The Lord Jesus uses these three words to speak of His own upon the fulfillment of certain conditions in John 15. His own are those who have accepted Him as Saviour. How grand for those to be specially honored by Him in this threefold relationship.

It is because of sovereign grace we become His own. Jesus said, "Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you" (v. 16). He is Lord and Master, indeed, and His claims over His own must be regarded as paramount. The One who chose His own is the Same One who cleanses His own by faith in the Word, bringing them to new birth by the operation of the Holy Spirit. The judicial cleansing for salvation is by His blood. The moral cleansing is by the Word. The one saved receives a new nature which changes his entire life.

Disciples

A disciple is a learner, a follower; but here we read, "Herein is My Father glorified that ye bear much fruit: so shall ye be My disciples" (v. 8). To bear fruit one must be totally dependent upon Him, as the fruit bearing branch must abide in the Vine. The dependence upon Him, manifested by a life of prayer and a Spirit led life, is what produces fruit. Fruit is the life of Christ expressed in the believer. This production of fruit is what Jesus said would mark out His own as His disciples. Thus the secret of discipleship is dependence.

Friends

"Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you" (v. 14). A friend is one to whom we can tell our deepest secrets and know he will not betray the trust we put in him. Obedience to the Lord assures us this honor of being made His friend. Abraham is a striking Old Testament example, being called the friend of God because of his obedience to the Lord. The apostle John is a New Testament example. He who pillowed his head on the Lord's breast was told the secret of the one who would betray the Lord. He was also given the precious legacy to care for the Lord's mother at the cross. Jesus trusted him as a friend. Thus, the secret of friendship is obedience.

Witnesses

Jesus calls His own witnesses, "because they had been with Me from the beginning." One cannot witness to what he has not experienced. A believer can only witness for Christ to the degree in which he has been in company with Him. Today we can be in company with Jesus by the indwelling Holy Spirit's work, bringing Christ before our souls through the Word. "We all beholding the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord" (2 Cor. 3:18). What a witness this can be! May we see the secret is to be in company, as in communion, with Him.

Thus: Dependence, Obedience and Communion assure the believer of the honor of being His Disciple, Friend and Witness.