Am I a god?
71The question was asked- "if we can do all things through God, can we do all the things God can do?"
Consider the following verses:
Matthew 17:20
He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
Philippians 4:13 (New International Version)
"I can do everything through him who gives me strength"
Both of these verses seem to indicate that we live here without any limitation to what we can do.
As we look at the "kind of language" used in each of these statements and then look at the context we can see they are actually a "hyperbole" or exaggeration.
In context, Philippians 4 further reads:
"I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength."
What we see here is the use of language- "all the things we go through" in life are things we can endure because God is there with us giving us strength. It doesn't say we are capable of doing all the things God can do, it is a declaration of faith to encourage the readers. We are able to do the things we have to do in our lives because God gives us the strength to do them
Theoretically, God can do what he wants through whomever he wants...that is part of what makes him God. And, to stretch this further, God can do all things he chooses to do through us. The difference here is "we can't do these things in and of ourselves". We are human.
One of the dangers of this line of logic is the assumption that if we, having God in us, can do what God can do...doesn't that make us gods too? This of course is a leap of logic. the "little god" theory goes like this-
If dogs have puppies and cats have kittens wouldn't God have little gods?
We are sons and daughters of God in our spirit if we name the name of Christ. We are sons and daughters of our parents in our flesh- although we are created in God's image. But an image is not the actual...any more than your reflection in the mirror is you. It is only a reflection of who you are.
1 Corinthians 13:9-12
For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When
I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I
reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind
me. Now we see but a
poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I
know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
Someday it will be revealed what we really are in Christ. For now, here on earth, we are vessels for his purpose:
Philippians 2:13-15
"For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe."
The better question would be how do I live for God?
Philippians 2:5-11
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
This was the attitude of Jesus- as we follow him, this is our goal too!
John 5:30
By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.
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VERY PROFOUND DESCRIPTION OF WHO GOD IS, WHO WE ARE, AND OUR TRUE PURPOSE IN LOVING HIM. I LOVED EVERY WORD, EVERY PARAGRAPH, AND YOU HAVE QUITE CONCISELY, RICH IN CONTENT MIND YOU, A BRILLIANT LITTLE ARTICLE OF FAITH, HUMILITY AND CHARITY. i MUST SEE MORE OF YOUR WORK PERTAING TO A GOD WHO IS SO GENEROUS WITH HIS LOVE AND MERCY. PLEASE CONTINUE TO WRITE PROLIFICALLY IN DEPTH THOUGH SIMPLE AND EASY TO UNDERSTAND CONTINUE AS ONLY I HAVE COME TO LEARN YOU CAN DO ON THEOLOGY. yOU HAVE TRULY BEEN BLESSED. I AM GRATEFUL TO BE ONE OF YOUR MANY FANS AND THAT YOU HAVE ALLOWED ME THE DINSTINCT PRIVILEGE TO CALL YOU FRIEND. kINDEST rEGARDS, JOHN
Bless you dear brother John- I pray God continues to show his mercy and kindness to you always!! You words of encouragement humble and bless me.
bayareagreatthing your discernment of the scriptures is right on target. I love this Hub it reminds us of our place on earth, and who we are, and why we are! We all need to be reminded at times to be Humble. And yes, we can do all things through God who strengthens us.As you wonderfully describe, this means, we can face whatever comes our way because He is with us! Not because we are gods. We are not and never will be equal to God.
amen KB!!Thanks for sharing your insight too!
thank you for this
Amen to this! We are to reflect God's glory by walking in His will. And thank you for quoting from Philippians--it's a favorite of mine! God bless, and keep on writing and sharing.
Another amazing Hub-Thanks!
I do not consider myself a god but an Ambassador for GOD! I love the way you wrote this Hub! Vert tasteful. I like when you said: The better question would be how do I live for God? That's what we should really be thinking of! Thank you so much my sister In Christ, Blessings!!!
JMJ- your such a blessing always
Amen Reconciled heart!
Thank you lyricsingray for sharing!
DPcarlotta- Thank you for sharing your blessing with me!
I've never quite known what to make of the verse saying we are gods. (elohim? mighty ones?) But I do believe we should be able to do whatever needs to be done, humanly possible or not, as long as it's the power of the Almighty working through us. Perhaps like electricity flowing through a wire or perhaps he really does change us into gods, part of his family. I've never met anyone like that yet though... :-)
So true- TMinut! We often focus on the wrong thing! We are here to be the "conduit" for the works of the Holy Spirit. Whatever that "makes" us is really unimportant. what IS important is to do the will of God. If we just focus on that, I think the controversy and questioning may be diminished.
bayareagreatthing,
Thought provoking hub!
We are to proclaim the Gospel to the world as well as live it! It is "in Him we live and move and have our being"
I am God's child created in His image. And yes as DrPastorcarlotta said I too am His Ambassador...
Blessings!
Thank you DeBorrah! Bless you too!
Put me in heaven
Someday Gabe it will be a reality :)
Thank you god you've made my life a whole heck of a lot better
Are you on hubpages again
I believe we are God's vessels and He uses us like a light in the darkness and if we show others the truth by example we are tools to help and we will be blessed.
schoolgirlforreal- Yes! That is the truth. Thank you for blessing me with your words :D
We are god's of our world and Jesus did speak of this in the Bible. It's funny how the version you use is said to be THE version, but it is not. No matter. Jesus said to be carefule with our thoughts and tehy do manifest into things. We can do this and bring whatever to our own world. He also stated that what we sow we shall reap and that is the Law of Attraction for what we think and the emotions that we send with those thoughts, that is what is going to come back to us. We also bring people to our lives becasue we either need to learn something about ourselves from them or them from us. So we are God's of our world. Our body is a temple of God, not to house God. Jesus said it that way, not that we are vessels for the lord. If you go around trying to get into heaven you will not get there because heaven and hell and all of God's kingdoms are WITHIN you, not in another person or thing or preacher or lord and that is how Jesus spoke of it.
Lady Guinevere - While I can not agree with your theology, I am glad that you stopped by and shared your thoughts.
The NIV is a version I use for two reasons. One because it is written in easier to understand language than some of the older versions (same reason I don't use the original Hebrew scriptures although I will refer to them in my research).
The second reason is that since the King James Version (one that many others think is the only version), there were older scrolls found that shed more light on scriptures. I can't say that I hold to the NIV as being the best version. I think most versions of the Bible are good in their own right.
One thing I would like to ask about the law of attraction as I have heard many people talk about this.
if things come to us or happen to us because we attract them, how can you explain natural disasters to those who are victims? What do they do to attract those actions?
I understand that there is a direct correlation to how we think of things (our attitude) and how we react which often leads to an action but that isn't about a law of attraction.
Go in peace dear friend and keep searching for the truth.
So Jesus lied when he said those things?
LG- I am not sure I understand your question.
Sciantel 2 years ago
It is true we are not God nor can never be, but we are made in His Image, heirs to Him so yes we are gods. Jesus Himself even told the disciples this. But we must be changed, to be like Him in order to help Him reign one day. He said REIGN not to serve. He once said that servants serve but the children do not. We are the children of God. There are all kinds of gods, demons, and Lucifer was referred to as the prince of the air, but these persons will perish and so will all who do not call upon Jesus as Lord, but the rest of us, no eye has seen or ear to hear, all He has in store for us in eternity.