Category: Christian Thoughts

Jesus’ Seven “I Am” Statements

Jesus’ “I am” statements would have particular significance to the first-century Jewish listener. God had revealed Himself to Moses with a resounding “I AM” (Ex. 3:14). Jesus used the same words to describe Himself (4:26; 6:20; 13:19).

Below is a list of Jesus’ seven “I Am” statements in the book of John.

  1. “I am the bread of life.” (John 6:35, 41, 48, 51) As bread sustains physical life, so Christ offers and sustains spiritual life.
  2.  “I am the light of the world.” (John 8:12) To a world lost in darkness, Christ offers Himself as a guide.
  3. “I am the door of the sheep.” (John 10:7,9) Jesus protects His followers as shepherds protect their flocks from predators.
  4. “I am the resurrection and the life.” (John 11:25) Death is not the final word for those in Christ.
  5. “I am the good shepherd.” (John 10:11, 14) Jesus is committed to caring and watching over those who are His.
  6. “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6) Jesus is the source of all truth and knowledge about God.
  7. “I am the true vine.” (John 15:1, 5) By attached ourselves to Christ, we enable His life to flow in and through us. Then we cannot help but bear fruit that will honour the Father.

Forgiveness Is Unequal

For the one who’s forgiven it’s free… undeserved. Grace.

For the one forgiving, it comes at a price. Believing in the opportunity for redemption.

By grace, through faith we’re saved.

Recipients of God’s grace… a product of the faith of Christ… in turn a result of obedience to God’s will.

It’s not “our faith first” that saved us. It’s Christ’s faith. At Calvary we had no faith… but we were included in redemption by God’s grace and Christ’s faith.

Does our faith have a part? Most definitely. How can we receive and take hold of the gift of salvation we don’t believe?

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Gal 2:20… I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Gal 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

  • Mark Saunders

Disagreeing Is Easy

Letting go of grudges is hard

We reap what we sow. Grudges breed more grudges… a dark and lonely tunnel.

Forgiveness is perhaps the most powerful privilege we have… to give and to receive.

Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

  • Mark Saunders