I Am What I Am

I am what I am.  Paul spoke those words. Paul said- 'I am what I am'; however Paul said it this way-

'But by the grace of God I am what I am.

His grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain.

But I labor more abundantly than they all.

Yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.'

What's this mean?

Paul was who he was by the grace of God. He was an apostle who worked tirelessly, unceasingly for the Lord. If he wanted to, Paul could have allowed himself to become incredibly prideful.

Paul said this--

1Co 1:13  Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? 

1Co 1:14  I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; 

1Co 1:15  Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. 

Paul was glad he didn't baptize many people because he did NOT want any to say they were baptized in his name. Paul wanted all to look to Christ and NONE to look to him! Paul knew all his righteousness was as a filthy rag, meaningless. Paul was an amazing God-fearing, commandment keeping, religiously  upright more than most-- read this--

Php 3:4  Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: 

Php 3:5  Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 

Php 3:6  Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 

Php 3:7  But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 

Php 3:8  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 

Php 3:9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith

Paul said that having ANY confidence in the flesh and acts of the flesh - EVEN good acts- meant nothing without Christ. Just as we've studied for a couple days here- our flesh, our carnal acts, anything we do of our self, on our own has no worth in righteousness.

Paul had to learn this and truly we do as well. May God HELP us to learn quickly so we may be wholly HIS, ever dependent upon HIM, always living in HIM through the Holy Spirit! May our Heavenly Father do all He needs to do in us so we can be HIS now and forever!!!!!!!

' If the children of God honestly strive for the life more abundant and are ready to accept God’s assessment of the flesh, they will not esteem themselves stronger and better than others, notwithstanding their extensive spiritual progress. They will not utter such words as “I of course am different from the others.” If these believers are disposed to let the Holy Spirit reveal to them God’s holiness and their corruption and do not fear to be shown too clearly, then hopefully they will come to perceive by the Spirit their corruption at an earlier time, with perhaps a consequent lessening of the painful experience of defeat. How lamentable it is, though, that even when one’s intention may not be to trust the flesh, there may yet lurk beneath the surface some little impurity, for such a one still thinks he has some strength. In view of this, God must permit him to encounter diverse defeats in order to eliminate even that little confidence in himself.' -- The Spiritual Man Page 124

1Co_15:10  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.

Repeating- I am what I am.  Paul spoke those words. Paul said- 'I am what I am'; however Paul said it this way-

'But by the grace of God I am what I am.

His grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain.

But I labor more abundantly than they all.

Yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.'

What's this mean?

This mean we truly are what we are by the grace of God and may that grace not be in vain. May we LABOR abundantly for our GOD- but that LABOR truly be GOD laboring IN US! May God in us use us for His labor. May we believe in Him, may we have faith in Him enough to believe HE Is in us and ANY thing we do that is even remotely laboring in Him, is all because HE is in us and not that we've acquired the ability to be righteous, or labor on our own for Him. He labors IN US and all glory goes to HIM.  PRAISE BE TO OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST NOW AND FOREVER!!!!!!!