DEIFICATION OF MAN

In the article “Destiny of Man”, one sees that God is reproducing himself. Man as an “image of God” is an earthy reproduction or replica of Him, and “God saw…it was very good.” [1]. As other living beings capable of reproduction have developed into kingdoms of their own kind, viz., plant-kingdom and animal-kingdom, so has God planned to develop and expand membership into that God-kingdom. Unlike plants and animals that God created after their respective kinds to reproduce their own image following the laws of genetics, man was never created after the man-kind. Rather, man was created after the God-kind, after God’s image [2]. One finds that man belongs to the highest order, the God-kind, and not to the animal-kind nor the plant-kind. Speaking of birds(animals), Jesus asked men “…Are you not of more value than they?” [3]. Yes, humans are higher in order than animals and currently lower than angels although in the future will be higher than them [4].

As this conclusion that man is in the God-kingdom was deduced from the narrative in Genesis, can this truth be confirmed subsequently and unequivocally? And being in the God-kind,can man, as flesh and blood (not spiritual), be classified as god? To one’s surprise, it was Jesus himself who confirmed this concept, the very person who was there in the Garden of Eden. Notice the discourse in John 10:33-35 when as a human being, like you and I, being flesh and blood, he was questioned about his claim of being god and classification as god, accused of blasphemy and stoned. People were saying”…being man (flesh and blood), make thyself God”. They could not fathom the concept that man is in the God-kind, and can be called god as well. Looking at him being human, they could not see how Jesus could claim deity. All the while and from the beginning of time, they thought of God only as spiritual, and not flesh-and-blood. To them, that claim was blasphemy! He then answered “Is it not written in your law, I said, ye are gods?” If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken.” This “word of God” is Jesus Christ as elucidated in John 1:1 as well as 10:36, “… whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world” and came to men(gods). The “word of God” came to humans and not to plants nor animals.Yes, Jesus himself validated the classification of man as in the God-kind and can be called god as well. As man, as a human being, Jesus is in the God-kind, and his claim of being god is true, even after coming to this world as flesh. Instead of an epiphanic awakening and acceptance of this concept, the people turned seething mad. Subsequently, he was accused of blasphemy and was killed [5] [6] because of that claim. Since Jesus was bold and not evasive as a man and flesh to be called god and in fact faced death for it, all of us should be able to withstand criticism from people who may disagree with this concept. That humans even as flesh “…are sons(children) of God…” and in the God-kind and can therefore be called god as well, likewise was confirmed by John [7]. This concept that man beclassified as god should not be considered ludicrous, as even angels were called”gods” (compare elohiym/aggelos: Ps. 97:7 and Heb 1:6 as well as Heb 2:7 and Ps. 8:5). The difference, though, between angels and man was explained by Paul in Hebrews 1:4-13, in that, in contrast to angels, there was a promise and plan for man to be like Christ and be part of his body. Also, angels lack understanding of God’s plan [8] [9] The concept of polytheism as against monotheism is alluded to by Paul “…gods many and lords many” [10] and by the psalmist , “…he judges among the gods” [11], “but YHVH is great…above all gods” [12]. But, most assuredly and unmistakenly “YHVH our God” [13] “…is God of all Gods and Lord of all Lords [14], and the only one to be worshipped. Most definitely, we should have no other gods before him!

As there are differences in the plant-kind and animal-kind, so are there differences in the God-kind, i.e., our heavenly Father is unique,distinct and superior to the Son Jesus. While admittedly there are many different species, order or genus, anything in the Plant-Kind can be called plant, as anyone in the Animal-kind is categorized as an animal, whether dog, cat or whatever. Likewise, an offspring of man is a son of man and called man, as an offspring of God is a son of God and called god. Yet, why is it that when it comes to the God-Kind, people have difficulty in understanding that if one is in the God-Kind, he/she is also god? No wonder, as man, Jesus who claimed to be son of God ,was accused of blasphemy, stoned and killed. We need to re-evaluate our understanding of what God is and replace it with the truth of man’s actual position in the hierarchy and context of creation, that of being in the highest order. From hereon, as difficult a concept it is to others, we need to accept and get used to classifying man as god, as Jesus did, to show the eventual “destiny of man”. This understanding that man is in the God-Kind provides a synopsis of man’s superlative path to glory, gives meaning to why we are here, and provides proper perspective of who/what we are.

While man is classified as “god” he is still a work in progress and his process of deification is not yet complete. In much the same way that we regard a fetus in-utero as human, yet it still needs to develop to full humanhood. He is at this time only a type of god, an earthy image of God and has not yet attained the fullness and glory that God planned him to be [15].The attribute of God, i.e., immortality is not inherent in the material composition of man ( “for dust thou art, and unto dust shall thou return” [16]. One cannot claim realization of the promise of “dominion overall” [17] ” as we are still subject to disease and can be killed by lethal microbes as in bioterrorism. Our present life is fleeting “like a vapour”([18].The kingdom (of G0D) …” to be delivered up to the Father “by Jesus Christ” I Cor.15:24, is yet future. While currently we bear the earthy image of God, we still SHALL bear the image of the heavenly [19]. While the type, Eve, the earthy-woman, the “flesh of my flesh and bone of my bone” [20] already came from the 1st Adam, the woman (spiritual church, you and I, the wife in Rev.19:7) still has to come out from the 2nd Adam, Christ [21].

