Wednesday, July 27, 2022

Commentary: Becoming a God


by Leonard V. Johnson


You can listen to this Commentary. Just click on the orange play button.



In this week’s sermon, which is entitled, "Future Rulership With Christ," we state something that you're probably going to think is mighty bold to preach. “That you will be (God willing) a holy member of the Family of God, WORTHY OF WORSHIP.” Have you ever sat down and contemplated this!? It’s a bold statement, isn’t it!?

The reason that I bring this up is that I too in my youth thought this was a mighty bold statement. “Oh,” I would think, “the audacity! The unmitigated gall!” Since that time, I have grown substantially in the loving grace and knowledge of the Eternal God.

I once had a friend that actually said to me when I explained this fact to him, “What right do we humans have to be a god!? What makes us better than the original apostles!?” He had been a pastor with the Open Bible Churches (the same organization as Jimmy Swaggart's)He just simply didn’t hear what God’s Spirit says. Even being converted, your immediate response might be, “Saying such a thing is just not right!”

Well, you’re not alone. Our Lord Jesus Christ was confronted with this very thing! With all Authority, boldly proclaiming to the local religious folks from the Book of Psalms, “ ..’ I said, ‘You are gods’ …If He [the LORD God] called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and Scripture cannot be broken) 36) do you say to Him [the LORD God] whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I AM the Son of God’?” – John 10:30-38. The TRUTH OF GOD right there in black and white (and red)! But for most people of this world, it just passes them by. They have no idea what their future can be. You know, in Romans 8 – you read through there – you hear phrases like, “sons of God,” and “the Spirit of sonship,” and “children of God.” You can go through Galatians 3 and hear, “children of God … heirs according to the promise.” There are many more such Scriptures – also Hebrews 2:9-11 – talking about Jesus Christ and saying, “bringing many sons into glory.” And, 1 John 3:1-2 – the people of the world do not understand what you are about to read – but many of you reading this have heard it before, and you do understand it! I just hope that we always deeply appreciate it! ’ I know your works, tribulation, and poverty [and this is for you dear brethren] (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews (and indeed, even spiritual children of Abraham, chosen people] and are not but are a synagogue [because there are an unnumerable amount!] of Satan. … Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews [spiritual children of Abraham] and are not, but lie – indeed I will make them come AND WORSHIP BEFORE YOUR FEET, and to know that I have loved you.’ – Revelation 2:9; 3:9.

This bold TRUTH OF GOD of becoming a God seemed so unacceptable to me at first when I heard it over forty-one years ago! I, too, thought it sounded blasphemous. Oftentimes people who are not converted seem to run in where “angels fear to tread” – cf. Hebrews 4:16. It is actually an IMPORTANT subject, and one from which we can learn a great deal.

Most people will apply human reasoning to arrive at doctrine or truth – which is an unsound approach to learning God’s living Word, Truth, and ultimate Plan. God boldly says that we (again, God willing) will become God in many places in His living word!

Right from the beginning, the God family said, “’ Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness.’” – Genesis 1:26. All of God’s begotten children have the glorious promise, the hope of being brought “unto glory.”

Yet, do not dismiss this IMPORTANT bold statement, “’ WORTHY OF WORSHIP’” for the sake of its improper approach. Because truly God’s living word teaches us to worship God alone – and no other (cf. Matthew 4:10; John 4:24; Revelation 19:10). Certainly, even my friend was thinking this –

“ … ‘ Is there a God besides Me? Indeed there is no other Rock; I know not one.’” – Isaiah 44:8.

“’ I AM the LORD, and there is no other; There is no God besides Me. … Look to Me, and be saved, All you ends of the earth! For I AM God, and there is no other.’” – Isaiah 45:5, 22.

I’m certain that a great many in this world will call us heretics – “That ministry and its affiliated churches are teaching that humans can become God!”

How would you respond to them!? God the Father will always be our Heavenly Father, in the way that our earthly father will always be our father. A son is not greater than his father. Even our Lord Jesus says, “ … ‘for My Father is greater than I.’ – John 14:28. Would it lessen our Father God’s position to add multiple trillions to His Holy Family!?

God is called our Father. He is the Head of the God Family which is called God. There is no other Father besides Him. Truly, human beings who have become converted are His begotten children. We will (God willing), go on to become BORN children into the glorious Holy Family of God.

Reason this: was your earthly father’s position as the head of the household lessened because you were born!? Of course not! His position was blessed. His family increased. Rather than a lessening to your father’s position, your birth was cause for a celebration – and exceeding joy!

PRAISE FOREVER OUR MIGHTY GOD! When our Heavenly Father has first thousands upon thousands, and then millions and trillions of born children added to His Family, added to His glorious Son Jesus Christ, He will have even that many more children of equal kind who will FOR ALL ETERNITY worship and adore, and look up to Him with reverent love, respect, and fear as Father of the God Family!

O’ brethren, once properly understood, this glorious TRUTH OF GOD compliments our Holy Father and our Holy Elder Brother and Savior!

So, there is no unfairness in this glorious doctrine of truth, but rather, a time of great celebration and exceeding joy! □

ADDITIONAL ITEMS OF RELATED INTEREST:

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From the Beginning - God's Master PlanIf God did see that we would eventually “fall” under the weight of sin, did He have a plan that would somehow rectify the situation? [...]
'No One Has Ascended To Heaven'When I scroll down my news feed on Facebook, it’s often replete with people posting and talking about their dead loved ones. “I know you’re here with us,” many write. But are they seeing us down here!? [...]

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