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Christ Jesus is the Great I AM
Christ Jesus claimed to be the “I AM,” which is the Personal Name of the God of the Old Testament: Exodus 3:13-14 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? 14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. (KJV)
The Name that is above all earthly and heavenly names is Yahweh, the great “I AM THAT I AM.”
There are several times recorded in the New Testament that Jesus referred to Himself as the “I AM” . . . indicating His Deity. He claimed to be the LORD God, Jehovah, Yahweh, the great “I AM THAT I AM.” I think the greatest of all the Names for the Lord Jesus Christ is the “I AM.” That is why the apostle Paul wrote: Phil. 2:9-11 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (KJV)
JESUS IS LORD. The Name that is above all other names is “Lord,” and it is equal to Jehovah or Yahweh, and is equal to the words, “I AM.”
The apostle Paul tells us that the Lord Jesus is so above all other beings that all who are in Heaven and the Earth will bow and worship Him. HE IS GOD. He is not One among many gods, but the One and Only God (Acts 4:12; 1 Tim. 2:5; 1 Cor. 8:4).
On one occasion He responded to the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well when she perceived that He could possibly be the long awaited for Messiah. Jesus said: John 4:26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he. (KJV) Jesus literally said, “I am,” claiming the title “I AM.”
That is not the only time He made the claim. He used these words to refer to His deity several times in the Gospel of John, as follows.
Then spake Jesus again unto them . . . possibly the Scribes and Pharisees, who went out and returned again, or some others of them, who came after this.
I am the light of the world . . . Christ Jesus formerly refers Himself to "Water" (Jn.4:10, 13; 7:37-39), and to "Bread" (Jn.6:35). Here it is "Light." Our Lord says "I am" again and again in the Gospels. Consider also, Jesus is: the "Door" (Jn.10:7,9), the "Good Shepherd" (Jn.10:11,14), the "Son of God" (Jn.10:36), the "Resurrection" (Jn.11:25), the "Way, Truth and Life" (Jn.14:6), the "Vine" (Jn.15:1,5). In the Old Testament, God is the "... I AM THAT I AM ..."
Ex. 3:14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. (KJV) . . . Jesus IS God!!!! http://www.hisservants.org/is_jesus_god_h_s.htm
Seven times in the Gospel of John Jesus claims to be the great “I am” (4:26; 6:20; 8:24, 28, 58; 13:19; 18:5). In every one of these contexts the “I am” keeps reinforcing the deity of Jesus. He is stating His claim to be God.
Christ Jesus is our Bread!
Joh 6:32-35 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. 34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. 35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. (KJV)
John 6:41 The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. (KJV)
They did not understand that Jesus was talking about Himself, so He simply told them outright,
"I am the bread of life." Just as our physical bodies die if they are not fed, so our spiritual life will dry up and be in grave danger without a constant commitment and loyalty to Christ. Christ is called the Bread of Life because He alone gives life to spiritually dead sinners! People are in a state of being dead in trespasses and sins. It really matters what we feed our soul! Christ Jesus is the only TRUE Bread, which gives life, and that is communicated by the Word, and made effective by the Holy Spirit. And because Christ supports and maintains the life He gives; it is never in the power of a believer to support the spiritual life he has; nor can his soul live on anything except Christ. . . . Death: . . . https://www.hisservants.org/death_then_what_1.1.htm
Jesus fed 5,000 men and declared, “I am the Bread of Life” (John 6:35). He alone is able to satisfy the greatest spiritual hunger in your life. Have you come to Him and ate His bread and drank His blood? There is no other way to have life. Do you go to Him daily and eat the bread of life? You will starve to death spiritually if you do not eat at His table daily.
Christ Jesus is our Light!
John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. (KJV)
Christ Jesus had just exposed the sin of the scribes and the Pharisees who brought the woman guilty of adultery. Because they were just as guilty of sin as she was, they had to flee. When the light is turned on, all the rats, bats and snakes crawl away. Light exposes sin, which is why the scribes and the Pharisees had to leave. We really do not understand light, but we do know if we turn on the light switch when we enter a dark room, we can see. Christ Jesus is the LIGHT of this world. The sun is the physical light of this world, Jesus is spiritual Light. Just as a little child has sense enough to come out of the dark into a lighted room, so too any sinner can come into the Presence of the Lord Jesus Christ.
