I AM

(Excerpt from Adventure in Biblical Thinking Study Series, Volume 3, 2021)

When you read the title, I am guessing your mind might have gone to the Lord’s declaration as being the I am. If that is where your mind went that is a good thing and you probably thought of this verse:

God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.'” (Exodus 3:14).

Perhaps your mind may have gone to what is called the seven I am’s of Jesus from the Gospel of John. If that is where your mind went, that is a good thing. Let’s review those seven I am’s of Jesus:

1.  Bread       

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty (John 6:35).

2.  Light      

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12).

3.  Gate     

I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture (John 10:9).

4.  Good Shepherd     

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep (John 10:11).

5.  Resurrection and Life  

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die (John 11:25).

6.  Way, Truth, Life      

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6).

7.  True vine

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener (John 15:1).

However, you and I were created in the image of God. Therefore, every individual, including you and me, have a personal awareness that creates my own “I am” and you also have your own “I am”.

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them (Genesis 1:27).

A.W. Tozer in his opening prayer of the fifth chapter of Knowledge of the Holy said:

Lord of all being! Thou alone canst affirm I AM THAT I AM; yet we who are made in Thine image may each one repeat “I am,” so confessing that we derive from Thee and that our words are but an echo of Thine own. We acknowledge Thee to be the great Original of which we through Thy goodness are grateful if imperfect copies. We worship Thee, O Father Everlasting. Amen.

Think about it. Each one of us has an identity. We have a name, a body, a mind, a soul. At any given moment we are in a specific location. You have heard the silly saying, “Where ever you are, that is where you are”. Much of my sense of identity, who I am, may be private and personal. But we all are aware that we have formulated in our mind answers to the question, “Who am I?” We answer those questions with, “I am _______”.

I am guessing that you have some questions in your mind right now. You may be asking, “Where is he going with this?” You may be saying “so what”? No more guessing. I am headed toward exploring what the Scriptures say about the answer to “Who am I?” for every believer and follower of Jesus. The answers will be answered with this phrase, “I am _______”.

Before I go there, I want to develop a concept that will really make sense after we review some of the “I am’s” as a follower of Jesus. Recently, I was reading Jonathan Cahn’s book, The Oracle, and he made a statement, almost in passing, that really caught my attention. The statement went something like this: “The only real time is now.”

This turned my brain on as I explored the implications of this statement. This is so obvious; the present is the only time that is really real. The past is history as we often say. We can’t change the past, it is over and done. We can only remember the past. The future has not happened yet so we can only imagine or speculate about what is in the future. I can think of the future events that I anticipated and worried about that never happened. Another perspective: Regret is about the past, fear is about the future but the present is about what is happening now.

We must note that “I am” is present tense. I like continuums. Look at these:

Past/Present/Future

Memory/Awareness/Imagination

A simplified example of this for followers of Jesus is:

Lost sinner/Saved believer/Ever with the Lord

Before we explore the Scriptural, I am statements of Jesus followers let’s go a little deeper into these ideas about time. I want to deconstruct a very familiar verse and pursue some grammatical points about tenses (past tense, present tense, future tense). I want to use a very familiar verse.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).

We notice there are three characters in the verse, God, the only begotten son and whosoever. God “loved” (past tense). God “gave” (past tense). Whosoever “believes” (present tense). “Shall not perish” (future tense). “Have eternal life” (present tense).

We also notice that there is conditional proposition stated. God’s gift of His Son is offered to “whosoever”. Whosoever includes you, me, friends, relatives, strangers. The condition is “believes in him”. There is the option to believe or not to believe. Those who choose not to believe shall perish (future tense). Those who choose to believe have eternal life (present tense).

We must not leave this verse without making note that God loved the world. Therefore, the gift of Jesus is offered to everyone. We must also note the whosoever includes anyone.

Before moving on let’s go through the same process with another familiar passage.

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved (Romans 10:9-10).

These verses are often used to explain the process of becoming a believer. “declare with your mouth” (Present tense). “believe in your heart” (Present tense). “God raised him from the dead” (Past tense). “will be saved”. (Present tense). “believe and are justified” (Present tense). “with your mouth that you profess” (Present tense). The “you” in this passage is the “whosoever” of John 3:16. What they are doing, confessing and believing is happening in the “now” real time.

For he says,

“In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation (II Corinthians 6:2).

We all experience life in the now, the real time. I received the Lord when I was twelve and have known Him for many years. All the time since then, up to now is in the past and is filled with wonderful memories of my relationship with the Lord. But my life with Him is in the now. Right now, as I type this document. If you know the Lord, your life with Him is experienced right now as you read this. I also have anticipations about my relationship with the Lord tomorrow and all the tomorrows that make up everlasting. But the fellowship with the Lord is only real in the now. You will see why all this reasoning is important as we move into our next part.

Interlude: I want to pause briefly and tickle your mind. We are aware that time has movement. We say things like, “Just passing time” or “Where has time gone?” or “Time seems to fly”. Now here is the question to ponder: Are we moving into the future or is the future moving toward us? The answer to this question has no relevance to our previous or future discussion about time and the present, but this can be fun to think about. Now to get serious, back to the main and important points.

