6.
Once more, Christ is now interceeding for us in
heaven as an Advocate with the Father.
a.
He presents our services,
our sacrifices, and our prayers to the Father.
1 Peter 2:5 Ye also,
as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer
up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
b.
He
pleads for every blessing we stand in need of.
c. He answers all of Satan’s
charges against his friends.
Romans 8:33-34 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. (34) Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ
that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of
God, who also maketh intercession for us.
B. For another thing, the Lord Jesus Christ is a
powerful, almighty Friend.
There are few in this world who possess the
power to help. Many have the will to do others good, but they lack the power.
They feel the sorrows of others and would gladly relieve them if they could.
They weep with their friends in affliction, but they cannot remove the grief.
How helpless we feel to help our friends in their sufferings! We say, “If there
is anything I can do to help,” but we know that there is nothing we can do.
I point you tonight to a
Friend who is both willing and able to help. Though man is weak, Christ is
strong. “All power in heaven and earth” is
given to him. No one can do so much for his friends as Christ. Others can
befriend our bodies a little. Christ can befriend both body and soul. Others
can do a little for us in time. Christ can do everything for us in time and
throughout eternity. Let me show you what power there is in this Almighty
Friend.
1.
Jesus Christ has the power to pardon and save the
very chief of sinners. “Thou hast given him power over
all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and
Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:2-3). “The blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, cleanseth us from all sin” (1
John 1:7).
2.
Christ has the power to
convert the hardest of hearts and create any man anew. “As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of
God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor
of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John
1:12-13). “If any man be in Christ, he is
a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2
Cor. 5:17).
a.
Christ has power to break
your heart over sin and give you anew heart.
b.
Christ has power to break
your stubborn will and give you a new will.
c.
Christ has power to overcome
your reigning lusts.
d.
Christ has power to create
you in his own image.
e.
Christ has power to give you
repentance and faith.
3.
Here is a Friend who has the power to preserve all
who trust him unto eternal glory. “This man,
because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is
able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he
ever liveth to make intercession for them” (Heb. 7:24-25).
4.
And Jesus Christ has the power to give to those who
trust him and love him the best of gifts.
a.
He gives us life out of
death.
b.
He gives us peace in adversity.
c.
He gives us patience in
tribulation.
d.
He gives us joy in sorrow.
e.
He gives us hope in death.
f.
He gives us a crown of glory
in eternity.
5.
Jesus Christ alone is such a powerful Friend.
a.
The self-righteous man has
no such friend.
b.
The legalist has no such
friend.
c.
the Romanist has no such
friend.
d.
The worldling has no such
friend.
C. Again, the Lord Jesus Christ is a loving and
affectionate Friend.
Kindness is the very essence of true
friendship. Money, advice, and help lose half their power and value if they are
not given in a loving manner. But my Friend, the Lord Jesus Christ, is a
precious Friend, because his is a “love
that passeth knowledge.”
1.
The love of Christ radiates in his reception of
sinners.
a.
In love and mercy our Lord
stands before publicans and sinners, inviting them tenderly to come to him for
life and salvation.
b.
It is the love of Christ
that at last conquers our hearts, and wins us to him.
His
holiness made us fear; his wrath made us tremble; his law frightened us away;
but his love, demonstrated at Calvary, drew our hearts effectually to him. What
love is this? Who can resist this love?
Oh hope of every
contrite heart!
Oh joy of all the meek!
To those who fall, how kind
Thou art!
How good to those who seek!
But what to those who find?
Ah! This
Nor tongue nor pen can show;
The love of Jesus - what it
is,
None but his loved ones
know.
c.
Christ never refuses any who
come to him in repentance and faith, seeking mercy. Where can the poor sinner
be found who eve went to Christ, suing for mercy, crying, “God be merciful to me, I am the sinner,” and found that the gate
of mercy refused to open?
d.
I say that there are no
bounds to his pity; there is no end to his compassion; there are no limitations
to his mercy; there are no restraints to his love. In lovingkindness, he says, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to
me; and him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37).
Let your sins be as black and vile, abominable and wretched, as many and varied
as they may be, only come to Christ in faith and you will go away saying, “Where sin abounded, grace did much more
abound.”
e.
Read the gospel narratives again and see how our Lord dealt with
sinners in love and pity.
(1). There was woman taken in adultery. The law demanded her punishment. But the
Friend of sinners said, “Neither do I
condemn thee, go and sin no more.”
(2). There was a harlot who came and washed
the Savior’s feet in tears of repentance. The Pharisee was indignant. But
Christ was forgiving.
(3).
There was a Publican named Zacheus, who was hated by all around him; but he was
befriended, loved, and forgiven by Christ.
(4).
There was a Samaritan woman, who had five husbands. The disciples marveled that
Christ would stop to talk with such a woman. But he not only talked with her,
he gave her the water of life.
(5).
There was a dying thief who had joined others in railing against Christ. But
soon his heart was broken, and in faith he prayed for mercy. To him the Lord
promised eternal paradise.