How then can completion of deification be achieved? What is the mechanism behind this? Notice the following verses:

Eph.1:5 Today’s English version, Good News Translation

“Because of his love,God …..had already decided that through Jesus Christ he would make us his children, this was his pleasure and purpose.”

Eph. 1:11 The Message;Colorado Springs,Newpress, 1993)

“It is in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eyes on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything……”

Eph 3:20 Living Bible,Wheaton Il. Tyndale House Publishers, 1979

“God…is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of..infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts or hopes.”

This concept is extremely important and needs to be emphasized…that it is only in and thru Jesus that man’s deification, our becoming “children of God”, will be realized, fulfilled and completed. What does that mean? Simply put, it was not and never was in the 1st Adam, the earthy-image of God, that this deification will initiate and has never been planned like that. Rather, it was thru another man, the 2nd Adam, the one who did not come from the dust of the ground, not the earthy-Adam, but thru the man Jesus, who was heavenly [22], not from this earth or dust of this ground, but “from above” [23],the “one and only begotten of the Father” [24], [25]. The “word of God” (Jesus), as a matter of speaking, disrobed, renounced or abandoned his previous glorious spiritual body to become flesh, a human being, in a “fashion…as a man” [26], as planned. Imagine, being stripped of all spirituality and powers! As extremely difficult it was, he did it because of love for us. Moreover he did it on faith that his Father will restore it back to him. This gospel of love/faith goes back to the very beginning of time.Yes, from faith-to-faith, from the faith of Abraham all the way to the only faith that matters, the faith of Jesus ( [27], [28], [29], [30], that ultimately will bring man’s deification to fullness and completion. As,” it was appointed unto man once to die …” [31] so did the 1st Adam die and still dead and under the ground waiting for resurrection and finality of deification. But, theman-Jesus (see Paul rendering of Christ, [32] died and was resurrected into life everlasting, mortality changed to immortality, physical changed to spiritual, and Jesus did not need to wait longer than 3 days and 3 nights to be transformed into this glorious spiritual body as prophesied and promised. In the entire human history, it was only the man-Jesus who died and rose spiritual [33], eventually completing the fullness of his deification. And only after Jesus reached and attained back his glory, i.e.transformed/resurrected into his glorious spiritual body, after the last/2nd Adam “became a life-giving spirit” [34] can he”..bring many sons to glory”. [35]. He is the precursor and has proven himselfthat deification of man will be initiated and completed in Him and finally for other humans, as well. “Death, where is thy sting?..grave, where is thy victory?” [36] is now only applicable to the resurrected Jesus who now has a spiritual body, but will materialize for humans in the future when there physical body changes to spiritual. As the earthy-Eve came about from and after the 1st Adam (flesh), so shall the spiritual-Eve(wife in Revelation, church) come aboutfrom and only after the 2nd-Adam’s spiritualization (resurrected Jesus). Remember what Jesus said that he has to be glorified and go to the Father, so that the Spirit will be sent [37]. Yes, Jesus the first of firstfruits and after that, the rest of the firstfruits and subsequently the latter-fruits, thru the action of the Spirit. While human beings in their present state of flesh-and-blood are classified in the God-kind and can therefore be called “…gods”, they have not yet attained the fullness of deity or spiritualization which will come only thru and after Christ’s death and resurrection, by the works of the Holy Spirit.

In the garden of Eden, notice the narrative surrounding the temptation posed to man by the serpent, ” Don’t you know that when you eat the fruit of the tree of good/evil, you will be like GOD, knowing good and evil?”( [38]. “…And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever” [39]. Careful evaluation of this event leads us to the following facts:

1. While man is classified IN the God-kind, he has not attained his full potential as GOD has planned for him, as it was still future.

2. Adam/Eve lack attributes of God, i.e., (a) wisdom to know good/evil on their own and (b)immortality. Much like a human newborn/child that is entirely and fully man but has not attained many things inherent in adulthood and needed time to mature to be fruitful. Remember,” to every thing there is a season ” [40]We all started as spiritually-deprived infants, and Adam when he was formed from the ground was no exception. Christ welcomes “little children” [41] as a start of subsequent development into adulthood and maturity. Currently, we are in a developmental stage, some “newborn babes” [42], “babes in Christ” and need spiritual “milk”( [43], while others may tolerate “strong meat” [44]. The same principle applies to plants and animals that they need to mature before becoming fruitful.

