May the spirit of God help us in unfolding the mysteries of the word of God.
'' Genesis 1:26 Lets us make man in our image,in our likeness and let him rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth and over all the creatures that move along the ground.''
1. When God said, '' lets make man in our likeness '', the term ''our'' implies God's Trinity, i.e., Father, Son and Spirit.
And God is ONE.
2. So, God made man in 'their' likeness. And therefore man became a spirit being.
This means man is a 'copy' (of likeness) of God.
But a copy is only a copy, like a photo copy- it is never an original.
2. So, God made man in 'their' likeness. And therefore man became a spirit being.
This means man is a 'copy' (of likeness) of God.
But a copy is only a copy, like a photo copy- it is never an original.
But just contains the prints of the original.
For example, if I take a photo copy of my Graduation certificate, that copy is still identified by the name of its original i.e., ''Graduation certificate'', due to its contents.
But I call it a copy of Graduation certificate.
It is never equal in value to the original certificate.
And it cannot function like the original certificate. Isn't it ? It is a dummy.
Any firm needs our original certificates in order to process the job offer.Yes?
Similarly, since we are copies made in the likeness of God, we get the name ''gods''.
And a '' god '' is NOT equivalent to '' God ''.
For example, if I take a photo copy of my Graduation certificate, that copy is still identified by the name of its original i.e., ''Graduation certificate'', due to its contents.
But I call it a copy of Graduation certificate.
It is never equal in value to the original certificate.
And it cannot function like the original certificate. Isn't it ? It is a dummy.
Any firm needs our original certificates in order to process the job offer.Yes?
Similarly, since we are copies made in the likeness of God, we get the name ''gods''.
And a '' god '' is NOT equivalent to '' God ''.
Now , why are we are called ''sons'' of God. And not ''Sons''
( we get the small 's' , and not the capital 'S') :
Because we look like the one who made us - We Just Look - we are just made in the image.
( we get the small 's' , and not the capital 'S') :
Because we look like the one who made us - We Just Look - we are just made in the image.
Like our human sons, they inherit the features of parents.
A son is someone who looks like his parents (mom and dad ) Right ?
Parents call their son, a son, as he has their features, their characters.
A neighbor will not call you his son, can he ?
The first visible thing that reflects 'parent-son' relationship is features, the characters.
Similarly, since we resemble our Father, who made us in His image, we are called His
'' sons.''
Now, neither a mother or a father lives inside their son. Do you get the analogy ?
This son is always an independent individual, no one lives inside him and he does not live inside his parents.
They are Detached Individuals.
Parents call their son, a son, as he has their features, their characters.
A neighbor will not call you his son, can he ?
The first visible thing that reflects 'parent-son' relationship is features, the characters.
Similarly, since we resemble our Father, who made us in His image, we are called His
'' sons.''
Now, neither a mother or a father lives inside their son. Do you get the analogy ?
This son is always an independent individual, no one lives inside him and he does not live inside his parents.
They are Detached Individuals.
Our parents live outside us, they don't live inside us. Right ?
And neither we live inside our parents. We are detached, separate individuals, just inheriting the features of them. Yes?
But Jesus is the only Son, who lives in the Father and the Father lives in HIM.
He alone is called the ''Son'' of God.
Since God the Father lives IN Son Jesus, ( and they are One), Jesus is also called '' God. ''
Hence Jesus is called ''Son'' and ''God'' - and we,( being just the photo copies ) ''sons'' and ''gods'' .
And neither we live inside our parents. We are detached, separate individuals, just inheriting the features of them. Yes?
But Jesus is the only Son, who lives in the Father and the Father lives in HIM.
He alone is called the ''Son'' of God.
Since God the Father lives IN Son Jesus, ( and they are One), Jesus is also called '' God. ''
Hence Jesus is called ''Son'' and ''God'' - and we,( being just the photo copies ) ''sons'' and ''gods'' .
Having now understood the difference, let us read some Scriptures and gain further insight:
'' John 10:33-38
'' We are not stoning you for any of these'' replied the Jews, ''but for blasphemy,because you a mere man,claim to be God.''
Jesus answered them , '' Is it not written in your law, ' I have said you are gods' ? If he called them 'gods' to whom the word of God came - the Scripture cannot be broken -- What about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world ? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said ' I am God's Son'?
Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does. But if I do it, even though you do not believe me , believe the miracles that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me and I in the Father.'' ''
In this Scripture we can see how Jesus differentiates ''gods'' from Himself.
