by Timothy W. Burnett
During the past couple of weeks we found that the standing relationship between Jesus Christ and God was and still is that of Father and son. We also learned that during this age of the grace of God, it is available for God�s saints to become children of God in the name of Jesus Christ. In fact, we even learn from Romans 8:29, that Jesus Christ is counted as the first born among many brethren. God�s children can consider Jesus Christ to be a brother with a mutual Father who is God in heaven.
Here�s more information to add to our understanding, �And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly� (1Corinthians 15:49). The context of the chapter shows that the word earthy refers to Adam, and the heavenly refers to Jesus Christ who is alive and in heaven right now. Verses 51-54 provides more information about it. Just as we were born with earthy bodies that ultimately die because of the sin nature passed down from Adam, so also will we who are God�s children be changed into new heavenly bodies like Jesus Christ.
God�s children did nothing to deserve this special treatment. It was because of God�s love through our Lord Jesus Christ! That�s right�God�s love, not ours. Check out 1John 3:1-2, �Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God. Therefore the world knows us not, because it knew Him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be. But we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him. For we shall see him as he is.�
We do not yet know exactly what God�s children will individually look like, but we do know from God�s word that when Jesus Christ appears, they will be made like him, and will see him as he fully is. That will be a glorious day for many!
The King James Bible editors added the capital �H� for the pronouns He and Him largely because they believed that Jesus Christ was in essence God in heaven, giving Jesus a position of Deity.
If we logically applied the Trinitarian doctrine to the above scripture, it might read as follows, �We know that when God shall appear, we shall be like God. For we shall see God as God is.� This reasoning is in fact held by certain churches.
Praise God in heaven for giving His rightly divided word in Genesis 3:1-5 where the serpent deceived the woman with the following words recorded in verse 5, �For God does know that in the day you eat thereof then your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.� The words �as gods� are more accurately translated �as God.� The serpent spoke the opposite of the truth from God.
With this in mind, we know the pronouns �he� and �him� must refer only to our Lord Jesus Christ. If the serpent had to tell the woman that disobeying God would result in being like God, then it stands to reason that God would not have said, in John�s letter to the believers, that His children would be like Him.
To avoid any confusion, we have God�s word in Philippians 3:21, �Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.� Once again, the King James Bible editors capitalized the pronouns. The true understanding of who the pronouns refer to can be seen in verse 20, �For our conversation [citizenship] is in heaven, from whence also we look for the savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.�
There�s no if�ands�or buts about it. By rightly dividing God�s word we know that God�s children will not be like God in heaven, but will be given bodies like our Lord Jesus Christ. A study of the Gospel records after Jesus� resurrection give some hints as to what God�s children will be like.
It will be a fantastically glorious day when Christ Jesus comes to gather the body in the clouds as recorded in 1Thessalonians 4:13-17!
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