Comments on: Why “I Am” is A Deep Spiritual Truth

By: todd

todd — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 08:09:53 +0000

“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment ” – Buddha

Great topic Richard years back I found a doc on the “I AM” on the internet …. To whom are different meanings for me, being free live our true life… I have a universal energy outlook more eastern than the western.

By: rana

rana — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 00:54:45 +0000

jesus might be a great person not more, but i wonder why he never revealed his secrets to the people he was so isolated

By: Carnival of the Godless, No. 135 – Darwintine’s Day Edition « Homologous Legs

Sat, 13 Feb 2010 23:01:32 +0000

[...] Richard Shelmerdine presents us with an interesting post on thoughts about meditation and how it can be used to interpret some of the teachings of Jesus in a godless context. I know some of you might not agree with absolutely everything he says, but it is great to have slightly different viewpoints on a range of topics every once in a while, and Richard’s writing is refreshing. Read it at Why “I Am” is A Deep Spiritual Truth. [...]

By: Richard Shelmerdine

Richard Shelmerdine — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 12:22:32 +0000

Thanks for the comments guys, really appreciating them. With “I am” there is no real understanding. You are the understander.

By: Walter

Walter — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 03:32:14 +0000

I have gained a little understanding of who “I am.” Before we were born in this life, we belong to a whole, let me call it God. Everything we perceived, everything we learn were already there. We are all one.

By: Steven | The Emotion Machine

Steven | The Emotion Machine — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 21:15:59 +0000

Insightful post Richard. “I am” – I exist, I breathe, I live, – it is a beautiful idea. Our consciousness is the greatest good in this world or any other.

By: James

James — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 19:17:28 +0000

Yes, the Bible teaches that Jesus was 100% man while also being 100% God at the same time.

The Bible also teaches in John 18:37 that the reason that Jesus came to earth was to “bear witness of the truth”.

In other words, Jesus was not just any mortal man. Jesus was God. He was sent by God to show us the truth, save us from our sins, and provide the one and only way to find truth and salvation.

Outside of salvation from Jesus – God is NOT within all of us and we CANNOT find Him simply by looking within ourselves. In the book of Romans the Bible teaches that we are all sinners and have all “fallen short” and that all of our (humans) righteousness are as filthy rags to God.

This is why it is so powerful that Jesus came to not just show us truth in Him but to offer us salvation because outside of Jesus there is no other way to have eternal life.

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” – Acts 4:12

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8

“For ‘whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.’ ” – Romans 10:13

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” – Ephesians 2:8,9

By: Richard Shelmerdine

Richard Shelmerdine — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 18:41:19 +0000

@James – Thanks for the comment James, it’s nice to get some banter going on in here! I read the Bible quite often but have no religious affiliations and like it that way. I think Jesus meant “Him” in the sense of talking about “Him” the God, not Jesus the physical man. I don’t believe a God would allow us to only access him solely through a mortal man, his legacy and writings based on his teachings. You can find him by humbling yourself and looking inside.

By: James

James — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 17:55:56 +0000

“All spiritual seekers and religion founders speak of the same one truth and its spiritual awakening. It is the same truth just expressed by different voices.”

Not true. Truth by definition is exclusive. Jesus said “I am the way, the truth, and the life, NO man cometh unto the Father but by me.”

Jesus said that he is “the truth” “the way” “the life” – and there there are NO other ways to get to the Father in heaven except by believing in Him and Him alone.

There is a choice. You can choose to not accept it but the truth remains. It is logically impossible to say that all of what Jesus said is truth while at the same time saying that all other religious leaders were also speaking truth because Jesus Himself said that He is the only way, the only truth, and eternal life comes only through Him.

Therefore if what Jesus said is truth then by necessity all religious leaders who do not believe that Jesus is the only way, truth, and life are not speaking the truth.

I know that it feels better to try and pretend that everyone is speaking the truth but the truth is not always so comfortable feeling. I would challenge you to try this:

In Jeremiah 33:3 God says: “Call to me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you know not.”

If this is true (and it is) then that means that if you call unto God and seek Him out then He will make truth known unto you. Give it a try by reading the Bible. I would recommend reading the Book of John.

Thanks for your post and for letting me comment!