3. In Gen. 2:17 Adam was admonished from eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good/evil, why? This is the fruit that when eaten will give them the ability to “know good and evil”. So, why is it such a “forbidden fruit”? What’s so bad about “knowing” good and evil? Certainly, it is not that God prohibited Adam/Eve to know good from evil, as before that verse, He already defined and taught them and let them know what was prohibited and what was allowable, i.e., the fruit of the tree of good/evil is bad and the rest were good, including the fruit of the tree of life. Neither, is it the act of choosing between good/evil that is prohibited as we are asked and encouraged to choose and do what is good. It is therefore not the knowledge or choice of good/evil per-se that was prohibited but, rather, from the context it appears to be about man/flesh making ajudgment on what is good and evil. What is forbidden by God is the judging or deciding for ourselves what constitutes good/evil. This is a prerogative of God. Deciding what is good and evil is within the purview of GOD and not man’s, not in his yet infantile beginning. Adam, on his own, and by his choice, has usurped this attribute of God even when he was spiritually deprived. Moreover, the fruit of that forbidden tree is death. And from the beginning, the 1st Adam was prohibited to “eat” (the fruit/death) as it was not the 1st Adamwho was destined and planned to “eat”, i.e.. experience or suffer death for mankind but the second Adam, Jesus Christ. Yes, it was the man-Jesus who was planned to suffer death for mankind, be resurrected, be restored to his previous glorious spiritual body and rank, completes his deification from flesh/blood, thereby receiving that attribute of ” knowing good and evil”, the prerogative of decision-making as to what constitutes good/evil, as well as immortality. Being “like him”(God), is a gift, but Adam/Eve wanted to get it thru their own efforts(works), i.e., eating the fruit, which is wrong.These, I believe, are the reasons why God forbade man to eat that forbidden fruit. The gospel ofgrace/gift and not works is interwoven in this narrative.

4. Having eaten the forbidden fruit, is a de-facto choice by man himself to decide what is good and evil . On his own efforts(works), instead of as a gift thru grace, he wanted to get that attribute of God and became “one of us” [45] to make judgment on what is good/evil. He chose to decide, on his own, on what constitutes good/evil, even while he was still flesh.This, to his peril as “my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor my ways, your ways” [46] thereby excluding him from staying in the Garden of Eden. He disqualified himself from continuing to live his mortal and finite life in the garden of Eden. That violation of God’s commandment is a major sin that was imputed to all mankind. As “by one man, all died…so with one man, (Jesus), all will live” [47].

Taken in context and factoring in what actually happened subsequently, the narrative in the garden of Eden about the temptation/prohibition for man to “eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good/evil”, to be “like God” and Adam/Eve getting barred from the garden and “tree of life”, can be summarized as follows:

A. To be “like God” is a gift and cannot be achieved by anyone’s own works,but Jesus’ works. Adam/Eve was tempted to do it, on their own, did it, “eat the fruit” and failed miserably.

B. The man-Jesus, the 2nd Adam, was the person planned to eat(experience, take-in) the fruit(death) of the tree of knowledge of good/evil and not the 1st Adam. Jesus Christ fulfilled all the requirements of the Law, did all good works, then died/resurrected and received back his spiritual body/immortality as well as the attribute of deciding what is good/evil(knowledge of good/evil). This occurred out of Jesus’ love for us and his faith in the Father, not of our works, but Jesus’ works ! His works and his faith then is imputed to all of us, indeed an undeserved gift to us from the Father.

Again, to emphasize the centrality of the man-Jesus to the whole plan of ultimate deification, please consider the concept of Father/Son relationship. When was this concept first introduced? All the while, we see man called “son of man”. But for man to be categorized as “son of God”, this did not start until the man-Jesuscame into the scene. While there are hints as in :

“The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.” Ps. 110:1 and,

“Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell?” Prov. 30:4,

this Father/Son concept did not materialize or came to realization until the man-Jesus was manifested. Notice the narrative in Matt. 3:13-17 and Matt. 17:5. when the man-Jesus was introduced officially as “…my beloved son, …in whom I am well pleased” The Holy Spirit even was a witness in the form of a dove and descended upon him. Also, in John 1:18 and 3:18, Jesus was called “the onlybegotten Son”. The qualifier, only, because he was the only flesh-and-blood who had that distinction at that particular point in time. Jesus, the onlybegotten son and after him, thru the works of the Holy Spirit, “…many sons…”.As Jesus was begotten by the Father , confirmed and authenticated by the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove, we are also begotten and witnessed by the Spirit who comes into man after having been sent by the Father after Jesus’ death/resurrection [48]

In a nutshell, one can glean from Genesis thru Revelation, that the mechanism of deification is as follows:

1.Creation of a template.

This earthy-image of God, 1st Adam, a “temple” of God has to be formed for God to get into, as He will not enter nor dwell spiritually into a temple (physical edifice) made by man [49] [50] [51]. Through the physical 1st Adam, humanity came about for the Spirit of God to take abode.

2. The “Word of God” has to become flesh [52], and be conceived or enter intoa human, Mary, also a temple not made by man, but by God. This man-Jesus,has to receive (or be entered into by) the Holy Spirit of God and he did, do all the good works, die and be resurrected back to his previous glorious spiritual body for the Holy Spirit to be sent.

3. After Christ’s death and resurrection, the Holy Spirit was sent [53] to get intoman, a “temple” made by God, for development into maturity, bear fruits of the Spirit, die/sleep [54] and eventually change from mortal to immortal, from physical to spiritual, as what happened to the man-Jesus onto to the heavenly-image of God.