He that followeth me . . . as a person follows a light going before him on a dark and dangerous path. When I was a kid, long ago, I would have to go to a neighboring farm to buy milk for my mother. Pennsylvania was FULL of pit-holes from mining for coal. We were very poor. I had no flashlight. I had some very scary times. God got me through them all. I now know He took care of me many times!
Shall not walk in darkness . . . in the darkness of unrepentant sin, not knowing what they are, and where they are, and where they are going; for these know they are in the Light; and though they were blind, now they see; they know in whom they have believed, and that they are in Christ, in the covenant of grace, and in the love of God, and are going to Heaven and eternal happiness; such shall not walk in the darkness of unbelief; but walk by faith in Christ; not in the darkness of error, but in the Truth of the Gospel, and as becomes it; and though they may sometimes walk without the light of God's countenance, yet light shall arise to them; and such "shall not walk in darkness," as one version renders the words, into outer darkness, or the darkness of eternal death.
But shall have the light of life . . . Jesus is our Light in this life on Earth, our newly awakened spiritual and eternal life. We need not fear the darkness! (1 Jn.4:18).
Jesus said, “I am the Light of the world” (8:12; 9:5). He healed a blind man groping in darkness and then opened his spiritual eyes so he could see the great I AM and worship Him. Are you wandering around in a spiritual darkness following one blind religious guide after another? Jesus is the only light you need to guide you into God’s holy presence. All other “lights” are evil in nature and will only lead you into eternal darkness.
Christ Jesus is the I AM!
John 8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. (KJV)
Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day . . . Abraham saw three things very clearly: #1. God the Father's Plan in sending His only begotten Son as the Messiah for His people, to redeem them and to guarantee the land of Canaan as an everlasting possession to them (Gen.12:1-3; 17:1-22), #2. He also saw God's Plan in the Messiah being sent through his natural seed (Rom.4:13-22; 9:4-7; Gal.3:16), and he rejoiced by faith (Rom.4), #3. He saw the Second Person of the Trinity in visible form Gen.18:1-8,19-20; 19:24). Abraham looked to the day of this happening and greatly rejoiced.
And he saw it and was glad . . . Abraham saw it with an eye of faith, he saw it in the Promise, that in his (Abraham's) seed all the nations of the earth should be blessed (Gen.12:1-3); and when it was promised that he would have a son, which was the beginning of the fulfillment of the other, he laughed (Gen.17:17). He called his son Isaac, to which some say means "laughter."
John 8:57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? (KJV)
Then said the Jews unto him, thou art not yet fifty years old . . . He was not much more than thirty; about 32 or 33 years old. Possibly the reason of their saying 50, was because Christ might look that much, being a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief (Isa.53:3), or maybe they allowed Him that many years, to gain their point, but what were 50 years, when Abraham had been dead over 2000? SO . . . according to them, He could never have seen Abraham, nor Abraham have seen Him. Also the age of 50, is often spoken of by the Jews, that at the age of 50, a man is fit to give counsel.
And hast thou seen Abraham? . . . it is remarkable how they perverted Jesus' words. His statement was NOT that He had seen Abraham, but that Abraham had seen His day. The intention of Jesus was to show that He said He was greater than Abraham (Jn.8:53). He said that Abraham, as great as he was, earnestly desired to see Messiah's time, thus acknowledging his inferiority to the Messiah. The Jews perverted this, and stated that it was impossible that He and Abraham could have seen each other.
John 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. (KJV)
I am: Our Lord by this expression declared His Divinity and Eternal Existence, as the great I AM, and is evident from the use of the present tense, instead of the past tense, from its being in answer to the Jews, who enquired whether He had seen Abraham, and from its being thus understood by the multitude, who were infuriated to such a degree that they took up stones to stone Him. The ancient Jews not only believed that the Messiah was superior to, and Lord of all the patriarchs, and even of angels, but that His celestial nature existed with God from whom it originated, before the Creation.
Christ Jesus is our Door!
John 10:7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. (KJV)
Then said Jesus unto them again . . . by way of explaining of the above parable, since they did not understand it:
Verily, verily, I say unto you . . . only John uses the term “verily, verily” . . . the other writers use only the singular “verily.” What it means is that what Jesus is saying is truth and can be depended on as such, whether it will be believed or not.
