I Am Thou Art
Major Ian Thomas emphasizes the sufficiency of Christ for redemption and the importance of living and walking in the Spirit.
Major Ian Thomas emphasizes the profound relationship between the sinner and Christ, illustrating that Jesus is all that a guilty sinner needs for redemption. He encourages individuals to recognize Christ's wounds as the marks of salvation and to trust in Him for forgiveness and life through the Holy Spirit. The sermon highlights the importance of living and walking in the Spirit, taking each step with faith in Christ's sufficiency. True godliness, according to Thomas, is a life that reflects the adequacy of Jesus, leading others to recognize Him as the source of transformation. Ultimately, the message is about acknowledging Christ's identity and sufficiency in every aspect of life.
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It may be that your need is still that of a sinner seeking forgiveness; you need to be redeemed, and you are still trying to find your way back to God and godliness. Christ is saying to you now, as He said to His disciples of old in the Upper Room, after he was risen from the dead, "Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself" (Luke 24:39); in other words, "I AM - all that a guilty sinner needs! The wounds in My hands and My feet are the hall-marks of My Saviourhood; put your trust in Me, and I will save you!"
All you need to say to Him is this, "Lord Jesus - Thou art! For me - Just what I need! My Saviour and my Redeemer - for ever!"
You will be redeemed, and He will give you life; by the gift of His indwelling Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ. He will give you His Life, and this is what it means to "live in the Spirit"; but "If we live in the Spirit let us also walk in the Spirit: (Galatians 5:25), and this is what it means to "walk in the Spirit" to take one step at a time, and for every new situation into which every new step takes you, no matter what it may be, to hear Christ saying your heart, "I AM!" - and then to look up into His face by faith and say, "Thou art! That is all I need to know Lord, and I thank Thee; for Thou art never less than adequate!"
True godliness leaves the world convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the only explanation for you, is Jesus Christ to whose eternally unchanging and altogether adequate "I AM!" your heart has learned to say with unshatterable faith, "Thou art!"
From: The Mystery of Godliness. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publising House. ©1964.
Sermon Outline
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I
- The need for redemption
- Christ's assurance of salvation
- Trusting in Christ as Savior
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II
- The gift of the Holy Spirit
- Living in the Spirit
- Walking in the Spirit
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III
- The significance of 'I AM'
- Responding with 'Thou art'
- The impact of true godliness
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IV
- Faith in Christ's adequacy
- The transformation through Christ
- Being a witness to the world
Key Quotes
“Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself.” — Major Ian Thomas
“I AM - all that a guilty sinner needs!” — Major Ian Thomas
“Thou art! That is all I need to know Lord, and I thank Thee; for Thou art never less than adequate!” — Major Ian Thomas
Application Points
- Acknowledge your need for Christ and trust in His redemptive power.
- Commit to walking in the Spirit daily, seeking His guidance in every situation.
- Reflect Christ's character in your life to impact those around you.