“Draw close to God, and he will draw close to you.” – James 4:8
“No one comes to the Father except through me.” – John 14:6
Jehovah Want to Be Your Friend
In the introductory paragraphs of this study, the Governing Body tells us in what context Jehovah draws close to us.
“Our God purposed that even imperfect humans should be close to him, and he is ready and willing to receive them into his favor as close friends.” (Isa. 41:8; 55:6)
So Jehovah is drawing close to us as a friend.
Let’s test that out. Let’s “make sure of all things” so that we can reject falsehood and “hold fast to what is fine.” (1 Th 5:21) Let’s run a little experiment. Open your copy of the WT Library program and copy this search criteria (including quotes) into the search box and hit Enter.[i]
“children of God“ | “God’s children“
You’ll find 11 matches, all in the Christian Scriptures.
Now try it again with this phrase:
“sons of God“ | “God’s sons“
The Hebrew Scripture matches refer to the angels, but the four Christian Scriptures matches all refer to Christians. That gives us a total of 15 matches so far.
Replacing “God” with “Jehovah” and rerunning the searches gives us one more match in the Hebrew Scriptures where the Israelites are called “sons of Jehovah”. (Deut. 14:1)
When we try it with these:
“friends of God“ | “friend of God“ | “God’s friends“ | “God’s friend“
“friends of Jehovah“ | “friend of Jehovah“ | “Jehovah’s friends“ | “Jehovah’s friend“
we get only one match—James 2:23, where Abraham is called God’s friend.
Let us be honest with ourselves. Based on this, did Jehovah inspire the Bible writers to tell us that he wants to draw close to us as a friend or as a Father? This is important, because as you study the entire article you’ll find no mention whatsoever of Jehovah wanting to draw close to us as a Father does to a child. The entire focus is on friendship with God. So again, is that what Jehovah wants? To be our friend?
You may say, “Yeah, but I don’t see any problem with being God’s friend. I kinda like the idea.” Yes, but is it important what you and I like? Is it important the kind of relationship that you and I want with God? Is it not infinitely more important what God wants?
Is it for us to say to God, “I know you’re offering the opportunity to be one of your children, but really, I’d rather not take you up on that. Can we still be friends?”
Learn from an Ancient Example
Under this subtitle, we go back—as we often do—to the pre-Christian well for an example. This time it is King Asa. Asa drew close to God by obeying him, and Jehovah drew close to him. He later relied on salvation from men, and Jehovah drew away from him.
What we can learn from Asa’s life course is that if we want to keep a close relationship with God, we should never look to men for our salvation. If we depend on a church, an organization, or Pope, or Archbishop, or Governing Body for salvation, we will lose our close relationship with God. That would seem to be the correct application of the object lesson we can draw from Asa’s life course, though likely not the one the writer of the article intended.
Jehovah Has Drawn Us Close Through the Ransom
Paragraphs 7 thru 9 show how the forgiveness of sins made possible by the ransom paid by our Lord is another key way in which Jehovah draws us close.
We actually quote John 14:6 in paragraph 9, “No one comes to the Father except through me.” However, in the context of the article, the audience will come to view this as in reference to the ransom only. We get to the Father through Jesus by virtue of the ransom he paid. Is that all it is? Is the sum total of Jesus’ contribution that of slaughtered lamb?
Perhaps the reason we draw so much from the Hebrew Scriptures is that to dwell in the Christian Greek Scriptures would be to reveal that the role Jesus plays as the path to the Father goes far beyond this singular sacrifice. In fact, we cannot know God unless we first know Christ.
“. . .For “who has come to know the mind of Jehovah, so that he may instruct him?” But we do have the mind of Christ.” (1Co 2:16)
Any study about how Jehovah draws close to us, or draws us close to him, must consider this pivotal fact. No one can come to the Father except through the Son. That covers all aspects of approach, not simply the approach made possible by the forgiveness of sins. We cannot obey the Father without first obeying the Son. (Heb. 5:8,9; John 14:23) We cannot understand the Father without first understanding the Son. (1 Cor. 2:16) We cannot have faith in the Father without first putting faith in the Son. (John 3:16) We cannot be in union with the Father without first being in union with the Son. (Mt. 10:32) We cannot love the Father without first loving the Son. (John 14:23)
None of this is mentioned in the article. Instead, the focus is only on the act of the ransom sacrifice instead of the man himself, the “only-begotten god” who has explained the Father. (John 1:18) It is he who gives us authority to become God’s children—not God’s friends. God draws his children to him, yet we bypass all this in the article.
