I AM
Exodus 3: 14 And God said to Moses, I AM WHO I AM Joh 8:28 (King James) ..or if you do not believe that I AM, you will die into your sins. Hebr 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God must believe that HE IS.
We believers start our spiritual journey by faith that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God carrying the same name I AM. In Him God died for our sins.
With this knowledge and confession one became Son or Daughter of God. However this path is also narrow. To endure to the end and avoid shipwreck we need constantly understand and adopt more of His magnificent promises to become partakers of His divine nature (2Pet. 1 :4). It is that the seed and fruits implanted into us by the Spirit will grow and multiply. It is also to grow from owner of one talent (worth of His nature) to the owner of ten talents. This process is called in Bible the renewal of mind. God is spirit and He created man according to His image. Man is spirit who owns soul and body.
I am perfect (according to spirit but not according to His mind) because one part of this new creature is Jesus Christ Himself (with Father and Holy Spirit) and He is perfect. Cor 6:17 But the one being joined to the Lord is ONE SPIRIT (with HIM) New creature is not TWO SPIRITS living in the same body but only ONE Baby which is just born is perfect human being even he is imperfect when compared to adult understanding and self-reliance. Wine and It's branches is one tree. ' We have become united with Him in His death. Our old self was crucified with Him.(Room 6:5,6) One He is; not so that divinity is changed into humanity but divinity has taken humanity into Himself. (part of Athanasian creed ; written on forth century; accepted Catholics, Lutherans and Anglicans . Truths it declares is said to be necessary for salvation.)
Jesus did it, not you or me. Our part is to believe it. Thirteenth Man Jesus (One + twelve apostles) was crucified on Friday just before sabbath. The numbers of Jesus are one and thirteeth (the first and the last). He is Alpha and Omega. Hebr 4:9 So then, there remains a sabbath rest to the people of God (as we were with Him on the cross). The wall of Jericho fell on thirteenth round (6+7) when Israel with the lead of Joshua had circled the city. Josef was released on thirteenth year from prison and then advanced into his high position over the house of Pharaoh.
In Judaism son have to be thirteen years old when he have official “Bar mitzvah” ceremony. He will be then “Son of duty” and is allowed to do chores in synagogue. Thirteenth year is the borderline where one start to be self conscious. “I”stalt to develop and childhood is past.
A Father might give the keys of His car (ministry job) for His teenage son but not surely for his four years old brother. He must think about the safety of the driver as well as the passengers. But for us Christians : It is Christ who should live not “I”. Question is about the development of “I AM” consciousness. ' “I” is selfish and is looking after its own position and promotions. » Paul used this language in 1Cor 1:11,12 & 3: l-5 For it has been reported to me concerning you, my brothers,...that there are contentions among you. Now I mean this, that each of you says,”I follow Paul,” ”I follow Apollos,” ”I follow Cephas,” and ”I follow Christ,” ( I am pentecostal, I am baptist, I am lutheran...) I couldn't speak to you as to spiritual, but as to fleshly, as to babes in Christ. ...For insofar as there is jealousy, strife and factions among you, arent you fleshly, and don't you walk in the ways of men?
Between Isaac (meaning joy) and his older jealous brother Ishmael was thirteen years.
The peace offering (in Finnish lanquage joint offering) was burned on the top of burnt sacrifice. The rest of Sabbath is the rest of having to get rid of the need of self promotion. That is the sin the devil introduced into the world. Love your brother LIKE yourself.
However Gods promise is: As HE IS , so also ARE WE in this world (1Joh 4:17). “I AM” is owner of everything and has no need to aspire after something for his personal advantage. His desire is to look after God's business. Edify each other from motive of love and desire to see your brother to grow into manhood.
Love and this desire are part of the ingredients of Christs blood and these are poured for us to eat and drink.
God is speaking in one way or another; but usually through your brothers. If we are humble enough to listen we might drink Christ's mind without even noticing it.
John 15:3 you are already pruned clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
Narrow path is renewing of thinking pattern according to what Jesus is saying as well as clarification of the image what we have from the Lord. He gave authority to become children of God to the ones believing into his personality.