I am the door of the sheep . . . Jesus clearly states that HE is the Door, the only Door of the sheep, NO goats, dogs or swine can enter, only sheep! (Eph.2:18).
John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. (KJV)
I am the door . . . all those who come for salvation to God, through Christ, shall absolutely obtain it. He shall be saved (Jn.5:24). He shall have his sins blotted out, his soul purified, and he shall be preserved unto eternal life. The scribes and Pharisees could NOT promise or convey any such thing. Neither can any cult or false teacher of today! The Door is a symbol of entrance into protection and shelter, and an exit from suppression and insufficiency.
By me if any man enter in . . . by me . . . by His instruction and merits, shall enter into the sheepfold, the church.
He shall be saved . . . being in a church, and having submitted to ordinances, will NOT save any. A person MUST enter at the right Door, through faith in Christ. Only then shall they be saved (Mk.16:16).
And shall go in and out . . . meaning the sheep going in and out of the fold. I think this means they exercise faith in Christ, and act upon Him, in the outward confession of Him, in performing good works; in going to Him, accepting His precious Blood, His righteousness and His Sacrifice for us.
And find pasture . . . good pasture, pasture for their souls. ”Pasture” for God’s sheep is the Gospel, the words of faith, true and good doctrine. It is Christ Himself, whose flesh is meat indeed, and whose blood is drink indeed (Jn.6:55).
Jesus said that He is the only door into God’s Presence. He said, “I am the Door” (10:7, 9). All other doors lead down the wrong path and to eternal destruction. Jesus is the ONLY entrance into eternal life (Acts 4:12).
Christ Jesus is our Good Shepherd!
John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. (KJV)
I am the good shepherd . . . Christ Jesus was THE Shepherd of His Father's appointing and calling, to whom the care of all His sheep, or chosen ones, was committed. Christ was set up as a Shepherd over them by the Father and was entrusted with them. His being called, assumed responsibility to care for them. Christ, being promised, was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Isa.53:6; Jer.50:6-7; Eze.34:5-6,16,23; Mat.9:36; 10:5-6; 15:24); under the personality of a Shepherd. He died for them, rose again, and is accountable to His Father for every one of them. The Shepherd, the Great and Chief Shepherd, is the One so often spoken of and prophesied of (Gen.49:24; Ps.23:1; Isa.40:11; Eze.34:23; 37:24; Zec.13:7; Jn.10:11; Heb.13:20; 1 Pet.2:25; 5:2). He is the Good Shepherd, for He provides good pasture, and a good fold for His sheep. He protects them from their enemies; He restores their souls. He watches over them.
The good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep . . . He not only exposed His life to extreme danger, as David did, for the sake of His Father's flock, but He gave it away freely and voluntarily, for the sake of the sheep . . . in their place . . . as a ransom for them, that they may be delivered from death, and might have eternal life. This description agrees totally with Christ, the Good Shepherd; and so the Lord is said to be , "the good shepherd" and merciful, and there is NONE else like Him.
John 10:14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. (KJV)
I am the good shepherd . . . see verse 11.
And know my sheep . . He knows them so well that He calls them by name. Christ has a special, distinct, and exact knowledge of all His sheep (Mat.10:30; Lk.12:7), for they are the choice of His Father, as His Father's gift to Him (Jn.10:29). And as His own purchase, He holds an affectionate love for them, and takes special care of them; and has a close fellowship with them Himself. He owns and acknowledges them as His, both now (Jn.5:24) and hereafter (Jn.3:15-16).
And I am known of mine . . . NOT the way devils (Lk.4:41) and external professors know Him, but with a special, spiritual and saving knowledge. Christ's own approve of Him as their Shepherd and their Saviour. They desire NO other; they love Him above all, with the sincerity of their souls, with a love as strong as death. They trust Him as their Shepherd, believing they shall not want; and keep Him to themselves as their own. They care for Him, His cause, His interest, His Gospel, His ordinances and are not ashamed to own Him as theirs, in the most public manner (Mat.10:33).