Brethren, the concept that man is in the God-kind, an earthy-image of God, a type of god and is called god, predetermines the ultimate destiny of humanity. This is essential and critical in understanding the awesome future God has planned for us, even before we were born, much less have done anything to merit this gift. By grace did we receive this glory. God, the Father, is expanding membership into His kingdom. Indeed, this gospel of the GOD-KINGDOMstarted with Jesus and He will bring it to completion. The “kingdom of God is at hand” was trumpeted only after the man-Jesus came to this earth. He is the”beginning of the creation of God” [55], the “author and finisher of our faith” [56]. He is the “firstborn over all creation” [57] and “created” by the Father ( [58]. He is the “cornerstone” of a spiritual temple that we are a part of and “fitly framed together”( [59].The Spirit of God is currently working to ” bring many sons to glory”. Those who now have the spirit of God as a token, bears a token image of the heavenly and are called “children of God”. In a “twinkling of an eye, at the last trump” [60], when Christ returns at his second coming, our physical bodies will change to spiritual, the first-fruits of Christ’ first harvest. After that, at a time certain, will follow the latter-fruits of Christ’ second harvest. Everyone, “in his own order” [61] first was the man-Jesus, thefirst of first-fruits, who became immortal, then the rest of the firstfruits, and lastly the latter-fruits. The “fullness of the Gentiles”( [62], “…fullness of God[63] will manifest and man’s deification will be completed for them, as well. When our physical body changes to spiritual, then will be fulfilled the covenant made in Genesis between the Father and Christ that man who was made in the image of God will have “dominion overall”( [64].[1] Gen. 1:31 [2] Gen.1:26 [3] Mat. 6:26 [4] Heb.1:4-13 [5] John 19:7 [6] Matt. 26:63-66 [7] I John 3:12 [8] I Pet. 1:12 [9] Eph. 3:10 [10] I Cor. 8:5 [11] Ps. 82:1 [12] Ps. 37:9 [13] Micah. 4:5 [14] Deut. 10:17 [15] Eph. 3:20 [16] Gen.3:19 [17] Gen.1:26 [18] James 4:14 [19] I Cor. 15:49 [20] Gen.2:23 [21] I Cor. 15:45 [22] I Cor. 15:47 [23] John 8:23 [24] Heb.1:5 [25] Heb.5:5 [26] Phil. 2:8 [27] Rev.14:12 [28] Heb. 12:2 [29] IITim.3:15 [30] Phil. 3:9 [31] Heb 9:27 [32] I Tim.2:5 [33] Acts 16:23 [34] I Cor. 15:45 [35] Heb. 2:10 [36] ICor. 15:55 [37] John 16:7 [38] Gen. 3:1-6 [39] Gen. 3:22 [40] Eccl.3:1 [41] Lu.18:16 [42] I Pet.2:2 [43] I Cor.3:1-2 [44] Heb.5:12-14 [45] Gen.3:22 [46] Isa.55:8 [47] I Cor.15:21-22 [48] I Pet.1:3 [49] Acts 17:24 [50] I Cor 3:16 [51] II Cor 6:16 [52] John 1:14 [53] Ps. 104:30 [54] I Cor 15:51 [55] Rev. 3:14 [56] Heb.12:2 [57] Col. 1:15 [58] I Cor. 3:10 [59] Eph. 2:20-21 [60] I Cor 15:52 [61] I Cor. 15:23 [62] Rom.11:25 [63] Eph. 3:9 [64] Gen. 1:26

CONTACT:

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Posted:Sept 1/2003

The Destiny of Man

Why am I here? Why was I born? Is there any purpose in my life? As the average lifespan is about 70 years, so is that all there is to our longevity? After death, then what? Knowing what the future has in store for us brings perspective to how we value our present life and helps us understand our responsibilities and obligations, as well as what attitude and behavior we all need to adopt.

Since time immemorial, philosophers, seers and thinkers come and go. Yet, no reliable answer to these questions is forthcoming. Granted, they are all intellectually endowed and respected by the society and era that they lived in. Nevertheless, they are all farther from the truth for reasons that are obvious… they all looked introspectively and use their own judgments and human abilities to search for answers. Had they turned to their Maker, their eyes could have been opened to the truth. For “…my thoughts are not your thoughts…. my ways are higher than your ways..” Isa:55:8-9.

Learning comes either passive or active. The active mechanism to learn is by sensory somatic experience, viz., fire burns or heat is hot, when one touches a burning wood or the light of a candle. Passive learning on the other hand is when we see, hear, read a book or are instructed/lectured that they are in fact hot and do burn, without actual personal experience. This is a first lesson in faith/trust in God who tells us the truth, instead of relying on our own finite brains. Adam/Eve chose to learn the hard way by an actual experience of eating the “forbidden fruit”, instead of heeding the verbal admonition of God against it. They both paid an ultimate and heavy price of death for their bad choice. It is wiser to learn from an instructor than experience the aftermath of a bad choice and decision. Whether one believes it or not, there is a living God who is our Creator, who totally and completely knows us and has plans for us from the very beginning. As this subject is about destiny, it is vital to go to the instruction book of our Maker, the Holy Bible, for an eye-opening reality. And, there is no better place to start than from the beginning.

