Men become Gods?

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:

• Was man created in the likeness of God?

• Does God want man to become like Him?

• Does scripture invite/command men to strive to be like God?

• Will mankind have a divine nature in the next life?

• In what ways will saved Christians be like God in the next life according to the Bible?

• In what ways will saved Christians NOT be like God in the next life according to the Bible?

• What is the relationship between mankind and God?

• Is man simply a creature/creation or an offspring/child of God?

• Can man become like Christ and/or like God, even Gods? If so, in what ways?

• Can mankind become omnipresent, omnipotent and omniscient?

VIEWS TO CONSIDER:

• EVANGELICAL VIEW: While men and women can become like God is some ways (ex. moral perfection etc.), they cannot become like Him in ever way (ex. omnipotence, omniscience, divine nature, obtain Godhood etc.)

• LATTER DAY SAINT VIEW: Men and women are the literal spirit offspring of God the Father, and as such have the divine potential to fully become like God in every way, even to become Gods. Those that accept and follow Jesus “shall become like him”, “partake of the divine nature”, “inherit all things”, sit on a heavenly “throne” and “reign forever and ever” etc.

CONTENTS:

• Become like God

• Become like Jesus

• Called “gods/Gods”

• Children / offspring of God

• Eternal life

• Examples of men receiving divine/godly powers from God

• Glorified / receive a crown of glory

• God is the Father of our spirits

• Godliness

• Greater works than those Jesus did

• Holiness (“true holiness”)

• Image & likeness of God

• Immortality

• Inherit “all things”

• Joy of the Lord

• Judge and have dominion over angels

• Knowledge (Godly knowledge) of good & evil

• Knowledge/wisdom from God

• Only one God?

• One with God and Jesus

• Partake of the divine nature

• Perfection

• Power from God

• Praise and honor

• Reign on a throne forever and ever

• Sanctified / made holy / holy ones

• Seth / Adam vs. Man / God

• Omnipotent?

• Omnipresent?

• Omniscient?

• In what ways are mortal men currently NOT like God?

• In what ways will immortal men in heaven NOT be like God?

BECOME LIKE GOD:

• 1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is

• Phlpns 2:5-6 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God

• Phlpns 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded

BECOME LIKE JESUS:

• 1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is

• 2 Cor. 3:18 We all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory

• 2 Cor. 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich

• 2 Timothy 2:12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him

• Eph. 4:13 Unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ

• Philippians 3:20-21 Jesus Christ… shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body

• Rom. 8:16-17 We are the children of God… joint-heirs with Christ

• Rom. 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be to confirmed to the image of his Son

CALLED “GODS”:

• Ps. 82:6 Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.

• Exo. 7:1 I have made thee a God to Pharaoh

• Ps. 82:1 God… he judgeth among the Gods,

• Exo. 22:28 Thou shalt not revile the Gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people

• Ps. 8:5 Thou hast made them a little lower than the angels (elohim, gods/Gods)

CHILDREN / OFFSPRING OF GOD: While this relationship was broken by sin, it is restored through Christ.

• 1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God

• Acts 17:29 We are the offspring of God

• Gen. 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness

• Luke 3:38 Adam… was the son of God.

• Ps. 82:6 Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High

• Rom. 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God

ETERNAL LIFE:

• 1 John 1:2 The life was manifested, and we have seen it… that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us

• Deut. 33:27 The eternal God is thy refuge

• John 10:28 I give unto them eternal life

• John 3:15 Whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life

• Titus 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began

EXAMPLES OF MEN RECEIVING DIVINE / GODLY POWERS FROM GOD:

• Acts 6:8 Stephen, full of… power, did great wonders

• Acts 9:36-40 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha…And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died…Peter… said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up

• Luke 10:19 I give unto you power to tread on serpents

• Matt. 10:1 [Christ] gave [the apostles) power against unclean spirits

• Matt. 9:8 When the multitudes saw it, they marveled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men

• Rev. 11:3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy

• Rev. 2:26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations

GLORIFIED / RECEIVE GLORY / CROWN OF GLORY:

• 1 Peter 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ

• 1 Peter 1:8 Believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory

• 1 Peter 5:10 The God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus…

• 1 Peter 5:4 Ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away

• 2 Cor. 3:18 We all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory

• 2 Cor. 3:7 The children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance

• 2 Cor. 4:17 [Our experiences] worketh for us… an eternal weight of glory

• 2 Peter 1:3 [God] hath called us to glory and virtue

• 2 Peter 5:4 Ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away

• Col. 3:4 When Christ shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory

• Prov. 3:35 The wise shall inherit glory

• Rom. 8:16-17 We are… heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together

• Rom. 8:18 The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us

• Rom. 8:30 Whom he justified… he also glorified

• Rom. 9:4 Israelites… to whom pertaineth the… glory

GOD IS THE FATHER OF OUR SPIRITS:

• Hebrew 12:9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

• Malachi 25:6 Have we not all one father? Hath not one God created us?

GODLINESS :

• 1 Tim. 2:10 Modest apparel… becometh women professing godliness

• 1 Tim. 2:2 Lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty

• 1 Tim. 4:7 Refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness

• 1 Tim. 4:8 Godliness is profitable… having the promise of the life… which is to come

• 1 Tim. 6:11 O man of God… follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love…

• 1 Tim. 6:2-3 These things teach and exhort. If any man teach otherwise and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; he is proud and knowing nothing

• 1 Tim. 6:6 Godliness with contentment is great gain

• 2 Cor. 1:12 In simplicity and godly sincerity…

• 2 Cor. 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy

• 2 Cor. 7:11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort

• 2 Peter 1:3 [God] hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness

• 2 Peter 1:5-7 Giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue… knowledge… godliness

• 2 Peter 3:11 Seeing then… what manner of persons ought ye to be in all… godliness

• 2 Tim. 3:12 All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecutions

• 2 Tim. 3:1-5 … Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof

• 3 John: XX If thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well

• Psalm 4:3 The Lord hath set apart him that is godly unto himself

• Titus 1:1Paul, a servant of God… acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness, in hope of eternal life

GREATER WORKS THAN JESUS:

• John 14:12 He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do

HOLINESS:

• Col. 1:22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy

• Col. 3:12 The elect of God, holy and beloved

• Deut. 26:19 The Lord hath avouched… to make thee (Israel) high above all nations which he hath made… that thou mayest be an holy people unto the Lord

• Eph. 1:4 He hath chosen us in him…. that we should be holy

• Eph. 4:24 Put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness

• Heb. 12:10 That we might be partakers of [God’s] holiness

• Heb. 3:1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider…

• Lev. 19:2 Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy

• Titus 1:8 Be a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy…

IMAGE & LIKENESS OF GOD:

• Gen. 1:26-27 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness… So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

• Note: See the page “God: Image &Likeness?” for all “image” and “likeness” passages in the Bible. The pattern of how these terms are used in the Bible suggests that man was created like God both physically (we both have physical bodies and spirits) as well as non-physically (knowledge, intelligence? divine potential? etc.) The terms are also used to compare literal offspring to their parents (ex. as with Adam and Seth), clearly suggesting that man and God are the same kind, the same race of being.

IMMORTALITY:

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INHERIT ALL THINGS OF GOD:

• Gal. 4:1-8 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all, But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. Even so we, when we were children, we in bondage under the elements of the world… God sent forth his Son… to redeem…. that we might receive the adoption of sons… wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God thru Christ.

• Heb. 9:15 They which are called… receive the promise of eternal inheritance

• Prov. 3:35 The wise shall inherit glory

• Prov. 8:21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.

• Ps. 25:13 His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth

• Ps. 37:9 Those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth

• Matt. 19:29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

• Matt. 25:34 Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom

• Rev. 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things… and he shall be my son

• Rom. 8:16-17 We are… heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together

• Rom. 8:32 God… spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

JOY OF THE LORD:

• 1 Peter 1:8 Believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable

• Matt. 25:23 Well done, good and faithful servant… enter thou into the joy of thy lord

• Ps. 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore

JUDGE AND HAVE DOMINION OVER ANGELS:

• 1 Cor. 6:3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

• Heb. 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

• Note: God also judges the angels, see Rev. 16:5. etc.

