Our Incredible Destiny
The old Worldwide Church of God (WCG) used to teach that we humans are to become real sons of God - which means we are to become literal gods -- sons of our Father God. However in the early 90's (or as early as late 80’s, when Mr. Armstrong was no longer around) - WCG leadership "redefined" and altogether dropped that understanding in favor of the mainstream belief in Trinity. WCG's current official belief is that God is not a family - but "has a family", whatever that means.
But what is the truth about the subject of "sons of God" or the "family of God"? Can we prove it from the Bible?
Let’s start off with the creation story in Gen.1;26-27: "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them."
Notice the phrase "in our image" and "after our likeness". The message is simple enough (even for a grade-schooler) and unmistakable: God created us to be like Himself!
Figure of speech?
But what does God mean by that? Was He talking in some figure of speech? Can we be absolutely sure what God meant by that statement?A few chapters later, in Gen.5;1-3 we read Adam's creation story retold: "This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; 2 Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Mankind, in the day when they were created."
Now notice verse 3: "And Adam lived a hundred and thirty years, and begot a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth".
Clearly, in Bible usage, Seth was begotten in Adam's own "likeness" and "after his image" and Seth looked very much like Adam. In the same way my own children whom I begot in my own “image and likeness” are very much like me. Should it be any different when it comes to God creating us in "His own image and likeness"?
Some say that God has no form or shape. The Bible shows God is not a vague, shapeless being - God rather has a definite form. Moses saw God's back. The disciples did not see Christ as a different, unusual shapeless being even after He was resurrected to spirit state.
Core salvation message
The writer of Hebrews warned: Heb 2:1-3 "Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. 2 For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; 3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him.
What was it that Christ spoke of?
Continuing: "5 For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. 6 But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? 7 Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honor, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: 8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him.”
Can you see the common thread in the “Old Testament” and “New Testament” message? Note that Christ’s above message (Heb.2, as quoted from Ps.8) derives from and reiterates the message of Gen.1:26 –- concerning man being put in charge of the earth and everything in it. But this time Christ revealed the full extent of man’s dominion: all things. That is, the entire universe included!
“But now we see not yet all things put under him. 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. 10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings."
Notice the deep meaning of Christ's suffering for us. Beyond our escape from sure death penalty, Christ's suffering is about “bringing many sons (us) into glory" - to whom God will entrust the entire creation - the heavens and the earth (v8). We are "sons of God" even now - in God's image and likeness. Christ (our firstborn brother), is now in such glorified state (v.9). We are not (v.8). But God's plan calls for ultimately bringing us "into glory" like He did Christ (v.10).
1Jo 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."
Phi 3:21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
How clear!
God calls us and Christ His sons, precisely because we are His real sons. A family relationship is intended - and does exist! Can we call and regard our dogs or cats our sons? I don’t think so. We can treat them like our sons, but they are not and can never be our sons – because they cannot inherit our very nature. Yet the spirit God calls and regards us physical humans, His sons. That is because He is in the process of making us His real sons. God has the power to make us His real sons. He made it possible for us to inherit His nature though the help of the Holy Spirit! (John 3:5-8, I John 3:9, Luke 20:36)
Blasphemy?
To most people that idea is blasphemous. That was exactly the way the Jews felt when Christ said the same thing. Notice what Christ said, John 10:
30 I and my Father are one. 31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I showed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? 33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. 34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods 35 If h e called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the Scripture cannot be broken; 36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?
Notice the satement, "Ye are gods". That's Christ Himself speaking.
Hard to believe? Yes, but it's so clear - we are to become part of God's family!
And that is the reason why we were born.
What glorious truth!
But what is the truth about the subject of "sons of God" or the "family of God"? Can we prove it from the Bible?
Let’s start off with the creation story in Gen.1;26-27: "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them."
Notice the phrase "in our image" and "after our likeness". The message is simple enough (even for a grade-schooler) and unmistakable: God created us to be like Himself!
Figure of speech?
But what does God mean by that? Was He talking in some figure of speech? Can we be absolutely sure what God meant by that statement?A few chapters later, in Gen.5;1-3 we read Adam's creation story retold: "This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; 2 Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Mankind, in the day when they were created."
Now notice verse 3: "And Adam lived a hundred and thirty years, and begot a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth".
Clearly, in Bible usage, Seth was begotten in Adam's own "likeness" and "after his image" and Seth looked very much like Adam. In the same way my own children whom I begot in my own “image and likeness” are very much like me. Should it be any different when it comes to God creating us in "His own image and likeness"?
Some say that God has no form or shape. The Bible shows God is not a vague, shapeless being - God rather has a definite form. Moses saw God's back. The disciples did not see Christ as a different, unusual shapeless being even after He was resurrected to spirit state.
Core salvation message
The writer of Hebrews warned: Heb 2:1-3 "Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. 2 For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; 3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him.
What was it that Christ spoke of?
Continuing: "5 For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. 6 But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? 7 Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honor, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: 8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him.”
Can you see the common thread in the “Old Testament” and “New Testament” message? Note that Christ’s above message (Heb.2, as quoted from Ps.8) derives from and reiterates the message of Gen.1:26 –- concerning man being put in charge of the earth and everything in it. But this time Christ revealed the full extent of man’s dominion: all things. That is, the entire universe included!
“But now we see not yet all things put under him. 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. 10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings."
Notice the deep meaning of Christ's suffering for us. Beyond our escape from sure death penalty, Christ's suffering is about “bringing many sons (us) into glory" - to whom God will entrust the entire creation - the heavens and the earth (v8). We are "sons of God" even now - in God's image and likeness. Christ (our firstborn brother), is now in such glorified state (v.9). We are not (v.8). But God's plan calls for ultimately bringing us "into glory" like He did Christ (v.10).
1Jo 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."
Phi 3:21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
How clear!
God calls us and Christ His sons, precisely because we are His real sons. A family relationship is intended - and does exist! Can we call and regard our dogs or cats our sons? I don’t think so. We can treat them like our sons, but they are not and can never be our sons – because they cannot inherit our very nature. Yet the spirit God calls and regards us physical humans, His sons. That is because He is in the process of making us His real sons. God has the power to make us His real sons. He made it possible for us to inherit His nature though the help of the Holy Spirit! (John 3:5-8, I John 3:9, Luke 20:36)
Blasphemy?
To most people that idea is blasphemous. That was exactly the way the Jews felt when Christ said the same thing. Notice what Christ said, John 10:
30 I and my Father are one. 31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I showed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? 33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. 34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods 35 If h e called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the Scripture cannot be broken; 36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?
Notice the satement, "Ye are gods". That's Christ Himself speaking.
Hard to believe? Yes, but it's so clear - we are to become part of God's family!
And that is the reason why we were born.
What glorious truth!
posted by fssantos @ 11:49 PM
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