Jesus said, “I am the Good Shepherd” (10:11, 14). Every individual is like a wandering, stray lost sheep caught in the briars of sin. There are many false shepherds herding up stray sheep to take to slaughter today. Jesus is the only Good Shepherd. He will take you by the hand and led you into the Father’s Presence and give you eternat nourishment.
Christ Jesus is the Son of God!
John 10:36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? (KJV)
Say ye of him whom the Father hath sanctified . . . sanctify means to make holy; but that is not the meaning here, because the Son of God was ALWAYS holy because He is God! Here it means to set apart for a holy, sacred use; to assign to a holy, sacred purpose, and to choose, select or bless to a holy office. God has consecrated or appointed His Holy Son to be His Messenger or Messiah to mankind.
And sent into the world . . . in human nature (Jn.1:14), to obtain eternal redemption and salvation His people (Jn.3:16): to save them from sin, Satan, the world, law, Hell and death (1 Jn.5:10-13), which none but God could do (Jn.14:6).
Thou blasphemest, because I said, I am the Son of God . . . our Lord had not said, in so many words, that He was the Son of God on this particular occasion. But He had said what was beyond any doubt, words that amounted to it . . . to be precise, that He gave His sheep eternal life, and none could pluck them out of His Hand; and that He had gotten them from His Father, and in whose Hands, although given to Him, they still remained, and out of whose Hand none could pluck them away; and that the sheep were the property of both He and His Father, because "He and His Father were/are one." He spoke Truth, as He always did.
Dear one, Christ Jesus IS the Son of God! He said I am the Son of God, He was, and He IS!
Christ Jesus is our Resurrection and our Life!
John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: (KJV)
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection and the life . . . indicating that He was able to raise men from death to life, without asking it of His Father; and that He could do it now, as well as at the general resurrection.
He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live . . . although believers in Christ die as well as others, death to them is not a punishing evil for its curse is removed, its sting is taken away. A TRUE Christian is totally satisfied with Christ, and so He becomes a Blessing and Privilege to them. Christ Jesus is truly desired by them. And although they die, they shall live again; for they are under the special care of Christ. They shall rise by virtue of union with Him, and shall rise, first in the morning of the resurrection, and with special privileges, or to the resurrection of life, and with the unique properties of holiness, incorruption, power and glory. BUT . . . on the other hand, those that are dead in sin, are under a sentence of condemnation (Jn.3:18-19,36; 8:24; 12:47-48; Mk.16:16; 2 Thes.1:8-9; 2:12; Heb.2:3; 12:25; 1 Jn.5:10; Rev.20:15; 21:8). These too shall be resurrected, NOT to eternal life but to eternal death.
Eternal death: (Pro.8:36; Jn.3:18,36; 8:24; Mk.16:16; Acts 4;12; Rom.1:18; 4:15; 5:9; Gal.3:10; Eph.5:6; 1 Thes.1:10; 5:9; Heb.2:3; 10:26-29; 12:25; Rev.6:16-17).
Christ Jesus is our Master and our Lord!
John 13:13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. (KJV)
Ye call me Master and Lord . . . "Master" and "Lord" were distinguished titles among the Jews, which they often gave to their doctors and learned men. The disciples called Christ by these names, not out of flattery, but reverence of Him, and high regard for Him. Jesus did not blame them for this but instead commended them for it.
And ye say well, for so I am . . . although He had acted out the part of a servant in such an unexpected manner, by performing the lowly task of washing their feet, He still maintains His place and authority as a "Master" to teach and instruct them, and as a "Lord" to rule and govern them. (Mat.23:8-10; Phil.2:11).
John 13:14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. (KJV)
If I then your Lord and Master . . . these titles were rightly given to Him by His disciples, because He stood in such a superior relationship to them.
Have washed your feet . . . Almighty God humbled Himself to do a servant’s task.
Ye also ought to wash one another's feet . . . I do not think this means literally washing someone’s feet, but instead means we should be willing to do the most actual humbling services one to another. We should be willing to use Jesus as an example in our lives. I do not think this was meant to set up a religious rite that we should observe because: #1. There is no evidence that Jesus intended it as a religious observance, like the Lord's Supper or the ordinance of baptism. #2. It was not observed by the apostles or the early Christians as a religious rite. #3. I think it was a clear plan of humility; to teach them, and us, by His example that they ought to humble yourself to the most lowly offices for the benefit of others.