Jesus Followers’ I Am’s

The Jesus follower’s response to the question, “Who am I?”, that is a declaration of identity, is always in present tense because “I am” is present tense. The answer is not past tense, who was I. The answer is not future tense, who will I be. The answer to “Who am I?” will always be in the “now”, the right now. Not a few seconds ago. Not a few seconds from now. The answer will always be who I am at this very moment. This model is important to keep in mind as we look at some of the Biblical “now” statements. We are ready to explore the Scriptural “I am” statements of Jesus followers. Remember the “I am” statements are true of the only time that is real, now, the present.

Well, not quite ready because I want to set the stage. Those in authority give proclamations. When a proclamation is given it becomes what “is”. There are many examples of this but let me set the stage from my background as an educator. The authority for schools is a Board of Directors and the Board of Directors operates from Board Policy which is official and definitely recorded. In my experience the Board Policy Book was very thick. The official policy gave direction for how the Board operated, how school operations work and employee expectations and requirements. Every Board member and every administrator had a copy. Usually a Board Policy document was maintained in some central location so all employees would have access. I am guessing that many schools now have the policy book on their webpage.

Although current Board Policy is written in stone and the law of the school, sometimes there is a need to revise, update or create new policy. There are very specific protocols for making these changes and the protocols are dictated by Board Policy. The changes may be driven by changes in state or federal law or incidents or potential incidents that need to be addressed. Interestingly, each Board Policy is assigned letters according to categories and specific numbers for each policy in that category. It reminds you of chapter and verse in the Bible. The Board Policy Book with its “current” policy becomes the last word and is sort of like the Bible for the district. Interestingly, the policy becomes both accuser and defender. As accuser the statement is, “You didn’t follow school policy”. As defender the statement is, “I was following school policy.”

One of the sections of Board Policy is job descriptions. Each category of school personnel has their own specific official job description. The job description will include a position title, minimum requirements for the position which may include specific degrees, licenses or certification. The job description details granted authority, assigned duties and responsibilities. General examples: Teacher, Principal, Superintendent, Clerk, Secretary, Custodian, Cook, Bus Driver etc.

These job descriptions are proclaimed by the school board in the School Policy. Therefore, if a person was to meet someone associated with the school and were to ask them what do you do, they would reply something like this, “I am a teacher and not a cook.” Another person might reply, “I am a cook and not a teacher.” The key point is each individual would be able to clearly state their current position as I am _______. The answer would be based in the authority of current Board Policy and they could show you the written documentation to substantiate that position.

You may be able to think of one or more scenarios that illustrate the policy drama. However, I want to emphasize the term “current” policy because it relates to the “now”, the “present”. The policy scenario is meant to be an introduction to the concept of authoritative proclamation and the relation of proclamation to the present.

The Lord has given proclamations. He is the ultimate authority. He has given His proclamation in His Word. The Lord has chosen to reveal Himself to mankind to tell us what He wants us to know. He reveals who He is (always), what He has done (past), what He is doing (present) and what He will do (future). He also has revealed to us what is needed to know about mankind. Because of who He is there is never a need to revise, update or create new policy.

The Scriptures in the Bible contain the words of God spoken to mankind. Since you and I are members of mankind, those words are spoken directly to you and me. Think of it, the God of the universe, the creator of everything, the sustainer of life, the Savior of the world is speaking directly to you and me. His speaking to mankind is inclusive. His speaking to you and to me is personal.

We are told that the Scriptures were written by inspired writers to whom God was dictating what He wants you and me to know.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness (II Timothy 3:16).

For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit (II Peter 1:21).

Now we are ready to explore the Scriptural “I am” statements of Jesus followers that I have selected. There are more. Perhaps you will think of some. Remember the “I am” statements are true of the only real time, now, the present. These statements are true of those who believe in Jesus and are His followers.

Proclamation: SinceI have chosen to believe in Jesus and follow Jesus, I am chosen.

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love (Ephesians 1:4).

But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth (II Thessalonians 2:13).

For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you (I Thessalonians (1:4).

Proclamation: SinceI have chosen to believe in Jesus and follow Jesus, I am predestined to be a child of God.

he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will– (Ephesians 1:5).

For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. (Romans 8: 29-30).

In him we were also chosen, ^e having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will (Ephesians 1:11).

Proclamation: SinceI have chosen to believe in Jesus and follow Jesus, I am redeemed and forgiven from my sins.

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace (Ephesians 1:7).

He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. (Hebrews 9:12).

For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors (I Peter 1:18).

Proclamation: SinceI have chosen to believe in Jesus and follow Jesus, I am the possessor of an inheritance and a joint heir with Christ.

Now if we are children, then we are heirs–heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory (Romans 8:17).

Proclamation: SinceI have chosen to believe in Jesus and follow Jesus, I am sealed with the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit dwells in me.

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13).

Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? (I Corinthians 3:16).