'' John 10:33-38
'' We are not stoning you for any of these'' replied the Jews, ''but for blasphemy,because you a mere man,claim to be God.''
Jesus answered them , '' Is it not written in your law, ' I have said you are gods' ? If he called them 'gods' to whom the word of God came - the Scripture cannot be broken -- What about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world ? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said ' I am God's Son'?
Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does. But if I do it, even though you do not believe me , believe the miracles that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me and I in the Father.'' ''
In this Scripture we can see how Jesus differentiates ''gods'' from Himself.
He clearly says, ''Father is in Me and I in the Father '' and therefore, he performs miracles.
Let us meditate on this Scripture :
1. ''what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world ? '' = Jesus here questions them, and thereby affirms his authenticity of being set apart by Father to be his own 'Son' .
2. Scripture cannot be broken = Jesus is the Living Word. Word of God ( is singular ).
So this Word, which is the Son cannot be broken - Not everyone can be called Sons of God and Jesus too called Son of God.
3. He differentiates Himself from ''gods'' saying, ''Father is in Me and I in the Father.''
4. ''even though you do not believe me believe the miracles '' = But, because outwardly he looks like them, i.e., like '' gods '', ( like those who are made in the likeness of God), as he was sent to us in flesh - in man form - and if that is the reason that they do not believe him, He was asking them to believe the miracles He does, so that they may know that Father is in Him.
5. And he also tells them not to believe if he does not do what the Father does.
2. Scripture cannot be broken = Jesus is the Living Word. Word of God ( is singular ).
So this Word, which is the Son cannot be broken - Not everyone can be called Sons of God and Jesus too called Son of God.
3. He differentiates Himself from ''gods'' saying, ''Father is in Me and I in the Father.''
4. ''even though you do not believe me believe the miracles '' = But, because outwardly he looks like them, i.e., like '' gods '', ( like those who are made in the likeness of God), as he was sent to us in flesh - in man form - and if that is the reason that they do not believe him, He was asking them to believe the miracles He does, so that they may know that Father is in Him.
5. And he also tells them not to believe if he does not do what the Father does.
But Jesus did many many miracles in front of all of them, and this shows them that Father is in Him.
Let us meditate further on ''Scripture is One'' :
For example :
There will be One Graduation Certificate.
For example :
There will be One Graduation Certificate.
We do not get '' Graduation certificates '' ? Agree?
If there are many ''Graduation Certificates '' then Graduation studies are broken.
Which is not correct.
But we can make many copies of Graduation Certificate. Yes?
Similarly Scripture is the Word of God. We don't call it multiple words of God. Yes ?
But we can make many copies of Graduation Certificate. Yes?
Similarly Scripture is the Word of God. We don't call it multiple words of God. Yes ?
And this Word (singular) became flesh and was sent among us - So it is One.
Now lets read again the following verse :
'' Is it not written in your Law, ' I have said you are gods' '':
Now lets read again the following verse :
'' Is it not written in your Law, ' I have said you are gods' '':
If people call ''gods'' as Son(s), then they are breaking the Scripture, because it used plural form, ''you are gods''.
Which means, this word ''gods'' refers to those copies made in the likeness of God, but not the Son of God.
God set apart his Son ( The Word ) to be sent into the world ( into these gods).
''If He called them ''gods'' to whom the Word of God came '' = The Word of God has come to all mankind, not to specific set of people.
So, this means to all those to whom the Word has come are ''gods''.
Therefore when this Word is One, and now He says, He is that One ( Jesus said, 'I am God's Son' ) set apart by God, He was asking them, why are they accusing him of blasphemy?
Let us further meditate on the following Scripture:
'' Psalm 86:8
Among the gods, there is none like you O Lord, no deeds can compare with yours.
All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, O Lord;
they will bring glory to your name.
For you are great and do marvellous deeds;You Alone Are God.''
In the above Scripture:
1. Among the ''gods'' = among those made in the likeness of God.
2. Jesus was sent into the word looking like one of us, like a man.
3. And lived among us. But among ''gods'' there is no one like Jesus.
4. Because in HIM alone Father lives and He lives in the Father, though he was sent looking like a 'copy' of God , in the sense, in human form, resembling one of us (gods), He is NOT like us.
5. No one can do deeds like him, though he looked like us, like man, he wasn't just a man, and Father works through him.
'' Psalm 86:8
Among the gods, there is none like you O Lord, no deeds can compare with yours.
All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, O Lord;
they will bring glory to your name.