Christ Jesus is an example to His people, in the exercise of grace, humility, love, meekness, patience, and in the discharge of duty and in submitting to ordinances.
Christ Jesus is our Way, our Truth, and our Life!
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (KJV)
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way . . . our Lord takes the opportunity of this talk about the place where He was going and the way to it, to instruct His disciples more fully pertaining to Himself. He tells them "I am the way." Christ Jesus is not just the Way, as He goes before His people as an Example . . . or just as a Prophet, pointing out to them by His doctrine the way of salvation . . . but He is the Way of salvation itself by His obedience and His Sacrifice. There is NO other way to get to Heaven! Many then and today do not believe this. They say that this Way is too narrow . . . but my friend, this Way is wide enough for the entire world if they so choose to walk it. No one comes rightly unto God the Father except by faith in God the Son! He is the ONLY Way to Heaven!
The truth . . . Jesus is not only true, but Truth itself! He is the TRUE God, and eternal life; really and truly Man; and as a Prophet He taught the way of God in Truth. As a Priest, He is a faithful, as well as merciful one, and true and faithful to Him that appointed Him; and as a King, just and true are all His ways and management. He is the Sum and Substance of all the Truths of the Gospel, which are all full of Him, and center on Him. He is the Truth of all the Promises and prophecies of the Old Testament, and they have ALL their completion in Him. He is the ONLY True Way, in total opposition to all the false ones of man's devising. What is TRUTH? . . . it is Christ Jesus, He that is the living God, and King of the world, whether the world believes it or not. TRUTH is used by Jesus 22 times in John, and just 4 times by Him in the other Gospels. Jesus is the Truth of God that sets us free.
And the life . . . Christ Jesus is the Author and Giver of life, natural, spiritual, and eternal! He is the only Way to eternal life . . . only He can provide a blissful and glorious life where none ever get sick and die. LIFE is used 44 times in John and only 38 times in the other Gospels. Christ is the ONLY Source of eternal life.
No man cometh unto the Father but by me . . . Christ is the ONLY Way of access to the Father. There is absolutely NO coming to God the Father except through His only begotten Son. Christ Jesus is the ONLY Mediator between God and man! (Acts 4:12).
Christ Jesus is “in the Father” and “the Father is in Him”!
John 14:10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. (KJV)
Believest thou not that I am in the Father and the Father in me? . . . this should be an article of your faith, "that I am in the Father and the Father in me" (Jn.10:30,38; 14:9-11,20; 17:11,21; 1 Jn.5:7). This expresses the sameness of nature in the Father and the Son. The Son has perfect equality with the Father, since the Son is as much in the Father, as the Father is in the Son. There is a personal distinction between them, the Father must be distinct from the Son who is in Him, and the Son must be distinct from the Father who is in Him. The Father and Son, although of one and the same nature, cannot be one and the same Person.
The words that I speak unto you, I speak not of myself . . . the doctrines that Jesus preached among them are proof of what He states, for they do not come from Him as Man, but from the Father.
But the Father that dwelleth in me . . . and so proves that He was truly God, of the same nature with His Father . . . that He is in Me, and I in Him. Since He is none other than the only begotten (Jn.3:16), Who is in the bosom of the Father (Jn.1:18), Jesus IS God!
He doth the works . . . Christ now proceeds to another argument, His works, proving the Father to be in Him, and that He is in the Father, which, is extended in verse 11.
John 14:11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. (KJV)
Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me . . . take My word for this Truth or if you will not believe Me, believe for the sake of the doctrines I have taught you, which are such as were never spoken by any mere man, and which were delivered with such authority, as were never done by man.
Or else believe me for the very work's sake . . . meaning His miraculous works, such as raising the dead, cleansing the lepers, causing the deaf to hear, and giving sight to the blind; which no one but a divine person could ever perform.
Christ Jesus is the True Vine!
John 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. (KJV)
I am the true vine . . . The word for true here means "genuine." Something can be true, not error, not falsehood, or something can be true, and not counterfeit. The latter is the way it is used here. Jesus was NOT, is NOT counterfeit! Just as John the Baptist was just a reflecting light, but Jesus Christ is the TRUE Light. Moses gave bread in the wilderness, but Christ Jesus is the TRUE Bread. So here Jesus tells them, and us, "I am the true vine, the genuine vine."