Did
ever a sinner meet with so loving a Friend as Christ Jesus? No, never! His
churches may shut their doors against you. His people may be hardened against
you. It may even be that his ministers will reject you. But he will never turn
away one who seeks mercy. Go to him. Go directly to Christ, and see if he is
not so loving a Friend as I have described.
2.
Yet there is more, the love of Christ is also
evident in every aspect of his dealing with sinners after they are converted
and become his friends.
a.
He is patient with our sins.
b.
His ear is always open to
our cries.
c.
He is our escape in the time
of temptation.
d.
He is our comfort in the
time of trouble.
e.
He feels our sorrows and
carries our griefs.
f.
He supplies our daily needs.
g.
He reveals his secrets to us
- “Henceforth I call you not servants;
for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends;
for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you” (John
15:15). “The secret of the Lord is with
them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant” (Psa. 25:14).
3.
There is no love in heaven above, or upon the earth
beneath, that can be compared to the love of Christ, our Friend.
a.
He loves us at all times.
b.
He loved us before the world
began.
c.
He loved us when he created
us in innocence, after the image of God, in our father Adam.
d.
He loved us when we fell in
Adam.
e.
He loved us when we came
forth from the womb speaking lies.
f.
He loved us when we hated
him.
g.
He loved us when we were
helpless, ruined, depraved, and dead in sin.
h.
He loved us when he called
us to life.
i.
He loves us in spite of all
our sins.
j.
He loves us perfectly and
immutably.
k.
He loves us forever!
l.
And the only reason for his
love is in himself. He loved us because he would love us!
Never,
never was there a friend so real, so true, so loving as Christ our Friend.
D. The Lord Jesus Christ is also a wise and prudent
Friend.
The friendship of men is sadly blind. We
often injure those whom we love, by ignorance. We often give our friends bad
advice, and lead them into trouble, even when we mean to help them. But the
friendship of Christ is always wise and prudent.
1.
Jesus Christ never spoils his friends by extravagant
indulgence.
I
have but one daughter. And I love her dearly. But I have, at times, spoiled her
by extravagance. That is not wise. The Lord Jesus never makes such mistakes in
managing the affairs of his friends.
a.
Christ gives us all the
poverty and all the wealth we need.
b.
He gives us all the sickness
and all the health we need.
c.
He gives us all the sorrow
and all the joy we require.
d.
He gives us all the pain and
all the comfort that is necessary for our good.
e.
Like the wise physician, the
Lord Jesus mixes our bitterest cups, taking great care that we have not a drop
too little, nor a drop too much.
2.
Christ faithfully and wisely rebukes us for our sins. “Open rebuke is better than secret love. Faithful are the wounds of a
friend” (Prov. 27:5-6).
3.
The Lord Jesus Christ is a friend whose company is
always edifying.
His
fellowship is always to edification. One day spent in the company of this heavenly
Friend is better than a thousand spent with the best of earthly friends. One
hour spent in private communion with Christ is better than a year in kings’
palaces. Never was there such a wise and prudent friend as Christ.
E. Moreover, the Lord Jesus Christ is a tried and
proven Friend.
Six thousand years have passed away since the
Lord Jesus began his work of befriending mankind. During those six milleniums
he has had many friends in this world. Millions, regretably, have refused this
Friend, and they are miserably lost forever. But there is an innumerable
company of men in heaven and earth who have enjoyed the blessed privilege of
Christ’s friendship, and have been saved by him. They all testify that Christ
is a Proven Friend. Look at the great variety of friends Christ has had and
know that there was never a friend like him.
1.
He has had friends of every
rank and station in life.
Some
of them were kings and rich men, like David, Solomon, Hezekiah, and Job. Others
were very poor in this world, like the shepherds of Bethlehem, James, John, and
Andrew.
2.
Christ has had friends of every age known in human
history.
Some
of his friends were very old like Sarah and Abraham, Jacob and Moses. Some of
them were but children, like Joseph and Samuel, Josiah and Timothy.
3.
Our lord has had friends of every possible
temperament known to man.
a.
Some were plain and simple,
like Isaac; some were mighty in word and deed, like Moses.
b.
Some were fervent,
warm-hearted, and fiery, like Peter; others were gentle, shy, and tender, like
John.
c.
Some were active and
stirring, like Martha; others loved to sit quietly at the Savior’s feet, like
Mary.
4.
Our Savior has had friends from every possible
background and condition.
a.
Some were married, like
Enoch; others were unmarried, like the Baptist.
b.
Some were sick, like
Lazarus; others were strong and healthy, like John the Beloved.
c.
Some were masters, like
Cornelius; others were servants, like Onesimus.
d.
Some of them had bad
servants, like Elisha; some had bad masters, like Obadiah; and others had bad
families, like David.
e.
Some of Christ’s friends had
been self-righteous Pharisees; others had been harlots; one had been a
murderer; another had been a thief. Blessed be God, Christ Jesus stoops down to
rescue the perishing scum and offscouring men of the world and make them his
friends.
f.
