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Dear Reader
Welcome to Friends with God, where we discuss the incredible subject of how and why God wants to develop an eternal friendship with You!
Jesus tells us: This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master does. But I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. … These things I command you, that you love one another. (John 15:12-17) Jesus commanded the apostles to love one another in the same way as he loved them - as his friends.
This is a purely Biblically based substack, no other religious perspective is expressed or discussed. Those who claim to be Biblically based, but are actually adding to the Word of God through their traditions and philosophies, will find this substack confronting, and may even consider it heretical. However, one of my guiding scriptures is But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. (Matt 15:9, Mrk 7:7) We need to stick to God’s word as the arbiter of all truth, rather than tradition.
While the Bible is roughly made up of one third history, one third prophecy and one third doctrine, the main topic of the posts is doctrine, as I am not an historian and certainly not a prophet of God. I am also not an ordained minister, nor have I given more than a few sermons in my life. I actually don’t like the format of a sermon, with someone preaching to an audience that just listens.
I preferring to read what people have to say, and to also express my thoughts in writing. I also appreciate feedback on what I have written, as does any writer. God encourages us, and we encourage each other. The following scripture is a paraphrase, but it hits the mark of what Paul is getting at:
Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of all mercies and the God of all encouragement; Who encourages us in all our troubles that we may be able to encourage others which are in any trouble through the encouragement wherewith we ourselves are encouraged by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our encouragement also abounds by Christ. And whether we be troubled it is for your encouragement and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be encouraged it is also for your encouragement and salvation. And our hope of you is steadfast, knowing that as you are partakers of the troubles, so shall you also be of the encouragement. (2Cor 1:3-7)
This substack is a culmination of my thoughts and understanding of the plan of God for all mankind gained by reading the Bible, and listening to preachers, reading books, discussing with friends, and writing (generally to myself) to clarify my own thoughts. After doing this for over 40 years, I think I have at last got something to say that may be helpful to others, I hope you agree! If so, or if not, your comments, encouragement and correction are always welcome.
The main problem I have found when reading scripture, is not the fact that there are many translations, as most are just following the King James Version, with only a very small number of verses, or pet words, changed. The real issue is often that people quote a verse of scripture out of context with the surrounding verses. They then take that verse and compare it with another verse, also taken out of context, and then use them both to prove their point. This is not an honest, respectful, or logical, way to read any written text. Yet, that is very often even what Biblical scholars actually do! It’s no wonder then that less-learned people follow their example.
To study the scriptures in an honest way, we need to read each scripture within the context of the surrounding verses, in order to appreciate it’s original intent. Sometimes we even need to read an entire book of the Bible, in order to make sense of just one verse- even then we may still be left scratching our heads! I don’t claim to know it all by any means, but what you will read at Friends With God should give you some food for thought, and hopefully will stop some of the head scratching too!
The other problem in studying the Bible is that the translators have added words that are not in the original text. However, modern computer programs can help to find if all the words of scripture are in the original text, or were added by the translators. Even so, most often these additions by the translators are quite logical and necessary, but sometimes they cause more confusion than clarity. And on a few rare occasions these additions are just plain wrong, put in to justify some pet doctrine of the ruling religious elite of the time.
I am not a Greek or Hebrew scholar, so I don’t expect you to believe that my understanding is correct either. It’s up to you to sort it out. Don’t trust the translators, and don’t trust me either. Trust God, and ask him for understanding. After all, it is his book we are both trying to understand.
We are told that we need his Holy Spirit to understand scripture, so whatever truth I have has been given by the Spirit of God guiding me, and me actually listening and thinking about it. Friends With God is therefore a collaboration between me and my wife (who gives me valuable editing and feedback) and the Spirit of God that guides us in all truth.
I try to maintain my anonymity as much as possible, which is why I don’t have selfies or put my wife’s name up, or give out my address. I am not promoting myself or trying to start a church, just to get some information out to people and get some feedback from them.
We have not had any visions, nor any particular manifestations of God’s Spirit other than what we know from scripture. We don’t speak in tongues or perform any healings, nor do we study the Bible or pray for hours each day. We live a normal life doing what we need to do with prayer and study being integral to what we do and say. I also
When I quote scripture, I often don’t simply quote the exact words of the translation I am using. Often I use the 1611 King James Version, but change the old terms like “thee” or “thou” etc., as we simply don’t talk like that today. I also often add explanations (in brackets), to clarify what I see as the meaning of the text. This may be annoying to some readers, but it saves a lot of explanation as to what I think it means. Read it in your own Bible, and if you disagree, tell me and we can discuss it.
The main premise of the posts in Friends With God is that friendship with the creator is the ultimate relationship we can have with him. God uses many analogies and metaphors about our relationship with him: he calls us his sons and daughters, we are to be grafted into the vine of Jesus, we are the temple of God, that we are to drink Jesus’ blood and eat his flesh etc. All these analogies provide different perspectives about how we can relate to God, but I feel that friendship is the simplest and most profound. It is also something we can relate to, as we have all know what good friends can be like, even if only by experiencing those who were not so good friends!
All content of this substack is free, at the moment, but in the future a paid subscription will be available, which will include bonuses such as free ebooks, discounts on hard copy booklets, and other benefits.
As of June 2025 I have finished publishing on Substack the main content of Friends With God, I am now looking for a publisher to get it in print as, having looked into it over the years, I just can’t stand the rigmarole of publishing.
I intend to do one post per week of between one and two thousand words. I am not sure if this is too much or too little, please tell me what you think is a reasonable amount to read and digest.
Your comments are always welcome, however, I strictly follow the principle of: Go from the presence of a foolish man, when you perceive not in him the lips of knowledge. (Prov 14:7) So if you are acting like a fool in your comments, your subscription will be cancelled. So, before commenting please take your time to consider what you have to say, because: The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things. (Prov 15:28)
To be God’s spiritual children as his friends, we need to appreciate that the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. (Psalm19:7) If we are simple, we can be made wise by reading his word, and keeping his law. I look forward to a rewarding relationship with you, and hope we can become friends over the internet, and if you are in Australia, it would be great to meet you in person.
Warmest Regards,
Martin
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