Proclamation: SinceI have chosen to believe in Jesus and follow Jesus, I am a purchased possession of the Lord and valuable to Him. (Value is measured by the price paid.)

who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession–to the praise of his glory (Ephesians 1:14).

you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. (I Corinthians 6:20).

And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation (Revelation 5:9).

Proclamation: SinceI have chosen to believe in Jesus and follow Jesus, I am loved by the Lord.

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope (II Thessalonians 2:16).

Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James, To those who have been called, who are loved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ (Jude 1:1).

Proclamation: SinceI have chosen to believe in Jesus and follow Jesus, I am accepted.

to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves (Ephesians 1:6).

Proclamation: SinceI have chosen to believe in Jesus and follow Jesus, I am saved.

he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5).

Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him (Romans 5:9).

Proclamation: SinceI have chosen to believe in Jesus and follow Jesus I am without blame.

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love (Ephesians 1:4).

Proclamation: SinceI have chosen to believe in Jesus and follow Jesus I am forgiven.

I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name (I John 2:12).

When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins (Colossians 2:13).

Proclamation: SinceI have chosen to believe in Jesus and follow Jesus, I am sanctified, holy.

… But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God (I Corinthians 6:11).

you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ (I Peter 2:5).

Proclamation: SinceI have chosen to believe in Jesus and follow Jesus, I am a new creation.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here (II Corinthians 5:17).

We have been exploring some of the Scriptural answers given to the question of “Who am I?” to those who have chosen to believe in Jesus and become His followers. This list of answers to the question, “Who am I?” has been very reassuring and are a concrete blessing. But what about those who chose not to believe in Jesus and chose not to become a Jesus follower? The answer to their question of “Who am I? basically they are a person who is perishing. They are perishing right now in this present moment.

The full perspective for those who have chosen to not believe in Jesus and not become a follower of Jesus is they were perishing in the past, yesterday and the day before and the day before that. Similarly, those who have chosen to not believe in Jesus and not become a follower of Jesus will be perishing tomorrow and the next day and the days that follow. The focus however is that they are perishing right now, in the present, in the only time that is really real.

The seriousness and finality of not believing is stated in these verses.

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them (John 3:36).

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son (John 3: 18).

They are part of the world that God loved and to whom He gave His only begotten Son. But they are not part of the “whosoever” that chose to believe. Remember the two alternatives given in John 3:16. There was perishing or eternal life. The deciding factor was believing or not believing. Because of their choice to not believe they are part of the perishing. If you are one of those who have chosen to not believe in Jesus and not become a follower of Jesus, this is very scary and sobering news.

The good news is the choice to not believe that results in perishing can be rectified. Perishing can be avoided. The variable is to choose to believe. A loving God will gladly receive you.

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance (II Peter 3:9).

Repentance simply means change your mind. Move from not believing to believing. Earlier we saw the verse that said “now” is the day of salvation.

The closing thought for those who have chosen to believe in Jesus and become His follower is the answer to “Who am I?” it is repeated and clearly stated in the Word of God. Each and every believer can look in a mirror and boldly state all of those proclamations that the Lord has said about them. The believer in Jesus, the follower of Jesus can boldly say: I am chosen, predestined to be a child of God, redeemed and forgiven from my sins, the possessor of an inheritance and a joint heir with Christ, sealed with the Holy Spirit with the Holy Spirit dwelling in me, a purchased possession of the Lord and valuable to Him, loved by the Lord, accepted, saved, without blame, forgiven, sanctified, holy, and a new creation.

This really feels good and is a great protection from doubts and attacks that may enter minds that diminish the wonder of belonging to the Lord Jesus.

You may enjoy listening to this song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvlA22cf6Ic

More adventures in Biblical thinking about “I am”.

These exercises can be used for reflection on the content of this adventure in Biblical thinking or they could be used as discussion starters for a small group Bible study.

1. Reflect on the idea of the only time that is real is now, the present. Think about the implications for worry, regrets and fears.
2. Think about the question of the movement of time. Are we going into time or is time coming to us? What do you think? Does Scripture give any clues?
3. Contemplate the fact that the God of the Universe is speaking directly to you. Visualize a scenario in which you are sitting in a chair and sitting directly opposite of you is the Lord. He is speaking to you and you are listening. That is what is happening when you read the Word of God. How does that make you feel? What are the personal implications?
4. Name some times when you have been chosen. Think about who chose you and maybe why you were chosen. How did you feel? What about significance?
5. Being a child of God speaks to relationship and belonging. Again, significance is linked with belonging. Name some situations or events where you belong. How does belonging feel?
6. Being an heir is a position of privilege. Identify in what sense you are an heir. Identify your heirs. Think of heirs beyond the sense of family connections. Contemplate being an heir of God.
7. Let your mind wander over some other proclamations: purchased possession, loved, forgiven, accepted. Dwell on these for a moment and particularly focus on the reality of these being true in the “now”.
8. Absorb the seriousness of not believing in the only Begotten Son, Jesus. This is a sobering thought. The seriousness of not believing stirs a believer to thankfulness that they have chosen to believe. What is stirred about those we know who have chosen not to believe? Pray for them. 

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™