For you are great and do marvellous deeds;You Alone Are God.''
In the above Scripture:
1. Among the ''gods'' = among those made in the likeness of God.
2. Jesus was sent into the word looking like one of us, like a man.
3. And lived among us. But among ''gods'' there is no one like Jesus.
4. Because in HIM alone Father lives and He lives in the Father, though he was sent looking like a 'copy' of God , in the sense, in human form, resembling one of us (gods), He is NOT like us.
5. No one can do deeds like him, though he looked like us, like man, he wasn't just a man, and Father works through him.
6. Hence Psalmist says,
'' You are great and do marvellous deeds.You Alone are God '':
Means, though ''gods'' look like the likeness of 'God', and Jesus was sent to us in flesh, looking like one of us, ( i.e., looking like a man ), Jesus alone is God.
And no other 'god' can be like him.
7.'' All the nations you have made will come and worship before you O Lord'' =
In this verse we can see that Jesus, our Lord was there during the creation, its He who made the nations.. and all the nations He has made will come and worship before Him.
Means, though ''gods'' look like the likeness of 'God', and Jesus was sent to us in flesh, looking like one of us, ( i.e., looking like a man ), Jesus alone is God.
And no other 'god' can be like him.
7.'' All the nations you have made will come and worship before you O Lord'' =
In this verse we can see that Jesus, our Lord was there during the creation, its He who made the nations.. and all the nations He has made will come and worship before Him.
Lets now turn to Psalm 81 for further understanding:
'' Psalm 81
God presides in the great assembly;
he gives judgment among the ''gods''
How long will you defend the unjust and show partiality to the wicked ?
Defend the cause of the weak and the fatherless;maintain the rights of the poor and the oppressed.Rescue the weak and needy;Deliever them from the hand of the wicked.
''They know nothing, they understand nothing.They walk about in darkness,all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
I said, ''You are ''gods'', you are all sons of the Most of the High.''
But you will die like mere men; you wil fall like every other ruler.''
Rise up O God, judge the earth , for all nations are your inheritance. ''
God presides in the great assembly;
he gives judgment among the ''gods''
How long will you defend the unjust and show partiality to the wicked ?
Defend the cause of the weak and the fatherless;maintain the rights of the poor and the oppressed.Rescue the weak and needy;Deliever them from the hand of the wicked.
''They know nothing, they understand nothing.They walk about in darkness,all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
I said, ''You are ''gods'', you are all sons of the Most of the High.''
But you will die like mere men; you wil fall like every other ruler.''
Rise up O God, judge the earth , for all nations are your inheritance. ''
May the Spirit of God help us understand the revelation in these verses:
1. ''God presides in the great assembly;
he gives judgment among the ''gods'' = Presiding in the great assembly , God gives judgment among ALL those made in His likeness.
2. I said, ''You are ''gods'', you are all sons of the Most of the High'':
you are '' gods '' = You all have the prints of God, the likeness of God, so you are ''gods''
You ALL inherit His characters, His features, therefore you are ALL sons of the Most High.
3. ''sons of Most High'' = having ( just ) characters of God.
4. ''die like men'' = though you are in the likeness of God, because you don't understand anything and walk in darkness, you will die like men.
5. ''Fall away like every other ruler'' = 'Ruler' here doesn't mean some specific king or specific rulers or judges.
God made man a 'ruler' and any one who does the wicked things mentioned in the above Scripture will fall away - like every other 'man' (ruler) you will fall away.
Hence in the last verse (Psalm 81 :8 ) Psalmist says, ''rise up O God to Judge the ''earth''.
He did not specifiy some rulers or some parts of earth, or some nations. He said,
'judge the earth' . Means judge whole earth,all men.
God will judge all men ( rulers ).
1. ''God presides in the great assembly;
he gives judgment among the ''gods'' = Presiding in the great assembly , God gives judgment among ALL those made in His likeness.
2. I said, ''You are ''gods'', you are all sons of the Most of the High'':
you are '' gods '' = You all have the prints of God, the likeness of God, so you are ''gods''
You ALL inherit His characters, His features, therefore you are ALL sons of the Most High.
3. ''sons of Most High'' = having ( just ) characters of God.
4. ''die like men'' = though you are in the likeness of God, because you don't understand anything and walk in darkness, you will die like men.
5. ''Fall away like every other ruler'' = 'Ruler' here doesn't mean some specific king or specific rulers or judges.
God made man a 'ruler' and any one who does the wicked things mentioned in the above Scripture will fall away - like every other 'man' (ruler) you will fall away.
