Stay in "I AM"

When Moses, at the burning bush in Exodus 3:14, asks for God's Name, God declares that he is "I AM THAT I AM". Ever since the people of Israel knew God by this Name.

When Jesus uses this "I AM" statement to refer to certain qualities about Himself, such as I AM the LIGHT, I AM the WAY, etc. he refers to the fact that, next to these qualities, HE is God Himself. As a side note: this is why the religious leadership at the time wanted Him dead, as by these statements He was claiming to be God, which was considered Blasphemy.

Using the "I AM" statements this way made these words extremely strong: e.g. when HE says I AM the WAY, this means that He is not some teacher who shows the way to God, but that He is the WAY to God and that without Him, there is NO way to God.

This might even be better understood when Jesus says, I AM the LIGHT: He is the one and only light source, and if you are not in Jesus, you have NO light in you. If you die without Jesus, you will have eternal darkness, the opposite of light.

We can now assert that if you die without Jesus, you will spend eternity in the opposite of who He is. E.g. when Jesus says: I AM the LIFE, that means that if you die without Jesus, you will die without the LIFE, which means eternal death. And that is what we would call hell, however, in reality is even worse, as after the judgment period, hell and all people of which their names are not written in the book of Life will be thrown into the Lake of Fire and Brimstone, where you will receive what you have sown in this life!

If you want to answer all that Jesus is for you, then stay in the center of "I AM". If you act outside the things that Jesus is for you, we are living in sin.

This can only be achieved by letting the Holy Spirit in your life. Refer here, if you want to know how to ask God for the Holy Spirit.

Here is a list of the I AM's which Jesus talks about.

Key verses: John 15:5

"I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing."

We cannot grow the spiritual qualities which Jesus requires of us if we don't stay in Him. Jesus declares, “I am the vine; you are the branches,” requiring us into an intimate relationship with Him. The vine and branches reminds us that our very life flow from the Holy Spirit alone. Just as a branch cannot flourish apart from the vine, we cannot thrive in faith or bear fruit on our own. To abide in Christ means to remain, to stay connected in prayer, worship, and obedience each day. Only he who abides in Jesus can bear much fruit. Fruitfulness in the spiritual life is not measured by our efforts, but by our dependence on Him. Every act of kindness, every word of truth, and every step of faith comes staying in the center of "I AM". Without Him, we can do nothing—no lasting joy, no genuine peace, no true transformation. Yet, when we remain in Him, He nourishes us with living water and life-giving grace. Our branches draw strength from the vine’s sap; likewise, our souls draw strength from the Spirit. As we abide, Jesus prunes what hinders—removing pride, fear, and sin—so we can grow in holiness. Though pruning can be painful, it leads to greater fruitfulness and deeper communion with Christ, which pays off in eternity. Therefore, let us daily examine our hearts, casting every burden at His feet and clinging to His word. In this abiding, our lives will overflow with love, joy, peace, patience, and kindness. So let us remain steadfast, rooted in Christ, knowing that apart from Him we can do nothing, but with Him, all things are possible.

Key verses: John 8:12

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."

Light and darkness are opposites. When the light is on there is no darkness. Darkness costs no energy, light does. With this declaration, Jesus shows that He alone can eliminate darkness. Next to this we truly believe that the physical light we see around us, originates from Jesus as well. To follow Christ means to leave anything which is related to darkness behind us: confusion, fear and sin. When we walk in His light, our hearts are exposed to His love and grace, revealing areas that need confession. The promise “shall not walk in darkness” assures us that as long as we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, we will not be led astray by despair or deception. To live in the light requires holiness from our side following Christ invites us into a life marked by purity, compassion, and truth. Darkness represents isolation and hopelessness; in contrast, Christ’s light connects us to His community. The “light of life” is more than moral guidance: it is eternal life, filling us with joy, peace, and purpose. When doubts arise or trials come, we remember that Jesus’ light never stops shining; it shines brightest in our darkest moments. As recipients of His light, we are called to walk in it and reflect it by sharing kindness, forgiveness, and God’s truth, so others may find their path to Him. Today, let us recommit to following Jesus—walking daily in His illumination, confident that with Him as our light, we will never stumble or lose our way.