The apostles had Jewish ideas and their thought patterns had been ruled by the Old Testament. He is telling them now that the nation Israel is not the genuine vine. Their identification with the Jewish nation and the Jewish religion is not the main thing. "I am the genuine vine." The important thing now is for the apostles to be coupled to Christ Jesus. Our Lord used a marvelous figure of speech, and He made it very clear that it is not your identification with a religion or a ceremony or an organization that is necessary. We are to be identified with Christ! We are "in Christ" by the baptism of the Holy Spirit the moment we trust Christ as our Saviour (1 Cor.12:13) and are born again as a child of God (Jn.1:12-13; 3:3-8).
And my Father is the husbandman . . . this too, is a surprising word. In the Old Testament Passages and in the parables, God is the Owner of the vineyard (Isa.5:5,7; Jer.12:10; Mat.20:1). Here He is the Keeper, the Farmer, the One who takes care of the vineyard. Jesus is the genuine Vine, and the Father takes care of Him. In the Old Testament it is prophesied that the Lord Jesus would grow up before Him as a tender plant and as a root out of the dry ground (Isa.53:2). It is certain, His Father intervened many times to save Jesus from the Devil who wanted Him dead (Mat.2:14-15). The Father is the One who cared for the Vine, and my friend, He will care for the branches, too, because they are part of the Vine! The branches must be joined to the Vine . . . WHY? To bear fruit. If a branch is not attached to the vine, it is dead. A dead branch CANNOT produce any fruit whatsoever!
John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. (KJV)
I am the vine, ye are the branches . . . Christ here repeats what He said of Himself, "I am the vine," because of the important application of "the branches" to His apostles. This expresses the sameness of their (and our) nature with Christ, their firm and close union to Him and the proclaiming of life and grace, holiness and fruitfulness, of support and strength, and of persevering in love, grace and holiness to the end with Him. Because we have a free will, we can easily break fellowship with God by allowing sin in our life, by stepping out of the will of God, or by going along with the world. Our Lord wants us to abide in Him so that we bear much fruit. There is a similarity to the parable of the sower (Mat.13). Some of the seed fell on good ground and brought forth thirty fold . . . that is fruit. Some of the seed brought forth sixty . . . that is more fruit. Some of the seed brought forth an hundredfold . . . that is much fruit. God wants us to bear much fruit.
He that abideth in me, and I in him . . . once a person is truly saved, “in Christ” . . . we abide in Him, and He in us! It just does not get better than this!
The same bringeth forth much fruit . . . this is the exercise of grace, and the performing of good works. This continues on as long as a person lives, NOT by virtue of his own free will, or his own power and strength, but by the amazing grace continually received from Christ, the Vine!
For without me ye can do nothing . . . nothing that is spiritually good, be it little or big, easy or hard to do, cannot think a good thought, speak a good word, or do a good deed. Nothing is to be done "without Christ" but WITH Him, I can do all things (Phil.4:13). Without His Spirit, without His grace, strength and Presence, we can do NOTHING! We are as "separated from Him." We are dead branches! So, all unbelievers are as dead branches because they are not joined to Him.
Jesus conquered death. Not only did He say, “I am the resurrection and life” (11:25-26), but He rose from the dead to prove it. In fact, the Bible gives us great proof that Christ Jesus is the great I AM THAT I AM. He died, was buried, and three days later rose from the dead. Because He is alive, He can give us the resurrection life (Phil.3:20-21). This is our hope in the face of death. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life” (14:6). ONLY ALMIGHTY GOD CAN CLAIM THAT. And too, He sustains our spiritual life because He is the True Vine, the only way, and the giver of life. Jesus said, “I am the True Vine” (15:1, 5).
Christ Jesus is the Great I AM. Christ Jesus claimed to be the “I AM,” and the Bible proves it. Christ Jesus IS Who He said He was, and He can do what He said He could do!
What do YOU do with the great I AM? Do you claim Him as your Master and Lord and worship Him today . . . or . . . do you follow the devil’s crowd on the broad road to Hell?
Joh 20:28-29 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. 29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. (KJV)
Are YOU blessed by Jesus because you believe but have not seen Him??
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?What Did Jesus do For Us?
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