Hence in the last verse (Psalm 81 :8 ) Psalmist says, ''rise up O God to Judge the ''earth''.
He did not specifiy some rulers or some parts of earth, or some nations. He said,
'judge the earth' . Means judge whole earth,all men.
God will judge all men ( rulers ).
Lets read from Genesis and understand how man is a ''ruler'':
'' Genesis 1:26 Lets us make man in our image,in our likeness and let him rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock,over all the earth and over all the creatures that move along the ground.''
In this Scripture we can see God saying , ''let him rule....'' meaning, He made man basically to rule.. a ruler.
6. ''for all nations'' = all men in all nations , or all ''gods'
7. ''are your inheritance'' = they are yours, made by you , made in your image, and they belong to you, they are your inheritance.
'' Genesis 1:26 Lets us make man in our image,in our likeness and let him rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock,over all the earth and over all the creatures that move along the ground.''
In this Scripture we can see God saying , ''let him rule....'' meaning, He made man basically to rule.. a ruler.
6. ''for all nations'' = all men in all nations , or all ''gods'
7. ''are your inheritance'' = they are yours, made by you , made in your image, and they belong to you, they are your inheritance.
RECONCILIATION :
From our meditation we now understand the following :
''gods'' are detached beings from ''God'', and sons are detached from Father.(Needless to say, the detachment, is nothing but sin.)
''gods'' are only photocopies of God as they are made in God's likeness ( i.e, Trinity : Father, Son, Spirit)
''sons '' are photo copies of Father as they inherit the features of the one who made them.
Someone in the likeness of 'gods' must fulfill the requirements of God in order to reconcile that which detached gods.
Someone in the likeness of 'sons' must fulfill the requirements of Father in order reconcile the detached sons.
And only a God can reconcile gods to God - and only a Son can reconcile sons to the Father.
Therefore God sent His own Son, to reconcile sons(gods) to God, the Father, through Son.
''Romans 8:14 .. because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. ''
( in the above,notice the capital letter in the term Spirit, this implies God's Spirit, not ours )
Jesus, came as Son of God, became 'sin' , and paid the total price and filled the gap of detachment and thereby reconciled us to God the Father.
''gods'' are detached beings from ''God'', and sons are detached from Father.(Needless to say, the detachment, is nothing but sin.)
''gods'' are only photocopies of God as they are made in God's likeness ( i.e, Trinity : Father, Son, Spirit)
''sons '' are photo copies of Father as they inherit the features of the one who made them.
Someone in the likeness of 'gods' must fulfill the requirements of God in order to reconcile that which detached gods.
Someone in the likeness of 'sons' must fulfill the requirements of Father in order reconcile the detached sons.
And only a God can reconcile gods to God - and only a Son can reconcile sons to the Father.
Therefore God sent His own Son, to reconcile sons(gods) to God, the Father, through Son.
''Romans 8:14 .. because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. ''
( in the above,notice the capital letter in the term Spirit, this implies God's Spirit, not ours )
Jesus, came as Son of God, became 'sin' , and paid the total price and filled the gap of detachment and thereby reconciled us to God the Father.
And through Jesus, we are led by the Spirit of God, and hence we are now called the sons of God.
'' Romans 5: 11 we also rejoice in God through our Lord JesusChrist , through whom we have now received reconciliation. ''
Through Son's Spirit, we received the Spirit of Sonship.
''Romans 8:15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. ''
''Romans 8:16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.''
Notice the difference in the terms 'Spirit' and 'spirit.' ( 'S' is for God's Spirit, 's' is for our spirits)
Through Jesus, the Son, God gave us His Spirit, that is the Spirit of sonship,so that our spirits can be reconciled to Him and we know that we are sons of God.
''Romans 8:15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. ''
''Romans 8:16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.''
Notice the difference in the terms 'Spirit' and 'spirit.' ( 'S' is for God's Spirit, 's' is for our spirits)
Through Jesus, the Son, God gave us His Spirit, that is the Spirit of sonship,so that our spirits can be reconciled to Him and we know that we are sons of God.
Prayer :
Father in heaven, it is only by your Son, we can be reconciled to you, Lord, help us to abide by Your Son and honor Him with all our hearts, souls and minds.
For we are nothing without him.
To Jesus, God's only Son, be Praise, Honor and Glory forever and ever, Amen.
To Jesus, God's only Son, be Praise, Honor and Glory forever and ever, Amen.
God Bless You.
