Fondness and Friendship in Scripture
Fondness conveys a friendly interest in someone or something. When used in composition with other words, it retains this aspect of friendship.
Friendship and Faith
Abraham is described as a friend of God because he believed God, and his faith was accounted to him as righteousness (James 2:23).
A Christian who desires friendship with the world sets himself against God (James 4:4).
In 1 John 2:15–16, we are told not to love the world or the things of the world, for the love of the Father is not in them. The world’s system revolves around the strong desires of the flesh and eyes, and the pride of biological life. These things are not out from the Father but out from the world.
The world is fond of its own but indifferent toward the grace believer, because we are not out from the world (John 15:19).
Fondness for Wealth
The fondness for money is a root of all kinds of wrong (1 Timothy 6:10). Those who determine to be rich bring upon themselves harmful desires and destruction (1 Timothy 6:9).
In these last days, men have become lovers of themselves, lovers of money, not lovers of good, while having a form of godliness—yet denying its inherent power, the power of the indwelling Christ (2 Timothy 3:1–5).
Brotherly Fondness
When fondness is joined with “brother,” it expresses brotherly fondness—a close relationship among grace believers that is deeply connected with agape love.
Love (agape) is to be without hypocrisy. We are to abhor what is evil and cling to what is good. In brotherly love, we are to be affectionately fond of one another (Romans 12:9–10).
As we mature in our Christian life, we add brotherly kindness to godliness and love to brotherly kindness, so that we are not barren or unfruitful (2 Peter 1:5–9).
We are also called to show fondness for strangers and to hold fast to the faithful word (Titus 1:8).
Fondly Honoring God
Let us fondly honor to live a quiet life—minding our own business and working with our hands—so that we may walk properly toward those outside the Church, lacking nothing (1 Thessalonians 4:12).
Paul fondly aspired to evangelize where Christ had not been named (Romans 15:20).
We, too, are to fondly honor God by being well pleasing to Him wherever we reside (2 Corinthians 5:9).
The Kindness and Fondness of God
It is the kindness of God that brings a person to a change of mind leading to salvation.
This kindness and fondness of God toward men appeared to us—not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy. Through the Holy Spirit, He washed and regenerated us (Titus 3:4–5).
Let us, therefore, walk in fondness toward one another and in gratitude toward God, showing in our conduct the friendship that comes from His love and mercy.
#BibleStudy #ChristianTeaching #WordOfGraceStudies #NewTestament #Faith #ChristianLife #BiblicalWisdom #AgapeLove #GodsKindness #ScriptureStudy #Discipleship #SpiritualGrowth #ChristianLiving #GraceBelievers #BrotherlyLove
Fondness conveys a friendly interest in someone or something. When used in composition with other words, it retains this aspect of friendship.
Friendship and Faith
Abraham is described as a friend of God because he believed God, and his faith was accounted to him as righteousness (James 2:23).
A Christian who desires friendship with the world sets himself against God (James 4:4).
In 1 John 2:15–16, we are told not to love the world or the things of the world, for the love of the Father is not in them. The world’s system revolves around the strong desires of the flesh and eyes, and the pride of biological life. These things are not out from the Father but out from the world.
The world is fond of its own but indifferent toward the grace believer, because we are not out from the world (John 15:19).
Fondness for Wealth
The fondness for money is a root of all kinds of wrong (1 Timothy 6:10). Those who determine to be rich bring upon themselves harmful desires and destruction (1 Timothy 6:9).
In these last days, men have become lovers of themselves, lovers of money, not lovers of good, while having a form of godliness—yet denying its inherent power, the power of the indwelling Christ (2 Timothy 3:1–5).
Brotherly Fondness
When fondness is joined with “brother,” it expresses brotherly fondness—a close relationship among grace believers that is deeply connected with agape love.
Love (agape) is to be without hypocrisy. We are to abhor what is evil and cling to what is good. In brotherly love, we are to be affectionately fond of one another (Romans 12:9–10).
As we mature in our Christian life, we add brotherly kindness to godliness and love to brotherly kindness, so that we are not barren or unfruitful (2 Peter 1:5–9).
We are also called to show fondness for strangers and to hold fast to the faithful word (Titus 1:8).
Fondly Honoring God
Let us fondly honor to live a quiet life—minding our own business and working with our hands—so that we may walk properly toward those outside the Church, lacking nothing (1 Thessalonians 4:12).
Paul fondly aspired to evangelize where Christ had not been named (Romans 15:20).
We, too, are to fondly honor God by being well pleasing to Him wherever we reside (2 Corinthians 5:9).
The Kindness and Fondness of God
It is the kindness of God that brings a person to a change of mind leading to salvation.
This kindness and fondness of God toward men appeared to us—not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy. Through the Holy Spirit, He washed and regenerated us (Titus 3:4–5).
Let us, therefore, walk in fondness toward one another and in gratitude toward God, showing in our conduct the friendship that comes from His love and mercy.
#BibleStudy #ChristianTeaching #WordOfGraceStudies #NewTestament #Faith #ChristianLife #BiblicalWisdom #AgapeLove #GodsKindness #ScriptureStudy #Discipleship #SpiritualGrowth #ChristianLiving #GraceBelievers #BrotherlyLove