Jehovah Draw Us Close Through His Written Word
This may seem a bit picayune, but the title and theme of this article is how Jehovah draws close to us. Yet based on the example of Asa as well as the wording of this and the previous subtitle, the article should be called, “How Jehovah Draws Us to Himself”. If we are to respect the instructor, we have to believe that he knows what he’s talking about.
A major part of the study (paragraph 10 to 16) deals with how Bible writers being men rather than angels should draw us closer to God. There is definitely something to this, and there are some valuable examples here. But again, we have the perfect “reflection of God’s glory and the exact representation of his very being” in Jesus Christ. If we want inspiring accounts to show us how Jehovah deals with humans so that we can be drawn to him, why not spend these valuable column inches on the best example of Jehovah’s dealings with man, his Son Jesus Christ?
Perhaps it is our fear of appearing like the other religions competing with us that causes us to draw away from Jesus as more than a sacrificial lamb, a great teacher and prophet, and a distant king to be largely ignored in favor of Jehovah. By going too far to separate ourselves from false religions, we are proving ourselves to be false, by committing the grave sin of failing to give God’s appointed king his due honor. Since we like to quote from the Hebrew Scriptures so much, perhaps we should focus on the warning given at Ps. 2:12:
“. . .Kiss the son, that He may not become incensed And YOU may not perish [from] the way, For his anger flares up easily. Happy are all those taking refuge in him.” (Ps 2:12)
We talk much about obeying Jehovah and taking refuge in him, but in Christian times, that is accomplished by submitting to the Son, by taking refuge in Jesus. On one of the few occasions God actually spoke to sinners directly, it was to give this command: “This is my Son, the beloved, whom I have approved; listen to him.” We really have to stop marginalizing Jesus’ role. (Mt 17:5)
Forge an Unbreakable Bond with God
Since the arrival of Jesus, it is no longer possible to form an unbreakable bond with God without the Son of man in the mix. Abraham was called God’s friend because the means to be called his son had not yet arrived. With Jesus, we can now be called sons and daughters, children of God. Why would we settle for less?
Jesus tells us that we must come to him. (Mt 11:28; Mark 10:14; John 5:40; 6:37, 44, 65; 7:37) Therefore, Jehovah draws us close to Himself by means of his Son. In fact, we can’t draw close to Jesus unless Jehovah draws us to him.
“. . .No man can come to me unless the Father, who sent me, draws him; and I will resurrect him in the last day.” (Joh 6:44)
It seems that with our myopic focus on Jehovah we have again missed the mark He Himself set for us to hit.
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[i] Putting words in quotes forces the search engine to find exact matches for all enclosed characters. The vertical bar character “|” tells the search engine to find an exact match for either expression it separates.
Archived Comments
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Comment by mdnwa on 2014-10-12 11:50:24
Regarding your point about God being our father there was a good online write up found here http://www.ligonier.org/learn/qas/what-does-it-mean-us-call-god-our-father/
I found it interesting it said before Jesus prayers were respectful but none used Father. Jesus’ enemies sought to destroy him because he not only prayed as to have this intimate, personal relationship with God but also Jesus said to his people, “When you pray, you say, ‘Our Father.’”
Another good point was "Jesus has given mankind the right and privilege to come into the presence of the majesty of God and address him as Father because indeed he is our Father. He has adopted us into his family and made us coheirs with his only begotten Son (Rom. 8:17)"
Comment by imacountrygirl2 on 2014-10-12 14:14:56
Everytime I read a post like this, I wonder why my brothers and sisters at the KH cannot see the hypocracy in this WT article. I have to keep reminding myself that they have been brainwashed by a cult.
I remember how humiliated I felt when I realized that I had been just like them at one time. Now I can even laugh at the silly things I used to believe and the hilarious things I said and did because I was in the "TRUTH".