Key verses: John 10:9 "I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture."

Jesus declares, “I am the door,” inviting us to enter into His kingdom through faith and trust in Him. Only by entering through this door are we truly saved from sin and death. When we step through Christ, we leave behind the bondage of sin if we do what He says, embracing freedom in His grace. To “go in and out” speaks of liberty: we have permission to live under His protection, no longer trapped by uncertainty. In Christ’s pasture, we find rest for our weary souls, feeding on His Word and abiding in His peace. As the door, Jesus guards us from eternal harm; no thief or false shepherd can snatch us from His hand if stay in the center of "I AM". If we fail, He invites us to enter again in prayer, worship, and fellowship with Him. Let us, then, gratefully pass through His door each day, knowing that in Christ we have eternal life.

Key verses: John 10:11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep."

As the Good Shepherd, Jesus not only provides the door to salvation but also personally guides and protects each of His sheep. He lays down His life for us, demonstrating the depth of His love and the security we find in His blood that was shed at the cross. In the pasture beyond the door, the Shepherd walks beside us, tending our wounds and leading us to green, life-giving pastures. No enemy can overcome us, for the Shepherd has already paid the price for us so we don't have to go to Hell. He stands guard over our lives. Let us, therefore, sleep peacefully in His care, knowing that our Shepherd’s ultimate act of love ensures we will never be lost or forsaken if stay in the center of "I AM".

Key verses: John 11:25, 26

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?"

When Jesus declares, “I am the resurrection and the life,” He proclaims His power over death and His promise of eternal hope. In Him, even though we may face physical death, we are assured that our souls will live forever in His presence. Belief in Christ transforms our perspective on mortality: death is not an end, but a passage into His everlasting life. To “live and believe” in Jesus means trusting His sacrifice and resurrection, anchoring our hope beyond the grave. His victory over death offers peace even when we are in grief, for we know that loss is temporary and reunion with Jesus awaits in His kingdom. This assurance calls us to live boldly, letting faith in His resurrection guide every moment and overcome every fear. “Do you believe this?” Jesus asks!

Key verses: John 14:6

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, ... No one comes to the Father except through Me."

This means that if we not stay within the protection of the Holy Spirit, we are die the second - or spiritual death! As the Way, Christ guides us through life’s uncertainties, leading us in righteousness by His Spirit. No detours or shortcuts exist—walking in Jesus’ footsteps means following His example of love, obedience, and sacrifice. In a world full of competing destinations, His way offers a sure direction: from bondage to freedom, from guilt to grace. By choosing Christ’s way above our own, we align our hearts with God’s purpose and journey toward eternal communion.

Key verses: John 14:6

Jesus said to him, "I am ..., the truth, ... No one comes to the Father except through Me."

This means that if we lie we move outside the protection of the Holy Spirit. Living in Jesus’ truth means allowing His Word to shape our thoughts, speech, and actions rather than conforming to the world. When we embrace Christ’s truth, we experience integrity: our inner convictions and outward lives align with God’s reality.

Key verses: John 14:6

Jesus said to him, "I am ... the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

“I am the life” affirms that Jesus is the source of eternal existence. The opposite if true as well: if we not stay within the protection of the Holy Spirit, we are lost! Through faith in Him, we move from death, that is spiritual separation from God, to abundant, everlasting life in His presence. This life is not merely future hope but a present reality: renewed hearts, transformed minds, and purposeful living. In this sinful world , Christ’s life overflowingly fills us with joy, peace, and hope. To believe in Jesus as the way, truth, and life is to receive the fullness of God’s promise: that we will never walk alone, never be deceived, and never truly die.