In the book of Genesis, it is essential to consider the patternbeing set by GOD in the process of creation, viz.,

1. That first, there was darkness followed by light… non-living things were created, then living things, as after death will follow life.

Notice, that “….darkness was upon the face of the deep…” [1] then there was light .He first created non-living things, e.g. the planets and stars of multiple galaxies, then the livingthings, e.g. plants and animals. These are facts as narrated in the Holy Scriptures. But, what is the truth behind these events? It would appear to me that this narrative has spiritual and functional meaning. GOD is showing this pattern of death (darkness, non-living) to be followed by life everlasting, that is to say that there is hope of life (light) after death (darkness, chaos ), in the same pattern that after lies,deception,confusion, and different interpretation will come the truth…that from mortality (death) will follow immortality (life forever)…that our current physical nature istemporal and will change to spiritual which is everlasting.Isn’t this a very powerful message of hope and renewal being taught to all of us from the beginning of time? Yes, our destiny is not death and oblivion but eternal life.

2. Every living creature reproduces its own kind or likeness or image…..foundation of genetics.

Notice that before there was any other living entity, GOD was already there as the only living entity. As the scripture says “…In the beginning, God created…” [2].

To establish this pattern of reproducing like-for-like, kind-for-kind, class-for-class, and same image-for-image, GOD created the plants and animals. He showed that they can onlyreproduce after their own kind or likeness or image. After the plants and animals were created, at that particular moment, there were only three living classes of creatures, viz., GOD, plants and animals. After the principle of genetics was established that plants and animals can only reproduce after their own kind or likeness or image, what did GOD say? “Let us make man in our image, after our own likeness…” [3]. The plant-kind can only give rise to a plant, as the animal-kind can only reproduce the same kind. The same is true with the GOD-kind. Yes, God is reproducing himselfthru the creation of man. Man was created in the image of God..in the GOD-KIND, the highest and ultimate class of living entity. Not even was man ranked among the angels as Paul emphasized [4]. This is indeed an awesome destiny for man to be in the GOD-KIND,, or KINGDOM of GOD, not Plant-kingdom nor Animal-kingdom but GOD-FAMILY…GOD-KINGDOM.

No wonder Christ prayed that man be”ONE WITH HIM” [5], as he is one with the Father, that Paul testified that we will be”…like his glorious body…” [6] that this flesh will change in a “…twinkling of an eye …” in the future to become spirit, from mortal to immortality…that man will “have dominion “…”overall” [7] … as GOD is over all. Yes, GOD is a family, with Jesus as quoted by Paul, the “…first of the firstfuits…” [8]… “the firstborn among many brethren” [9], with Jesus as our elder brother, and his/our FATHER being all-in-all and above-all. And to think that this was all planned even before the creation of the world, before you and I were born, before anyone has done any good work, is a remarkable and compelling proof of GRACE and unwarranted GIFTto be in the GOD-KINGDOM and GOD-FAMILY.

References

[1] Gen. 1:2 [2] Gen. 1:1 [3] Gen 1:26 [4] Heb. 2:6-18 [5] John 17:21-23

[6] Phil. 3:21 [7] Gen. 1:26 [8] I Cor. 15:23 [9] Rom. 8:29

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Posted:06/27/2003

Sounds ridiculous? Yet surprisingly, many of us may be misinformed about what is God . Some may be atheist and denies existence of God. Others are agnostics and still groping for the answer. Admittedly, others know who their God is, one way or another. But, do we really know what is God ? This question is not about the attributes of God, viz., omniscience, omnipotence, omnipresence, etc. Rather, it is about whether we comprehend what comprises or constitutes the word translated in English as God. Can this understanding help us in resolving the conflict between those who prove that Jesus is God and man versus those who has equally compelling proof that he is only human? Why did Jesus say in John 10:34 “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, you are gods’? The man Jesus classified himself as well as other human beings as gods, for which reason they accused him of blasphemy, stoned him and subsequently killed him because of this outrageous claim. Is Jesus right in classifying humans as gods? Does it really matter, who we are and where in creation do we belong? We are not in the plant-kingdom nor are we in the animal-kingdom. Are we really in the god-kingdom as classified by Jesus for which claim, he was persecuted and eventually died? This issue maybe so basic, yet so fundamental that the answer maybe so eye-popping as to help us understand the future and destiny of man. As the Bible says, “the only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is…” Rom. 12:3(The Message, Colorado Springs, Navpress, 1993)

To know the facts, we need to get to the original word in Hebrew (for the Old testament portion of the Bible/Tanach) and Greek (for the New Testament) that was translated into the English word God. Anyone who has a comprehensive concordance will be able to compile all the original words translated as God. Afterwards, to know the truth behind those words, one then looks at the usage/context of how the original word was used and whether other text or verses can confirm the true meaning of the original word. Following this format of research, one may be surprised about discovering many things that we were taught as a child/adult may indeed be deficient and fall under the category of misinformation, not intentional mind you, but misleading and confusing, nevertheless. As we delve into this critical subject, we will know what comprises the word “God”, concepts of polytheism/monotheism, variations/levels of powers, and where is the rightful position of angels, man, sons of God, Christ and the Father. And from these, we will then appreciate the spiritual significance behind knowing this subject well, and the hierarchy of creation.