If one is full of himself (proud) he is not willing to hear others but only express his opinions. lCor 11:21 “For each one takes his own supper first” even we should be quick to hear and slow to speak discerning the Christ's body (God's word/ brothers in God's busines) from men's opinions. Unpure milk is not good for your belly (for the way you are thinking)
Gal 4:1 But I say, as so long as the heir is a child he is no different from a bondservant , though he is the LORD (=CYRIOS = JEHOVA = I AM) OF ALL, but is under guardians and stewards (house masters) until the day appointed by the Father.
Ps 68:7 ..The rebellious (stubborn ones) dwell in a sun-scorched (dry) land. (It is proud ones who stick with their opinions.) A Proud individual will prune himself off from The Tree of Life by not believing the Word and then starting to resist them who have It.
God hardened pharaohs heart by the Word He sent through Moses. Pharaoh hardened himself to the Word of God he didn't like to receive. The Pharaoh of Egypt is not symbol of the devil but the old “I” myself. God's word is a two edged sword which either brings us closer to Him or cuts us off. However God's business is to humble us to the point where we can really believe that “I”(with it's selfish desires ) was put to death with Christ on the cross.
And now that new creature “I with Christ” or “I AM” lives instead of “I”. The quest is that we live continually in this reality not forgetting it after ten minutes. (James 1:24) Christ's desire is to see us asking from Father in His personality (Son's personality) not in the personality of slave so that we are not lacking. ' Many will come (especially just before Christ's coming) and profess “I AM” but having the Wrong image (image of beast) of Christ are canceling their confession.
That is the everlasting life that you acknowledge (know & confess) Him who is the true God . Confessing Him from the deeper meaning of the word start from the belief that He has risen up from the death in you. First according to Spirit and first fruits as a birthday present. Then within the time we can have more of His glory: unselfishness, humbleness,love...
However we need to behold Him like He is; because we believe that WE ARE like HE IS. Melchizedek was according to Jewish tradition Noah's son SHEM, king of SALEM (=JERUSALEM) He was overcomer from the other world. Same rain (symbol of word of God) witch drowned (hardened the harts) of habitants of earth lift him to heavenliness through ark (symbol of faith).He was father of priesthood according to the Melchizedek. Hebr. 7:23 And they truly are many priests (according to the order of Aaron), prevented from continuing because of death.(LITV)
They will either die for themselves proceeding into the promised land through the flooding Jordan river carrying the ark (faith) on their shoulders; or they will die out of the unity of God Some Christians are unteachable and become angry if their biblical and doctrinal standpoint is challenged. We should be like Bereans and humble study new ideas if these are from God.
Especially if there is difference with opinions we might have opportunity to learn something new. So if you don't believe that I AM (instead of you) you will (spiritually) die into your sins (in the desert). It is: you are as holy and sinless as Christ because you don't live any more but Christ instead. Seven times righteousness fall (from sinless state forgetting who HE IS) and rises again. If we confess our sins His blood cleanses us from ALL sin so that we can be totally clean. “Put on Lord Jesus Christ” is written for Christians not for pagans.
”Brothers, I (God through Paul) plead to you, be‘ as I AM because I am as you. For you wronged me in nothing.” “Be holy like I AM holy” For in him (Christ) all the fullness of the Deity dwels bodily, and in him you are made full...(Col 2:9,10)
Phil 2:5,6 For think this within you, which mind was also in Christ Jesus, who...thought it (is) not robbery to be equal with God. “Who has seen me has seen Father.” Some new translations translate this exactly opposite according to their standpoint but this is according to King James & Literal Translation of the Holy Bible.
Any way, Jesus was about to be stoned and eventually crucified “Because He being only a man make himself out to be God.”...We should be His imitators. “He called those gods (or Gods) with whom the word of God was” not them who didn't believe His word and promises. Faith is the arm by which we can adopt His promises.
Acts 4:12 ...For neither is there is any other name under heaven GIVEN among men by (through & in) which we can be saved. Song 1:3 Your name (personality & glory) is (as) oil poured out. Acts 10:43 ...Through His name (I AM) everyone who believes in Him shall receive forgiveness of sins.
Erno Miettinen
Unless stated otherwise the verses in this bible are referenced from a public domain bible.