Now it's just sad and pitiful to see so many good and decent people blind and being led by the blind. The former blinded by men and the latter blinded by greed and power.
Comment by Joel on 2014-10-12 14:18:45
You may say, “Yeah, but I don’t see any problem with being God’s friend. I kinda like the
idea.” Yes, but is it important what you and I like? Is it important the kind of
relationship that you and I want with God? Is it not infinitely more important what God
wants?
You have hit another nailsquarely on the head with this. I have been asked (by family members mainly)
"so, you think you are going to heaven?", simply because I argue against there being 2 classes of Christians and my response (because I do not have all the answers) is quite simple - "I'm happy to go wherever God wants me to go". On one occasion the reply to that was "Well I know that I do not not want to go to heaven". I do understand why that defense is erected, that to most witnesses, the idea of not being on Earth is completely foreign, but it troubled me that they clearly do not realise what they are ultimately saying.
Is it for us to say to God, “I know you’re offering the opportunity to be one of your
children, but really, I’d rather not take you up on that. Can we still be friends?”
We don't even know what we will be doing next year, yet we are qualified to determine our eternal future? Because we are comfortable here? Let's not forget the real reason - because they believe only the 144,000 kings are being brought into the heavens and an individual does not feel that calling. Isn't it God who calls someone? We do not choose our calling, just as we do not choose our body, our gifts, or our circumstance. God called and chose paths for Moses, Abraham, Joseph, David, Paul, Daniel, Elijah, Noah, Enoch and more. They are men of faith because they did what God asked them to do, not because they did what they wanted to do. No doubt God finds existing qualities he looks for within the person, but he is still the one that called them. Jesus lowered himself and submitted to death because it was his Fathers will.
I find it amazing that God would call us to be his children, whatever the final calling may be for each of us and it is not an opportunity to squander so easily.
I remember the exact moment when this realisation hit me and it is one of the only things in which I felt like a very fundamental scriptural truth had been hidden from me. Not just hidden, but screened off with a big "THAT's NOT FOR YOU" sign.Reply by BN on 2014-10-13 11:32:22
'But when he, the Anointed, presents himself one more time, it will not be to take away sin from the many who awaits him. Because when he reveals himself for the second time, it is without taking away sin, but in order to rescue' - Heb 9:28
Every man must put himself to the test before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For he who eats and drinks unworthy, eats and drinks judgment on himself, for he does not DISCERN the BODY of the ANOINTED' - 1Kor 11:28, 29
Because he chose us before the foundation of this world in order that we were to be holy and blameless before him in his love. He predestined that we were to receive the sonship together with Jesus the Anointed with himself and after his own good will.- Eph 1:4, 5
'But there will be an administration, because when the time has been fulfilled, he shall bring everything together as one under the Anointed, both that which is in the heavens and that which is on the earth. Through him we will also receive an inheritance, that which we were predestined to according to his plan ..' Eph 1:10, 11
'Then he gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as preachers and some as shepherds and teachers. That was in order to equip the holy to the work and service it is to BUILD UP the BODY of the Anointed.' - Eph 4:11, 12
'These are those who have not made themselves unclean with the woman, for they are like virgins. And they follow the lamb WHEREVER he goes. These are those who are bought free from men to be FIRSTFRUIT for God and the Lamb.In their mouts there were found no betrayal, and they are blameless before the throne of God.' - Rev 14:4, 5
'Let us therefore go out to him OUTSIDE the gate and take part in his DISGRACE.' - Heb 13:13
'They are such who have not honored the beast and its image, and whom have neither received its mark on their foreheads and on their hands. They are made alive and they shall rule with the Anointed ...' - Rev 20:4
'They were clothed in WHITE gowns .' - Rev 7:9
'These are those who have come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their gowns WHITE in the blood of the Lamb.' - Rev 7:14
'The spirit AND THE BRIDE say: 'Come!' 'Let he who hears answer: 'I come!' Let he who thirsts, come1 And let he who wishes, grasp the water of life as a gift!' - Rev 22:17
'In anticipation the creation looks forward to the revelation of the sons of God.' - Rom 8:19
'For the very creation shall be liberated from perishableness to glory and freedom AS THE CHILDREN OF GOD.' - Rom 8:21
I am more than happy if I become a second child !!