POLYTHEISM/MONOTHEISM :

At the outset, let us look at the concept of polytheism/monotheism and verses that may appear confusing yet may eventually help us in exploring this subject: The startling fact is that the Pentateuch introduces the concept of plurality of the word God.

Notice :

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.(Gen.1:1) Here, the word God translated from Hebrew is plural and this numerical concept is reiterated in (Gen.1:26) Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, after our likeness, …

But also, consider the following verses:

If after all, there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords),( I Cor.8:5 )

God stands in the assembly of El ,in the midst of the gods he renders judgment (Ps. 82:1)

None can compare to you among the gods, O sovereign Master! Your exploits are incomparable! (Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O lord) (Ps. 86:8)

Yes, I know the Lord is great, and our sovereign Master is superior to all gods.

(YHVH is above all gods ) (Ps.135:5),

For you, O Lord, are the sovereign king over the whole earth; you are elevated high above all gods.(above all gods ) (Ps. 97:9)

You shall have no other gods before me (Ex.20:3 Decalogue)

You must burn the images of their gods,(graven images of their gods ) (Deut.7:25),

…on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment (many deities ) (Ex. 12:12)

For thou, LORD, [art] high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods (Ps. 97:9)

The preceding verses from the Old/New Testament tell us that, indeed, there are many gods, but a Supreme Being among them is above all of them. These verses affirm and did not deny the existence and reality of many gods. Polytheism is a fact in as much as there are many gods, and so is monotheism, in so far as there is One Supreme Being and One Above All gods is concerned. If in fact the preceding statement is true, and using this premise as a base, it then becomes imperative to get to the original word in Hebrew and Greek that was translated God . This will then help us understand what constitutes or comprises the word God, not only from the transliteration of the word, but also its context and usage

ELOHIM:

In Genesis, the Hebrew word translated God in English comes from the word ELOHIM/ELOHIYM. This is plural and a derivative of “El/Eloah(singular) meaning strong, mighty, power, POWERFUL ONES. (Brown,Driver,Briggs, Hebrew Lexicon, pp.42-44)

Likewise, in Strong’s Exhaustive Bible Concordance, comes the following Hebrew words:

430 ‘elohiym el-o-heem’ plural of 433 ; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative:–angels, X exceeding, God (gods)(-dess, -ly), X (very) great, judges, X mighty.

433 ‘elowahh el-o’-ah; rarely (shortened) >eloahh {el-o’-ah probably prolonged (emphat.) from 410; a deity or the Deity:–God, god. See 430.

426 ‘elahh el-aw’ (Aramaic) corresponding to 433; God:–God, god.

410 ‘el ale shortened from 352; strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity):–God (god), X goodly, X great, idol, might(-y one), power, strong. Compare names in “-el.”

Why is Elohiym plural ? Some think this is numerical plurality but others take this to mean multiplicity or majesty of powers, functions or rank

Which, if any, could it be?

In Gen. 1:26, “And ELOHIYM said, Let us ….our likeness…” suggest there were others of the same likeness or image during this creation narrative, hence Elohiym is a word that connotes numerical plurality , but also that a particular being (not beings) actually did the creation itself or spoke the word of creating, e.g., using he in Gen.1:

27

So ELOHIYM created man in his own image, in the image of ELOHIYM created he him; male and female created he them.

31

And ELOHIYM saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

Gen. 2:

2

And on the seventh day ELOHIYM ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

3

And ELOHIYM blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which ELOHIYM created and made.

8

And YHVH ELOHIYM planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.

and using I in Gen.1:

29

And ELOHIYM said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.

30

And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.

YHVH ELOHIYM:

The identity of this particular Elohiym, was specified as YHVH ELOHIYM in Gen. 2:

4

These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that YHVH ELOHIYM made the earth and the heavens,

5

And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for YHVH ELOHIYM had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.

7

And YHVH ELOHIYM formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

8

And YHVH ELOHIYM planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.

9

And out of the ground made YHVH ELOHIYM to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

N.B. Also see chapters 3,4,5, etc. that specifies that the particular Elohiym was in fact YHVH.

YHVH is the creator in contradistinction to the other Elohiym, as in, Gen 6:2 sons of ELOHIYM. This specific and particular Elohiym is YHVH, who is the creator and the one who said “…Let us…our likeness ..” in Gen.1:26. This same person is the one who spoke to Moses and the one known to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as El Shadday. Notice the following:

Ex 6:

2

And ELOHIYM spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am YHVH:

3

And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of EL SHADDAY, but by my name YHVH was I not known to them.

7

And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a ELOHIYM: and ye shall know that I am YHVH your ELOHIYM, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.

Deut 10:

17

For YHVH your ELOHIYM is ELOHIYM of gods, and ADOWN of lords, a great EL, a mighty, …

Incidentally, the traditional English version of this was quoted in the prayer by Col. Oliver North who was a keynote speaker at the National Day of Prayer gathering at Washington, D.C. on May 6 2004

This is the Elohiym(God) of Israel, and specifically identified and named YHVH / El Shadday

This again is confirmed in the Shema doctrine found in

Deut.6:

4

Hear, O Israel: YHVH our ELOHIYM is one YHVH:

5

And thou shalt love YHVH thy ELOHIYM with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

Micah 4:

5

For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of YHVH our ELOHIYM for ever and ever.

