[cuban leaf]

from my childhood this phrase has been used as the goal of a Christian life.

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Must have been Mormon, not Christian.

It is not the teaching of Christianity - to become God.

[tflabo]

Sometimes the flesh and ungodly behaviors come out of the mind, heart and mouth. This is the reason we need a Savior Jesus because flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom. Those who refuse Jesus salvation are just proud and deluded. Although we live righteous at times our salvation is not based on that.

[NTHockey]

Who is this guy? Is he a priest like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson are Reverend?

The premise of man becoming God is false. Christians hope that they are worthy to attain Heaven; NOT to become God.

[cuban leaf]

Let’s be frank: If a space alien or any of us today went back to ancient times (heck, even a hundred years ago) with a few samples of modern technology in functional form, we’d be seen as gods.

That’s not really the point of Christianity, though. It’s about “eternity”, which is something other than our current physical realm and more “real”. It’s why I very much like the example of “The Matrix” to describe this world that is made of coagulated energy and is, in essence, made from nothing.

One of the most revealing sentences in the bible is, of course uttered by Jesus. His twist of tense is interesting:

“Before Abraham was, I am.”

[CynicalBear]

>>we become “by grace” what God is “by nature.”<<

No, we do not. It's still God through us. Why does Catholicism always want man to get some of the credit?

[JesusIsLord]

The scripture tells us that there is something called "righteous judgment." - John 7:24. The Apostle Paul said, "he that is spiritual judges all things" - I Cor 2:15 . We all make judgments about people every day. In the gospels, we see Jesus offending certain religious and hypocritical people by judging them. The Lord sees the intention of our heart when we judge others. He knows if we are of the right Spirit when we judge.

Interestingly, when you say, "It has been my experience that those who judge others are almost always inwardly condemning themselves", you are judging those who judge.

[j.argese]

Problems with Heaven
1. Are you awake all the time or is there time set aside for sleep?
2. I'm sure there's an "A-list". There will be the peasantry and red velvet ropes.
3. There will be guys who let their girlfriends climb onto their shoulders to "get a better look".
4. Will you have to acknowledge everybody you knew?

[ravenwolf]

I doubt if very many of us will have to worry about it.

[af_vet_1981]

But within the New Testament and in the long history of Christian teaching, there is a perfectly acceptable use of the phrase. In 2 Peter we read:

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (2Pe 1:2-4 NKJ)

This is synonymous with concepts such as being “transformed” into the image of Christ (Ro. 8:29; 2Cor 3:18). But the right understanding of this “divinization” is not a transformation into a pagan deity, nor a rivaling of the One God. Indeed, the Fathers, with later theological precision, are careful to say that we become “by grace” what God is “by nature.”

But it is utterly essential to the Christian telling of the gospel, that our salvation should be understood in terms of transformation, of an inner metamorphosis towards the image of Christ. Salvation is not a mere change in location (going to heaven).

Excellent observations and in conformity with many other passages of scripture, including:

Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.
John, Catholic chapter seventeen, Protestant verses twenty to twenty six, as authorized by King James

[StormPrepper]

There is a context issue. It’s not “become God”, it’s “become a god.”

Little “g”. It matters.

“a god” as in a perfect person with all power that “God” gives to those He exalts.

God the Father will always be God the Father. His greatest reward is to raise up His children to be like Him.

Romans 8:17

And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Joint-heirs with Christ, glorified together with Christ.