Paul’s “I am” Statements

by Samuel A. Matthews

“I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. 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” (Romans 1:14-16 KJV).

Loved ones, when we think of "I am" statements made in the Bible, no doubt we think of the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ. In the "I Am's" of Jesus, He states that He is the bread of life (John 6:35), the light of the world (John 8:12), the door of the sheepfold (John 10:7), the good shepherd (John 10:11), the resurrection and the life (John 11:25), the way, truth, and life (John 14:6), and the true vine (John 15:1).

These "I Am" statements not only equate Jesus with Jehovah (cf. Exodus 3:14), but also show our Lord as a man of action. He did not say "I was," nor did He say "I will be." He said, "I am." The church has too many "has been's" and too many "will be's" and not enough "I am's." We can certainly learn from Paul's example of his readiness and willingness to work.

In our text from Romans, we find the "I Am's" of Paul. What do these teach us about Paul, and what can we learn that might help us to be more diligent servants of our Lord?

Paul writes, "I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise" (Romans 1:14). Paul felt an indebtedness to all men from every walk of life. He had come to know the grace of God through the forgiveness of his past sins (Acts 22:16; I Timothy 1:15) and through being allowed to preach the Gospel (Ephesians 3:8).

Paul desired to share the good news with all men, and his life reflects not only that desire, but his willingness to go into all the world with the message of salvation. Would to God that we in the church of Christ today felt the same debt of responsibility to the lost! We owe them the right and privilege of hearing the soul-saving Gospel! We march under the same orders as did Paul and the other apostles (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:18-20). Someone took the time to teach us the Gospel. Should we not do the same for the lost around us?

Paul further writes, "So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also" (Romans 1:15). His feeling of indebtedness to the lost did not cause him to despair at the magnitude of the task. He prepared himself to meet the responsibility he had to every soul he met. He was ready to preach. He was ready to declare the only message that can save the soul (James 1:21).

So many times we realize our God-given responsibilities, but we fail to prepare ourselves to meet these challenges. We know we must go into all nations and teach the Gospel (Luke 24:47), but are we ready to do so? Let us realize our mission and prepare ourselves to carry it out!

Paul then writes, "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" (Romans 1:16). Some assume that Paul was saved on the road to Damascus, or that he was saved through a direct operation of the Holy Spirit, or various other surmisings. Only after Paul heard and obeyed the Gospel in baptism was he saved (Acts 22:16), and that process is the same for every soul for all time.

Paul was fully convicted of the Gospel's saving power, for he had seen it work in his own life. Until we are fully convinced that the Gospel, and the Gospel alone, is God's means of saving man, we will never be ready to convert the lost! The Gospel of Jesus Christ is man's only hope! If we keep quiet about it, souls will never have the opportunity to be saved (cf. II Kings 7:9ff; II Corinthians 4:3-7), and we will be lost for refusing our Lord's command.

“Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand” (Ezekiel 3:17-18).

Are you faithfully doing the Lord's work? Don't say, "I was" or "I will be." Get busy so that you can honestly answer, "I am!"