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I AM THAT

The Mystery of self-as-Self

Page 5


Jesus speaks of this deep union between the True Self and the Divine Source, his Father. He says, "My Father, who has given them [his followers] to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one. The Jews picked up stones again to stone him" (John 10.29-31, ESV). Jesus witnessed the danger of this nondual language, when speaking to deeply religious persons who do not understand it.

Let us explore what Jesus says to us. Jesus speaks of "My father" and "the Father's hand" and "the Father." Jesus refers to "My" in "My Father" and the Father having given "them to me." He says the Father "is greater than all." No one can take them from "the Father's hand"; he does not say "my hand." The language presents the same construct as "I AM THAT." Jesus speaks, "I and the Father are one."

Certainly, we can construe this according to later Christian theology, seeing Jesus as God. Yet, the doctrine of the Trinity, historically, keeps the co-inherence alive and sustains a differentiation within the Divine Being. Jesus is the Father, but not the same as the Father. Otherwise, the differentiation in the Trinity is lost; in other words, there would be no triune unity, or Three-in-One, only a sameness, or One-without-Three. Rather, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit or to each other "I AM THAT."

Does this means we we in God the same way the Three Persons of the Trinity are in each Other? No. For the Trinity is a Three of Underived Being. This means, each is Creative Spirit, Source. This no creature can claim; "creature" implies derived being, infers "Creator."

Jesus models for us consciousness of co-inherence, even though of underived Being. He invites us as derived being to accept and live out the consciousness of the Unity in the God-Being, the Trinity.

Paul caught this intent of Christ. He infers it repeatedly in reference of our being "in" Christ.

Paul speaks of a practical result of this innate-created Union, however. He writes: "But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him" (I Corinthians 16.17, ESV). "Joined to" speaks of a conscious uniting with Christ. Here, he speaks of conversion. He, therefore, is not speaking of a substantive union but a conscious union. The substantive union is a union by creation, by having come from, or out of, God; thus, still retaining godness in a derived sense. The conscious, or loving, union is practical engagement and effectuation of oneness through conscious choice.

Continued...

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