How do we know that we are friends of God?

Knowing we are friends of God is anchored in the understanding of grace and the relationship God extends to us through Christ. John 15:15 highlights that Jesus calls His followers 'friends' because He reveals to them the depths of His love and the nature of His mission. This friendship is a gift from God, established not by our works but by His sovereign choice, as articulated in scriptures like Ephesians 1:4-5. When we recognize God's grace in our lives, it confirms that we are included in His divine plan, and thus, we can celebrate our status as His friends, accepted fully in Christ and His righteousness.