Yes, there is no other specific Elohiym known and introduced to Israel to be worshipped but YHVH / El Shadday who is ONE. The One and ONLY ONE above all gods.

From the preceding, one can see that the plural word Elohiym is a generic or common name for a powerful being and that it includes the creator as well as others of like image or likeness. But to specify the identity of this particular Elohiym as a creator of heavens and earth and the being who dealt with Abraham, Isaac,Jacob,Moses and Israel , the proper name YHVH / El Shadday was used.

Angel as ELOHIM:

To confirm this concept that Elohiym/God is generic/common name, notice the following:

Worship him, all ye gods (430, elohiym)Ps.97:7 and juxtapose this with the reference…angels (32 aggelos {ang’-el-os} of God worship him in Heb 1:6

The elohiym/gods in Psalm 97:7 is definitely referred to mean aggelos/angels. See also the scene when Jesus told an angel (Satan) to worship him and speaking of himself towards Satan :

Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Matt.4:10

And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.Lu. 4:8

And to identify which of the elohiym or angels is specifically referred to:

…. for Satan himself is transformed into an angel (32 aggelos {ang’-el-os} of light.

II Cor.11:14,

…prince of this world be cast out John 12:31

… god (2316 theos) of this world (Satan) II Cor 4:4.

See also Ps. 8:5 angel(elohim, Strong’s #43)

Yes, even angels are classified in the Elohiym/God. This could be the reason why “us” and “our” are used in Gen.1:26 as angels were there during man’s creation, as the “serpent” (Lucifer,Satan) was in the garden of Eden

Man, Jewish leaders, Judges as ELOHIM:

Following the same concept of commonality of the word Elohiym/God, notice these verses:

John 10:

31 The Jewish leaders picked up rocks again to stone him to death.

32 Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good deeds from the Father. For which one of them are you going to stone me?”

33 The Jewish leaders replied, “We are not going to stone you for a good deed but for blasphemy, because you, a man, are claiming to be God.”

34 Jesus answered, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, you are gods’?

35 If those people to whom the word of God came were called ‘gods’ (and the scripture cannot be broken), 10:36 do you say about the one whom the Father set apart and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?

Ps.82:

6

I have said, Ye are gods (430 elohiym); and all of you are children of the ELYOWN (God).

N.B. Children of Elohim/God are classified gods as well, as Jesus, the man, the son of God is God, as other humans who were stoning him are called gods as well. Jesus classified “…those people to whom the word of God came …as… ‘gods’ in v-35. The word of God came to humans, you and me, and not to plants nor to animals. That’s why we are gods ! See also, Ex. 21:6; 22:8-9,28 where judges are called elohim (Strong’s#430)

MOSES reckoned Elohiym:

Ex.4:

16

And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of ELOHIYM. See also, Ex. 7:1

Kings of the House of David likened to Gods:

Zech.12:

8

In that day shall YHVH defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as ELOHIYM, as the angel of YHVH before them.

Yes, even men/women are classified in the Elohiym/God. Notice also that in Zech. 12:8 both man(house of David) and angel are classified as elohiym.

Again, looking at the facts and deducing the truth from the usage and context of the verses quoted, there is no doubt that Elohiym/God constitutes and comprises:

1.YHVH/El Shadday – the creator ,above all gods, one and only god to be worshipped by Israel , and by extension all gentiles.

2. angels(including Lucifer),

3.and man/woman

.

This specific and inclusive concept is not “pantheism“. It is not that “God is all and all is God” and not “all reality is infused with divinity“(Who made God? Ravi Zacharias,pgs.41-43,2003 Zondervan). Christ was specific and excludes plants, animals and innanimate beings. Distinction among the “gods” is maintained,i.e. there are levels and ranks of powers. Moreover,Elohiym is a word that connotes numerical plurality but may also mean multiplicity or majesty of powers, function or rank, as in Adonai in Gen 42:30,33, Isa. 22:18; 51:22; Ezra 10:3; Malachi 1:6

THEOS:

This same concept in the Old Testament is carried through in the New Testament. Notice, that in Greek, the word God is translated from “theos” This word is singular, masculine, and in the nominative case (The New Analytical Greek Lexicon ,p. 201)

And yet, THEOS , by context and usage, is a composite and includes:

1. God the Father: When Jesus had finished saying these things, he looked upward to heaven and said, “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, so that your Son may glorify you just as you have given him authority over all humanity, so that he may give eternal life to everyone you have given him. Now this is eternal life—that they know you, the only true God(theos,Strong’s#2316), and Jesus Christ, whom you sent.