KNOWLEDGE (GODLY KNOWLEDGE) OF GOOD & EVIL:

• Gen. 3:7 And the eyes of them both were opened

• Gen. 3:22 Behold, man has become as one of us, to know good and evil

KNOWLEDGE / WISDOM FROM GOD:

• 2 Chron. 1:10 Give me now wisdom and knowledge

• Col. 2:3 In [God] are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge

• Col. 3:9-10 Ye have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him

• Eph. 1:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him

• Prov. 14:18 The prudent are crowned with knowledge

ONE WITH GOD:

• John 17:21-22 Father… that they also may be one in us… that they may be one, even as we are one

ONLY ONE GOD?:

• Many may feel inclined to immediately answer “no” to the question “Can mankind become Gods?” because the Bible states repeatedly that there is only one God. However, when we look at all of the Bible and when we review all of these passages in the context in which they are given, then it is clear that there are many Gods (many beings of great power and authority), each one being a God (or our "one God") in different ways and in different context. Please see the page “God: How many?” for each of those passages in context.

PARTAKE OF THE DIVINE NATURE:

• 1 Tim. 4:8 Godliness is profitable… having the promise of the life… which is to come

• 2 Peter 1:3 [God] hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness

• 2 Peter 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature

PERFECTION:

• 2 Cor. 13:11 Be perfect

• Gen. 17:1 Walk before me and be thou perfect

• Matt. 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect

• Phlpns 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded

POWER FROM GOD / GODLY POWER:

• John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God

• 2 Tim. 3:1-5 … Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof

PRAISE / HONOR:

• 1 Peter 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ (Note: Is this praise for man or praise to God? Unclear, but for man seems suggested)

REIGN ON A THRONE FOREVER / RULER:

• 1 Cor. 9:24-25 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

• 1 Sam. 2:8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and he hath set the world upon them.

• 2 Timothy 2:12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him

• Matt. 25:23 Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things

• Rev. 22:5 [God’s] servants… shall reign for ever and ever

• Rev. 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne

SANCTIFIED / SAINTS (HOLY ONES):

• Lev. 11:44 Sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy

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SETH / ADAM vs. MAN / GOD:

• Gen. 5:1-3 God created man, in the likeness of God made he him… And Adam… begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth

• Note: Moses uses the exact same language to compare Adam to his offspring Seth that he used to compare God to mankind. This suggests that man and God are the same race, that we look like our Father and, as his children, have the potential to become like our Father, God.

OMNIPRESENT (All-Present)?:

• God is metaphorically omnipresent, not literally (see page “God: Location Of?”) Christians are promised to be with/in God’s presence in the next life.

OMNISCIENT (All-Knowing)?:

• God can, does and will give Christians godly knowledge, see the section “MANKIND TO RECEIVE KNOWLEDGE FROM GOD” above.

• The Bible teaches that Christians will inherit “all things” of God, see the section “CHRISTIANS TO INHERIT ALL THINGS OF GOD” above.

OMNIPOTENT (All-Powerful)?:

• God can, does and will give Christians godly powers, see the sections “MANKIND TO RECEIVE POWER FROM GOD/GODLY POWER” above and “EXAMPLES OF GOD GIVING MEN DIVINE POWERS” below.

• The Bible teaches that Christians will inherit “all things” of God, see the section “CHRISTIANS TO INHERIT ALL THINGS OF GOD” above.

IN WHAT WAYS ARE MORTAL MEN CURRENTLY NOT LIKE GOD?

• MANY ways (we are mortal, we are sinners, our knowledge and power is limited , we are on earth while God is in heaven etc.)

IN WHAT WAYS WILL IMMORTAL MEN IN HEAVEN NOT BE LIKE GOD?

• There is no Bible passage that I know of that specifically states any ways in which Christians will be different from God in the next life after we are perfected, crowned and glorified.