Our Redeemer has friends of
every nation, kindred, race, tribe, and tongue in the world.
Go
to Adam and Abel, Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, Moses and Joshua, Rahab and
Deborah, David and Solomon, Isaiah and Jeremiah, Peter and John, James and
Paul; go to any man or woman in this congregation and ask them if Jesus Christ
is not a tried and proven Friend. We stand as one man and say, “This is my Beloved, and this is my Friend,”
and there is none like him.
F. Once more, I say that Jesus Christ is an unfailing,
present Friend.
Perhaps the saddest part of all good things
in this world is their instability. Riches make themselves wings and fly away.
Youth and beauty are but for a few years. Bodily strength soon decays. Mind and
intelligence are soon exhausted. All is perishing. All is fading away. But
there is one blessed exception to this general rule, and that is the friendship
of Jesus Christ.
1.
Jesus Christ is a Friend who never changes. He is “the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Heb. 13:8). He says, “I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye
sons of Jacob are not consumed” (Matt. 3:16).
2.
The Lord Jesus Christ will never leave his friends. He has promised “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee” (Heb.
13:5). He goes with us wheresoever we may go. And thus he fulfills his promise
- “I am with you alway, even unto the end
of the world” (Matt. 28:20).
a.
In our afflictions, Christ is a Friend present
to comfort. “Fear not: for I have
redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest
through the waters, I will be with thee; and though the rivers, they shall not
overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned;
neither shall the flame kindle upon thee” (Isa. 43:1-2). “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not
dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea,
I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness” (Isa. 41:10).
b.
When we are upon the bed of sickness, Christ is the Friend who
makes the bed comfortable for us. “The
Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his
bed in his sickness” (Psa. 41:3).
c.
In death, Jesus Christ is a Friend present to sustain us. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the
shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy
staff they comfort me” (Psa. 23:4).
d.
In the day of judgment, Christ will be our Friend
in the court of heaven. He will stand by our side in the reckoning day, as an
Advocate to plead our cause.
3.
I tell you that when all other friends have failed
you, Jesus Christ is “a Friend that
sticketh closer than a brother.” “When my
father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up” (Psa. 27:10).
II.
Now
let me show you one other thing, THE
LORD JESUS CHRIST IS A FRIEND WELL-BELOVED BY ALL WHO KNOW HIM.
“Unto you
therefore who believe, he is precious.” All who can say in truth and sincerity that Christ
is their Friend, will also gladly confess with all of their hearts - “This is my Beloved.”
The world thinks that we are fools for making
such a confession concerning Christ. They say to us, “What is thy Beloved more than another beloved?” But they have not
seen him. They have not known him. They have not embraced him. They have never
experienced his love. Oh, but for us who know this Divine Friend, it is our joy
to confess - “My beloved is white and
ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand…Yea, he is altogether lovely!”
A.
Christ
Jesus is a Friend loved by all who know Him, because we know who He is.
B. Jesus Christ is a Friend
beloved by us, because we have experienced his love.
C.
The
Lord Jesus is a Friend beloved by all who know Him, because we
know what He has done.
D. Our heavenly Friend is
beloved by us, because we know that he is soon coming to receive us.
Application:
I am finished when I have made a few words of
application to stir up your hearts to love my Friend, the Lord Jesus Christ.
1.
Is
Jesus Christ the Friend of your soul?
2.
If
you are not numbered among the Redeemer’s friends, you are a very miserable
creature.
3.
If
you really want such a friend as I have tried to describe, I tell you that the
Son of God is willing to be your friend. He has set before you the terms of
friendship.
a.
You must submit to him as
your King.
b.
You must confess your sin.
c.
You must trust him as your
only Savior.
4.
I finish with a word to you
who can lay your hands upon your hearts and say, “This is my Beloved, and this is my Friend.”
a.
Cherish this Friend above
all things.
b.
Praise this Friend and seek
his glory.
c.
Publish this Friend’s fame
and character far and wide.
d.
Love this Friend supremely.
One there is above all
others,
Well deserves the name of
Friend;
His is love beyond a
brother’s
Costly, free, and knows no
end:
They who once His kindness
prove,
Find it everlasting love.
Which of all our friends to
save us,
Could or would have shed
their blood?
But our Jesus died to have
us
Reconciled, in Him to God:
This was boundless love
indeed!
Jesus is a Friend in need.
When He lived on earth
abased,
Friend of sinners was His
name;
Now above all glory raised,
He rejoices in the same;
Still he calls us brethren,
friends;
And to all our wants
attends.
Oh for grace our hearts to
soften!
Teach us, Lord, at length to
love!
We, alas, forget too often
What a Friend we have above:
But when home our souls are
brought,
We shall love thee as we
ought.
“This is my Beloved, and this is my Friend.”
Oh, I pray that God will make Christ your Friend this day, for his own dear
name’s sake.
Amen.