If He is or was what does this verse mean? If He was a man once wouldn't He have been the son of a man? It seems clear that this verse says God is not and has never been a man (Note I refer to God the Father. Not God the Son, Jesus, who allowed Himself to be born on Earth).
Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
2007-09-19 06:34:14 · 11 answers · asked by Bible warrior 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I only asked mormons because as far as I know they are the only ones who believe this.
2007-09-19 06:50:11 · update #1
Here for those of you who did not like that verse. Once again God says He is not a man.
Hosea 11:9 I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city.
2007-09-19 06:53:01 · update #2
If he was then he was a sinner at some time. Rom 3:23 and that would make him a flawed God. Another cult trying to recreate God. Jesus of Mormonism is Satan's brother. Makes him your uncle if Jesus is the eternal Father. Your in Satan's bloodline? Yuck
2007-09-19 06:53:09 · answer #1 · answered by jesussaves 7 · 0⤊ 6⤋
That says God doesn't lie like a man and doesn't have to repent.
We do not believe that God is a man, we believe He was a man. That we are in an endless repetition of creation and destruction. We believe that God has a Heavenly Father just as God is our Heavenly Father.
We believe that those who live "almost" perfect lives will enter the Celestial Kingdom(which is mentioned in the Bible) and they will have a chance to become LIKE God and go through creation of our own children....etc. etc.
Talk to the missionaries about it, they know the scriptures that back up our beliefs...
2007-09-19 14:44:38 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think you're misinterpreting that verse. It is saying that God does not lie or make mistakes like men do. It is saying that if God says He will do something, He will do it. And remember, in the Old Testament, "God" refers to Jehovah, who is the Son, Jesus Christ. It rarely refers to the Father, as Israel's interactions were primarily with Jehovah, whom Jesus explicitly proclaimed Himself to be during His earthly ministry.
However, we in the LDS church DO believe that God was once a man who had to experience mortality just like we do in order to progress and grow. This is a hard doctrine for many people, nevertheless it is truth.
EDIT: To address your second scripture in Hosea, again that is not saying that God never was a man, only that He is not subject to human foibles and weaknesses now. Let's face it, we can quibble about the interpretations of Bible verses forever and a day. Ultimately though, my beliefs rest upon whether or not Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God. The only way to judge that is to examine his fruits, as Jesus directs in the Bible. I have examined his fruits, most prominent among which is the Book of Mormon. I have prayed and received an undeniable witness that it is true.
2007-09-19 13:44:25 · answer #3 · answered by Open Heart Searchery 7 · 6⤊ 1⤋
At the risk of plagarizing the Penguin....
"As man is, God once was. As God is, man may become."
-Wilford Woodruff
So...God no longer IS a man in the sense that we see...flesh and blood, mortal, subject to sin and death. And as God is...immortal, no longer subject to sin and death, glorified...we may become.
"God was once a man like us."
-Joseph Smith
So....God USED TO BE a man like us, but no longer is...He is now exhalted and immortal.
And Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie;.....mankind lies. Does God lie? Nope.
So then WHAT is God? Some nebulous cloud-like entity? And if so, how were we created in His image? I may be puffy, but I'm not nebulous...I'm pretty tangible.
2007-09-19 14:52:46 · answer #4 · answered by Fotomama 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes. God the Father is a glorified and perfected man.
The verse you quoted simply states that God is not like flawed mortal men who lie or have need of repentance. He is perfected and glorified beyond mortal failings.
2007-09-19 13:45:50 · answer #5 · answered by Dave F 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Here are a couple more texts that refute the belief that God is or once was a man...
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:24)
Does this leave the option that God as a spirit could also have a "body of flesh and bones?" Here is how Jesus defined a spirit:
Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. (Luke 24:39)
2007-09-19 13:50:21 · answer #6 · answered by Mr. E 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Why only Mormons? Do they know the answer?
God Bless
2007-09-19 13:46:14 · answer #7 · answered by pinkeee 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"As man is, God once was. As God is, man may become."
-Wilford Woodruff
"God was once a man like us."
-Joseph Smith
The LDS Church does indeed hold this doctrine. They hold that God the Father had a previous Father/God and that He Himself "progressed" to Godhood in His previous world. This isn't really backed up by scripture, in the literal sense, but is maintained by quotes from LDS prophets and apostles, which are also considered "scripture" in the Church. Of course, if these quotes are in disaccord with future quotes, then the former quotes become "opinions" and the latter ones replace them as "scripture."
2007-09-19 13:40:43 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 5⤋
Let me consult my book where everything is conveniently written down
2007-09-19 13:45:30 · answer #9 · answered by Corvus 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I just answered your other question that was very similar. So I'll just refer others to it.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=At0nlLpTewEo9RTPh29cq.zsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20070919105531AATSdyx
2007-09-19 14:14:54 · answer #10 · answered by Senator John McClain 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