“I Am”
John 8
Four times in John 8 Jesus claims to be… “I Am”
1. John 8:12 “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
To claim to be “I Am” is a claim to be God. (Deity) Exodus 3:14 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” You
shall say to the children of Israel, I AM has sent me to you. This is NOT the first time that Jesus claimed to be “I Am”
John 4:25 The woman said to Him, I know that Messiah is coming (who is called Christ). When He comes, He will tell us all things. 26 Jesus said to her, I who speak to you am He.
John 6:35 And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
1. John 8:12 “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
Background- Feast of Tab. / Menorahs- Glory of God
2. John 8:24 Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”
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This is one of the most EMPHATIC of all Jesus claims! According to Jesus…unless you believe that He is
I Am (God) … you will die in your sins!
Mormons- A god. The spirit-brother of Satan Jehovah Witnesses- Michael the Arch Angel Baha’i- One of nine manifestations of God Unitarians- A great teacher
Scientology- A man who died for his own sins Christian Scientist- A man
Hindu- A god (one of many)
Islam- A special prophet of God
Understand when we’re talking about the Deity of Jesus- We are talking about one of the….Essential Doctrines of the Historical Christian Faith.
The Deity of Jesus
The Trinity
Salvation by Grace
Justification through Faith in Jesus ALONE
The Cross- Substitutionary Atonement of Jesus The Bodily Resurrection of Jesus from the dead
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3. 8:28 Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He.
This is a reference to Jesus’ death & resurrection. Jesus’ death & resurrection is PROOF that Jesus is who
He claimed He was!
John 10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. 18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again…
4. John 8:58 Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”
Abraham lived around 2000 BC
Again here… Jesus is claiming to be God!
Jesus here… is not claiming to be the descendant of Abraham. Jesus is claiming to be the God of Abraham!
Revelation 22:16 I, Jesus… I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”
John… understands that Jesus deity is so CENTRAL to who Jesus is that he starts his gospel with this truth.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him…
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John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,
2 Corinthians 5: 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them…
Colossians 2:9 For in Christ lives all the fullness of the Godhead in a human body.
1 Timothy 3:16 Without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh…
Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. (Pleasure of God 30 years / Person of Jesus)
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