John 17:1-3

2. God the Son/Jesus: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God(theos,Strong’s#2316), and the Word was fully God.(theos,Strong’s#2316) The Word was with God(theos,Strong’s#2316) in the beginning. All things were created by him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.John 1:1-3;

She will give birth to a son and you will name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” This all happened so that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet would be fulfilled: “Look! The virgin will conceive and bear a son, and they will call him Emmanuel,” which means “God(theos,Strong’s#2316) with us.” Matt. 1:21-23

For this reason the sovereign master himself will give you a confirming sign. Look, this young woman is about to conceive and will give birth to a son. You, young woman, will name him Immanuel Isa. 7:14

Isa.7:14

Therefore the ADONAY himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

3. angel:

among whom the god(theos,Strong’s#2316) of this age has blinded the minds of those who do not believe so they would not see the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God. … theos,Strong’s#2316 of this world (Satan) II Cor 4:4

4. man/woman:

Jesus answered, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, you are gods’(theos, Strong’s #2316) ? If those people to whom the word of God (theos,Strong’s #2316) came were called ‘gods’(theos, Strong’s #2316) (and the scripture cannot be broken), do you say about the one whom the Father set apart and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’(theos,Strong’s #2316)? John 10:34-36

N.B. Jesus was human and was made in the image of the invisible God as we all are 2Cor 4:4. Jesus as man incarnate is God as He is also God in the pre-incarnate and post-incarnate state

The preceding verses show that “theos”, while singular, is a composite word as the plural “elohiym” is. Now comes the question, why is Elohiym plural but can be singular, while Theos is singular but maybe plural? This is because by usage/context the Elohiym/Theos maybe specific or generic. When the word is specific then it is described and identified, e.g. YHVH / El Shadday or Father, Son, angel, man.

This contextual usage is equivalent to the rendering of “ekklesia”(plural) as exemplified in:

I Cor. 12:12 For just as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body—though many—are one body, so too is Christ.

Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

Col 1:24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church

CoL 4:15 Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which (is) in his house.

1Thes. 1:1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which (is) in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1Tim. 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which (is) the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

Heb 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which (are) written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect

Notice that when the plural word is modified by a singular verb, it coalesces the plural into singular connotation. Ecclesia , while plural, is one but composed of many members; as our body is one, yet made up of many members. This usage is akin to the United States is one country but composed of many states; as Israel is one nation but with 12 tribes and with the grafting of the gentiles could be even more.

In Summary:

1.Elohiym/Theos refers to a composite of powers, the sum of divine and powerful beings, the totality of all attributes of deity.

2. Most of the time, Elohiym in the Old Testament refers to a specific YHVH Elohiym and Theos in the New Testament refers specifically to God the Father. At other times, it refers to those others in the generic Elohiym/Theos, i.e. Jesus, angels, humans.

3. In general, Elohiym/Theos is collective and not a selective term; common and not a proper name; inclusive and not exclusive; generic not proprietary; composite and not specific.

4. The usage and/or context of the word explains the intended meaning, whether plural/singular or numerical plurality/multiplicity of power, rank or position/function.

SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE:

Why know what is God? Now that you know the facts and the truth behind the facts, the screaming spiritual significance of this truth can out-decibel anything ever heard of before! This has not been emphasized in traditional Christendom. Man is planned and classified by Jesus himself, to be categorized in the Elohiym. This classification of man in the Elohiym has far-reaching potential, seriousness and gravity that Jesus risked being stoned, charged with blasphemy and eventually gave his life for us to comprehend the magnitude of our destiny. Human beings are in the Elohiym/Theos, not in the plant-kind, nor in the animal-kind. We did not “evolve” from plants nor animals! In Genesis, you can see that after plants were created, they were planned to reproduce after their own kind. Likewise, when animals were created, they were to reproduce after their own kind. But, notice, after plants and animals were created to reproduce their own kind, God said, in Genesis,

1:26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, after our likeness, .”

1:27 God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them, male and female he created them.

Yes, humans are in the image of God, as Jesus the man, was in the image of the invisible God.( “… Christ, who is the image of God… 2 Cor 4:4) God is reproducing and multiplying the numbers that compose the Elohiym, aside from angelic beings. We are created in the Elohiym/Theos. We are in the GOD-KIND ,the God-Kingdom ! This is the context of the gospel of the Kingdom Of God. While in the class of Elohiym, as man ,like Jesus was, we are currently below the level and rank of angels(see Heb. 2:7) But as Jesus is now in the right hand of the Father, our High-Priest, man will also be in that position, higher than the angels(Heb. 1:4; 2:10), as we will be in Christ. The head, who is Christ, has to be with the body, which is the ecclesia, composed of many members. When this kingdom of God, the ecclesia, the priests of Melchizedek is finally composed and is delivered to the Father, then all of us, including Jesus, will bow down before the supreme God of all…the Father, as in:

And when all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will be subjected to the one who subjected everything to him, so that God may be all in all. 1 Cor.15:28

Thank God, this human destiny was decided even before man’s creation, and before man has done anything right or wrong. Being in that category or class of Elohiym is a gift, not of works, but of grace through faith and out of the love of God.

Brethren, the spiritual meaning of this concept that man is in the class of Elohiym is of enormous significance worthy of praise and glory of the Father.

Complementary Articles:

Destiny of Man, Deification of Man, Passion of Christ

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Posted : June 17, 2004