The “I AM” of man and the “I AM” of God
Preaching Outline on – I Timothy 1:15 – “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.”
Exodus 3:14 – “And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM. And he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.”The “I AM” of man and the “I AM” of God
Introduction to I Timothy 1:15
Today we’re going to talk about something that may seem simple: the difference between man’s “I Am” and God’s “I Am”. This understanding is not just theological, but practical and personal. It helps us understand who we are before God and who He is for us.
In Exodus 3:14, God reveals himself as “I AM THAT I AM”. A powerful statement that shows His eternity, immutability and sovereignty. In 1 Timothy 1:15, Paul says something very different: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.” Here we see the humility of a man recognizing his condition before God.
These two statements – God’s “I AM” and man’s “I am a sinner” – are at the heart of our Christian faith. Let’s explore this together today.
Development
1. WHY DO SO MANY PEOPLE GO TO CHURCH AND UNDERSTAND NOTHING?
Have you ever noticed that many people go to church, listen to sermons, attend services, but fail to experience a real transformation? Why is that? Because they haven’t yet understood the heart of the Gospel message: the contrast between who we are (sinners) and who God is (the Savior).
Jesus is not just a solution to our problems. He’s not just the one who heals illnesses, solves financial crises or lifts the oppressed out of hell. He is the very I AM – the living, eternal and all-sufficient God. But for him to fully reveal himself to us, we must first recognize our condition: “I am a sinner.”
How often do we seek God because of our needs, but are unwilling to admit our sin and our total dependence on Him?
2. PAUL: AN EXAMPLE OF RECOGNIZING “I AM A SINNER”
Paul wasn’t always the apostle we know. Before he was converted, he was Saul, a ruthless persecutor of the church. But something happened on the road to Damascus that changed everything (Acts 9).
The initial experience: When Saul heard the voice of Jesus asking, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”, he didn’t immediately understand who Jesus was. he didn’t immediately understand who Jesus was. It was a remarkable experience, but still superficial.
The conversion process: Salvation is not just an emotional experience or a physical miracle. It is a process that begins with recognizing who we are before God. Paul could only fully understand the project of salvation when he assumed his identity as a sinner.
It’s not enough to be touched by God or even to experience miracles. We need to recognize that we are sinners and that, without Christ, we are lost.
This brings us to another important story…
3. THE MAN BORN BLIND: “I AM A SINNER” AS A GATEWAY TO REVELATION
In John 9, we find the story of a man blind from birth. Jesus heals him, but note that the physical healing is not the highlight of the story.
After being healed, the man faces resistance from the religious authorities, who question his faith and even doubt his healing. But when he finally meets Jesus again, something incredible happens. He confesses: “Lord, I believe!” and worships Jesus.
It was at this moment that Jesus revealed himself completely to the man, saying: “I am he who speaks to you” (John 9:37). Physical healing was only the beginning. Spiritual revelation only came when man recognized his need for God and surrendered to Him.
In which areas of your life are you still trying to solve things on your own, without recognizing your dependence on God?
4. GOD’S “I AM”: MORE THAN A DECLARATION, A PROMISE
When God said to Moses: “I AM THAT I AM”, He was doing more than presenting His name. He was revealing His nature.
What does “I AM” mean?
It means that God is self-existent: he doesn’t depend on anything or anyone.
It means that he is eternal: he has always existed and will always exist.
It means that he is enough: everything we need is in him.
But here’s the crucial point: God’s “I AM” only makes sense to us when we understand our “I am a sinner”.
God doesn’t expect us to be perfect in order to approach him. In fact, he already knows who we are. He loves us just the same! But He wants us to recognize our condition so that we can receive His grace and mercy.
5. SALVATION: A PROCESS, NOT A SINGLE EVENT
We often think that salvation is just accepting Jesus as Savior and that’s it. But the truth is that it’s a process.
The nine lepers healed by Jesus (Luke 17:11-19): Only one returned to glorify God. The other nine left after receiving physical healing, but missed the opportunity to experience complete healing – the salvation of the soul.
What have we learned from this?
Salvation involves recognizing who we are (“I am a sinner”) and who God is (“I AM your Deliverer”).
It’s an ongoing relationship with God, where we grow in our understanding of Him and in our surrender to Him.
Have you lived only for physical blessings or have you sought a deep relationship with the God who is enough?
Conclusion of I Timothy 1:15
Let me conclude with a word of encouragement: God is not waiting for you to be perfect before he reveals himself to you. He already knows who you are – a sinner. But He also knows who He is: the Great I AM, the only One capable of saving, restoring and transforming.
Today, recognize your condition before God. Admit your mistakes, your shortcomings and your limitations. Tell him: “Lord, I am a sinner, but I know that you are my Deliverer.”
Remember: God’s “I AM” is not just a theological declaration. It is a living, active and powerful promise to you. He is everything you need – now and forever.
Amen.
Preaching Outline on – I Timothy 1:15 – “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.”
More Preaching Outlines
- 1 Timothy 1:15 – Sinner
- Mark 5:36 – The “Only” we need to understand
- Jesus, the friend of sinners – Matthew 11:16-19
- But use a little wine – I Timothy 5:23
