If it's unchristian, unbiblical, and evil to believe that humans have divine potential, why do many Biblical..

Question

and early Christian sources speak of the humans becoming "gods"?

...just a few Biblical evidences....
1.To become heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ, being glorified together (Romans 8:14-18)
2. As sons (and daughters) of God, to inherit all things that the Father has (Revelation 21:7)
3.To become one with Christ, as Christ is one with the Father (John 17:20-23)
4.To sit with Christ on His throne (Rev. 3:21)
5.To receive a glorified, immortal body like the body that Christ has (Philip. 3:21)
6.To partake of the divine nature and be given all things pertaining to life and godliness, receiving glory (2 Peter 1:3-4)
7.To be made - in some way - like Christ when He returns (1 John 3:2)
8.To be made kings and priests unto God and his Father (Rev. 1:6)
9. As spirit children of God, to become partakers of his holiness (Heb. 12:9-10)
10.To be exalted by God (1 Peter 5:6)
11.To become perfect, even as our Father in Heaven is perfect (Matt. 5:48)

dewcoons: I never said we become God himself.

Please answer the question and don't add to my words.

Here's another one.

There's no room for misinterpretation on this one.

Psalms 82:6

I have said, Ye are gods; and children of the most High.

Answer 1

Great question.

I personally feel questions of a biblical nature such as this effectively point out the "pick and choose" philosophy of many Christian sects in regard to bible interpretation.

As literature, the Bible IS open to interpretation. Unfortuantely, that means it is open to bad, one-sided, or ridiculous interpretation (and misinterpretation) as well. The Bible is a wonderful compliation of spiritual thought, but is by no means the end all of spiritual thought or communication with man.

For Example: In the Bible itself there are at least 32 books mentioned or quoted from as scripture that are not anywhere in the Bible! Where are they? Lost. What does this mean? It means that the Bible, as wonderful as it is, is not an all encompassing work recording ALL the communications of God to man. There is tremendous evidence that God has spoken to many people(s) whose experiences are not recorded in the bible.

What does this all mean? Any religion based solely on the Bible cannot contain 100% of the truth, simply because there are LITERALLY volumes of other doctrine and circumstance lost to history, waiting to be discovered. Some of it already has been.

We need to open our eyes and think with our minds. Maybe there is more out there than just the Bible.

Lastly, it is obvious to me that inside every one of us is the potential to be more than we are right now.

Answer 2

Who ever told you that Christian did not believe that humans had divine potential? That is what we mean when we say man was created "in God's image". That is why man is able to have a relationship with God. That is why Jesus came and died for them. That is one of the core doctrines of the Christian faith.

But all of those things you are listed are things that come because a person as a relationship with Jesus Christ. That potential is only released through faith in Christ. Reaching your God given potential is the core of the Christian faith.

What Christians teach is that man was affected by the first human's choice to sin. Just as a child who is raised by abusive parents is likely to become abusive, so humans who are raised in a world where sin is common are likely to become sinners. At some point in their life they will make a wrong decision. They will tell a lie, or steal, or say something to deliberate hurt another person. Everytime they do that, it blocks the God-given potential within them.

But through faith in Christ, they can be reborn. The damaged heart taken out, and a new God-empowered heart placed within. Then all those promises you listed come into play.

We do reach our God given potential. But we do not become God. That is a position he reserves for himself.

Answer 3

The important theological distinction would be that in the scriptures you have cited humans are capable of becoming more like God because of God's actions in their lives. As we cooperate with God's Grace we become more like Him....or rather like the "image" He intended at Creation.

We are not divine of our own merit, or our own actions able to act apart from God. The temptation of the serpent being "You shall be like God"....the implication being we could decide for ourselves what's right and wrong.

Answer 4

Good luck on becoming God. Don't you realize this is a 'lie of the devil' in Genesis 3:5?

Answer 5

The Biblical evidence is overwhelming, isn't it? Hard to believe that "mainstream" Christianity has rejected this true doctrine taught in the ancient church and in the restored one.

Answer 6

i think that this all speaks of how we are to die to self to become free to become Christ like and to live as the Lord has chosen us to live. i don't think that we will ever be a God in any way, i think we can learn all there is about God and his will for our lives. you must be careful to not add to the bible just read and enjoy. let God guide, pay attention to the bible it is a lot of instruction as how to live and not disobey the Lord so we can reach his promise for our lives OUR DESTINEY IS IN THE HANDS OF THE ALMIGHTY GOD CREATER OF THE HEAVENS AND EARTH.

Answer 7

If God has children, what will they be when they grow up?
They will be like Him, right? So what the problem?

Answer 8

Your question doesn't connect... which early Christian sources speak of humans becoming gods? Also, the Biblical sources below don't speak of humans becoming "gods", per se, just about God saving them. Here are my responses to your points:

1. You are correct that we become "heirs". The Bible speaks many times of us "inheriting" the Kingdom of Heaven with Christ. Christ has already inherited this Kingdom, and at the First Resurrection, we will also inherit it, becoming joint-heirs of God with Christ of the Kingdom of Heaven.

2. The same as above, the Father owns everything, and we inherit it with Christ collectively. This speaks of us inheriting just what the Father has, not us getting new worlds and new spirit babies, only that which the Father already owns and operates. It also speaks of us inheriting this collectively, not individually. No one person will inherit one world, but God allows it for the use of His children.

3. Christ is One with the Father (according to LDS theology) "in Unity and in Purpose" and has the same will as the Father. He propogates righteousness. They are not, however, One in Body. Being One does not imply having the same gifts, powers, or anything else if it's not one in body. For instance, my wife and I are one, but she'll always be better with the natural sciences than me, and I'll always be better with the logical sciences than her. Being one with Christ and God doesn't imply that we will have our own worlds. It further impresses #2 that we will enjoy the Father's possessions together.

4. This is true, but again, it is "with Christ" on "His throne", not "inherit a throne like Christ's". See #2. Nowhere in this scripture does it imply that we will receive our own thrones, principalities, powers, or dominions. (see endowment & sealing scripts) "Heaven is His throne, and the Earth His footstool"... so we will be sitting with Christ in Heaven, basically.

5. This is true. As in Adam, all die. As in Christ, all shall be made alive.

6. "Given all things" speaks of knowledge of God and His mysteries. Taking these verses in context shows the meaning of this statement.

7. See #'s 1 and 5.

8. "Unto God" is the key here. We will be servants of God in His dominions, not as masters of our own worlds and dominions. Look at Jesus' quote "They are neither married nor given in marriage, but shall be as the angels in heaven", to serve God. This coincides perfectly.

9. Partakers, as in heirs (#2), or being imparted unto in knowledge of the mysteries and holiness of God. That is correct.

10. To "Exalt" literally means to lift up (Ex- from latin 'exo', meaning to take 'out' or 'up', -alt from latin 'altius' and 'alto', meaning high up; when put together in the verb form, it translates to "to make high", or as it is said in English, to lift up)

11. Read verses 44-47. Jesus is talking about forgiveness and non-judgment. He is exhorting us to be perfectly righteous in treating our neighbors kindly, just like God is with us. Nowhere in the entire sermon of the mount (Matt 5-7) does he speak of the LDS concept of 'perfection' or 'eternal progression'.