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The Great I AM When Moses met God for the first time in the desert at Mount Horeb, Exodus 3:13-14 tells us "Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” 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.' ” The Gospel of John (Good News Translation) DVD Again Jesus said to them, “I will go away; you will look for Me, but you will die in your sins. You cannot go where I am going.” So the Jewish authorities said, “He says that we cannot go where he is going. Does this mean that He will kill himself?” Jesus answered, “You belong to this world here below, but I come from above. You are from this world, but I am not from this world. That is why I told you that you will die in your sins. And you will die in your sins if you do not believe that 'I AM WHO I AM'.” “Who are you?” they asked Him. Jesus answered, “What I have told you from the very beginning. I have much to say about you, much to condemn you for. The one who sent Me, however, is truthful, and I tell the world only what I have heard from Him.” They did not understand that Jesus was talking to them about the Father. So he said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, you will know that 'I AM WHO I AM'; then you will know that I do nothing on My own authority, but I say only what the Father has instructed Me to say. And he who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, because I always do what pleases Him.” Many who heard Jesus say these things believed in Him. So Jesus said to those who believed in Him, If you obey My teaching, you are really My disciples; you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. We are the descendants of Abraham, they answered, and we have never been anybody's slaves. What do you mean, then, by saying, You will be free? Jesus said to them, I am telling you the truth: everyone who sins is a slave of sin. A slave does not belong to a family permanently, but a son belongs there forever. If the Son sets you free, then you will be really free. I know you are Abraham's descendants. Yet you are trying to kill Me, because you will not accept My teaching. I talk about what My Father has shown Me, but you do what your father has told you. They answered him, Our father is Abraham. If you really were Abraham's children, Jesus replied, you would do the same things that he did. All I have ever done is to tell you the truth I heard from God, yet you are trying to kill Me. Abraham did nothing like this! You are doing what your father did. God himself is the only Father we have, they answered, and we are his true children. Jesus said to them, If God really were your Father, you would love Me, because I came from God and now I am here. I did not come on My own authority, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to listen to My message. You are the children of your father, the Devil, and you want to follow your father's desires. From the very beginning he was a murderer and has never been on the side of truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he is only doing what is natural to him, because he is a liar and the father of all lies. But I tell the truth, and that is why you do not believe Me. Which one of you can prove that I am guilty of sin? If I tell the truth, then why do you not believe Me? He who comes from God listens to God's words. You, however, are not from God, and that is why you will not listen. They asked Jesus, Were we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon in you? I have no demon, Jesus answered. I honor My Father, but you dishonor Me. I am not seeking honor for Myself. But there is One who is seeking it and who judges in My favor. I am telling you the truth: whoever obeys My teaching will never die. They said to him, Now we know for sure that you have a demon! Abraham died, and the prophets died, yet you say that whoever obeys your teaching will never die. Our father Abraham died; you do not claim to be greater than Abraham, do you? And the prophets also died. Who do you think you are? Jesus answered, If I were to honor Myself, that honor would be worth nothing. The One who honors Me is My Father the very one you say is your God. You have never known Him, but I know Him. If I were to say that I do not know Him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know Him, and I obey His word. Your father Abraham rejoiced that he was to see the time of My coming; he saw it and was glad. They said to him, You are not even fifty years old and you have seen Abraham? I am telling you the truth, Jesus replied. Before Abraham was born, I AM. John 8:21-58 GNT The Seven I AM Statements of Jesus "I AM the bread of life, Jesus told them. Those who come to Me will never be hungry; those who believe in Me will never be thirsty." John 6:35 GNT "I AM the light of the world, He said. Whoever follows Me will have the light of life and will never walk in darkness." John 8:12 GNT "I AM the gate. Those who come in by Me will be saved; they will come in and go out and find pasture." John 10:9 GNT "I AM the good shepherd, who is willing to die for the sheep." John 10:11 GNT "I AM the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in Me will live, even though they die." John 11:25 GNT "I AM the way, the truth, and the life; no one goes to the Father except by Me." John 14:6 GNT "I AM the vine, and you are the branches. Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will bear much fruit; for you can do nothing without Me. Those who do not remain in Me are thrown out like a branch and dry up; such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, where they are burned. If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, then you will ask for anything you wish, and you shall have it. My Father's glory is shown by your bearing much fruit; and in this way you become My disciples. I love you just as the Father loves Me; remain in My love. If you obey My commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in His love. I have told you this so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." John 15:5-11 GNT How You Can Be Reconciled to God
He calls His Church to trust in Him (John 6:29) and to repent and do the works of salvation (Revelation 2:5, 2:16, 2:22, 3:3, 3:19). We are called to keep His commandments (Matthew 5:19, 19:17, 22:37-41). |
