Friendship is an amazing and wonderful thing. For the church, friendship is vital. When we gather around the gifts of Christ, we gather together. We need others who will bear the external Word for us, and in so doing we make our stand in an eternal friendship against the Devil, the world, and our own sinful hearts. The handing over of the goods--that is, the proclamation of salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone--will continually call for the creation and endurance of friendship. It is In friendship that we will be able to hold the line until our Lord, the Friend of Sinners, returns.