Paul's Great "I am" Statements

Introduction. Arguably, the Apostle Paul was the most prominent person in the New Testament after Jesus.  As the last of the Apostles, he was personally selected by Jesus.  A prolific writer, he wrote at least 13 out of 27 NT books.  We can learn much from his life as he encouraged:
  • 1 Cor. 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
  • Phil. 3:17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an example.
One way to do this is to focus on his statements containing the phrase "I am . . ." (based on the King James Version).
 
Paul's Background – Religious, But Lost and Willing to Change
  • Acts 21:39 But Paul said, I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and, I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people.
  • Acts 22:3 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.
  • Acts 23:6 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.
Paul was a very devout, zealous, and dedicated person – like many moral, religious, or "spiritual" people are today.  However, Paul came to the realization that he was religiously wrong and lost as a result!
  • 1 Cor. 15:9-10 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 
  • Rom. 7:14, 24 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. . . . O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
  • 1 Tim. 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
Individually we need to realize we "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." (Rom. 3:23).  This includes not only the irreligious, but also those who consider themselves "good moral people", "spiritual", or even those who claim Jesus as "Lord", but do not obey Him (Matt. 7:21-27).
To Paul's credit, he was willing to repent and change.
  • Rom. 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
  • Gal. 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Like Paul, we need to be willing to admit sin and error, to repent, and to change our lives, whether from being a non-believer to being a believer, from being self-serving to Jesus-serving, or from being loyal to a religious denomination to being loyal to Jesus’ true Church.
 
Paul's Concern for Others' Spiritual Condition.
  • 1 Cor. 9:19-22 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; . . . To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
  • 1 Cor. 13:1-2 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
  • 2 Cor. 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
  • 2 Cor. 11:29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?
  • Phil. 1:23-25 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;
Paul had a deep and ongoing concern for the lost as should we.  Paul's concern extended also to his fellow Christians.  We should be concerned, too, whether within the local congregational “family” or elsewhere as we have opportunity.  As Paul in Eph. 4:15-16 says, "But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love."
 
Paul's Persistence, Despite Opposition.
  • Acts 21:13 What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. 
  • Acts 26:29 And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.
  • Acts 28:20 For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.
  • Eph. 6:20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
  • Phil. 3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Like Paul, we should also be persistent as we live daily for Christ.  We should not grow "weary in well doing" (Gal. 6:9; 2 Thess. 3:13).  This includes both resisting temptation to do what is wrong (Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7) as well as not growing "weary in well doing" (Gal. 6:9)
 
Paul's Contentment With His Circumstances.
  • Phil. 4:11-12 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
When it came to circumstances in this life, Paul had learned to be content.  We would do well to learn this lesson as well; not to be content with our level of spiritual maturity or service to God, but with what we have.  How much toil, jealousy, and/or discouragement could we avoid if we only learned ". . . a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” (Luke 12:15)  While some might claim "He who dies with the most toys wins", we need to remember "He who dies with the most toys still dies"!
 
Paul's Humility.
  • 1 Cor. 1:12-13 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
  • 1 Cor. 15:9-10 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
  • 2 Cor. 11:21-23; 12:11 I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.
Despite his important role in the early church, Paul maintained a humble attitude.  This included recognizing his own vulnerability to sin and the possibility of falling away.  As he says in 1 Cor. 9:27-10:12, "But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. . . . Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." Like Paul, we should also beware of the “pride of life”, regardless of how long we’ve been a Christian or all that we have done for the cause of Christ.  At our best, we are unprofitable servants because “we have done that which was our duty to do.” (Luke 17:10)
 
Paul's Ultimate Confidence In God.
  • Rom. 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
  • 2 Tim. 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
  • 2 Tim. 4:6-8 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:  Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
Paul's spiritual confidence was not in his family's religious heritage, his own sense of being a "good moral person", his belief in "once saved, always saved", or his ability to sinlessly obey God.  It was anchored in his faithful trust in the Lord and ". . . faith which worketh by love." (Gal. 5:6)  We would be well served by having a similar confidence.  As Paul commands, "Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." (Eph. 6:13)
 
Conclusion.  Yes, we can learn much about being a faithful Christian from Paul's example and his "I am . . ." statements, including the need to be:
  • Willing to admit our sin and repent, including when we are religious, but wrong
  • Concerned for the lost and fellow Christians
  • Persistent in our faith, even in the face of opposition and even persecution
  • Content with what we have, although not in who we are
  • Humble and put our ultimate confidence in God