The Theology of I am the LORD: God’s Self-Existence and Sovereignty

The Name 'I Am' in the Old Testament

The divine name 'I am the LORD' originates in Exodus 3:14, where God reveals Himself to Moses as the self-existent, eternal Creator.

In Exodus 3:14, God declares, 'I am who I am,' emphasizing His independence from creation and His existence outside of time. The name 'LORD' (YHWH) signifies His covenant faithfulness, as He establishes this as His eternal name in verse 15: 'This is my name forever.' This self-revelation underscores His sovereignty and reliability, foundational to Israel’s understanding of His character.

This revelation not only defines God’s relationship with Israel but also sets the stage for His consistent presence throughout Scripture. The name 'I am' thus becomes a cornerstone of biblical theology, linking God’s nature to His promises.

Jesus as the Living 'I Am' in the New Testament

In the New Testament, Jesus explicitly adopts the divine name 'I am' to assert His unity with the eternal God revealed in Exodus.

John 8:58 records Jesus declaring, 'Before Abraham was, I am,' directly echoing Exodus 3:14, where God reveals Himself as 'I am who I am.' This statement not only claims pre-existence over Abraham but also invokes the covenant name YHWH, a title uniquely reserved for God. In John 6:35, Jesus calls Himself 'the bread of life,' and in John 8:12, He proclaims, 'I am the light of the world,' both framing His identity in terms that mirror the divine self-revelation of the Old Testament. Similarly, John 10:9-11 presents Jesus as the 'good shepherd' and 'the door,' symbols that intertwine His role with the eternal, covenant-keeping character of God.

These 'I am' declarations align Jesus with the self-existent, sovereign, and life-giving God of Israel, affirming His divinity without explicit theological abstraction.

By embedding these titles within a Jewish framework, Jesus’ audience would have recognized the radical claim to share in the very identity of the Creator. Such assertions form a theological bridge between the Old Testament’s revelation of YHWH and the New Testament’s proclamation of Christ’s deity, setting the stage for later Christological reflections on His role in salvation history.

What 'I Am the LORD' Means for Believers Today

For believers today, the declaration 'I am the LORD' serves as a timeless reminder of God’s unchanging faithfulness and His active presence in their lives.

Numbers 23:19 affirms that God does not lie or change His mind, grounding believers in the assurance that His promises—such as His guidance and provision—are steadfast. This name underscores His sovereignty over all creation, reminding us that He works all things for good, even amid uncertainty. In daily life, 'I am the LORD' invites trust in His presence, as He walks with believers through both trials and triumphs. Such faith in His character transforms anxiety into hope, anchoring modern followers in a God who remains both eternal and intimately involved.

Exploring Further

To deepen your understanding of 'I am the LORD,' consider studying related themes in Scripture.

The Psalms often reflect on God’s unchanging nature, such as Psalm 100:3, which declares, 'Know that the LORD is God.' In the New Testament, Hebrews 13:8 affirms Jesus’ immutability: 'Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever,' echoing the eternal, unchanging character of YHWH revealed in Exodus.