Comment by Christian on 2014-10-13 05:23:58
Although it doesn't directly reference the GB, I couldn't help think of Matt.23:13.
By preventing or trying to stop individuals from answering their heavenly calling the GB are jeopardizing their very own claim to such.
It's just such a brazen act of arrogance and self exaltation (verse 12)
Blind guides is what they are.......
Comment by kev c on 2014-10-13 14:33:00
How many times do we have to talk about this sonship v friendship issue . .with this being a revue of the watchtower study it just shows the governing body are trying to download this into peoples minds ..The Fact is just being gods friend is NOT THE MESSAGE OF THE CHRISTIAN SCRIPTURES ..The message of the NT is toward those who are sons of god and have a heavenly hope .without a doubt. .The question i have is if large sections of the NT dont apply to us then how do we know what does and what doesnt ..Can a person rightly be called a christian if sections of the NT Does not apply to them . The last talk i heard at the hall was a mix and match affair in an attempt to explain hebrews chapter 3 and 4 and apply it to the congregation .yet hebrews 3 v1 clearly shows its message is for those of the heavenly calling . does any of the NT really apply to those who even by their own admission do not partake of jesus christ do not even have a hope of being sons of god .kev
Comment by menrov on 2014-10-13 16:22:15
One can have many friends, but only one father, who is in heaven (Matt. 23:9).
In fact, only Jesus called his apostles His friends, see John 15:13-17 which reads:
13 No one has greater love than this—that one lays down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 I no longer call you slaves, because the slave does not understand what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, because I have revealed to you everything I heard from my Father. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that remains, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you. 17 This I command you—to love one another.
Jesus said He was their friend and their master. Unless the GB believes Jesus is God and therefore we can become His friend, the bible does not teach to become Gods friend.
Comment by Mailman on 2014-10-13 20:59:37
Hi Joel, good morning. Wow, this part of your post blew me away - "Isn’t it God who calls someone? We do not choose our calling, just as we do not choose our body, our gifts, or our circumstance. God called and chose paths for Moses, Abraham, Joseph, David, Paul, Daniel, Elijah, Noah, Enoch and more."
Therefore, with respect to the calling, even the Governing Body cannot define for a person which his calling really is. If a Christian feels he needs to partake of the emblems and profess his faith as one of the Anointed, why subject him to Sanhedrin-like committee hearings, make him feel guilty and unworthy, as if the person has committed a serious sin? Why not let our Father be the ultimate judge? By putting a fixed no. - 144, 000 - they have effectively shut the door to others who feel they have heavenly hope.Reply by Joel on 2014-10-17 10:34:57
And even putting aside the personal calling, I have never seen this idea based on anything much more than an interpretation of old-new covenant "beneficaries" and 1 Cor 11:27: "So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord." - seeming to ignore the context of Pauls words completely. Surely you should be more cautious of blocking people, when there is no solid scriptural basis for it?
As you said, God will judge. Jesus said that there would be people who cannot tell him what they have done and he'll tell them to enter into his kingdom, whereas others will claim they worked themselves to the bone for his name and he will tell them that he doesn't even know who they are! Sobering!
Comment by Katrina on 2014-10-14 07:58:45
If the NT scriptures only apply to the anointed, the commandment to take of the emblems only apply to the anointed, then when Christ said to his disciples before leaving
Matt 26:19,20 18 Then coming toward them, Jesus spoke, saying: 'All power has been given me in heaven and on earth. 19 So, go make disciples in all nations in my name, 20 and teach them to obey all the things that I commanded you. {Look!} I'll be with you each day until the end of the age.'
The WT says this to is a commandment, so if this was only for the anointed why is the GC commanded, besides only elders baptise.
Matt 24:14 this to is a commandment the WT says, yet its the GC that does 99% there about's of the preaching and teaching, even the children.
where in the scriptures does it say that children preach.
Comment by Chris on 2014-10-19 07:48:57
How can Jehovah be our father but is his friend. That makes so sense. The bible states at Galatians 3:26 "You are ALL, in fact, sons of God through your faith in Christ Jesus." And also John 1:12 ,However, to all who did receive him, he gave authority to become God’s children, because they were exercising faith in his name.