“For the LORD (YHVH) is a great God, and a great King above ALL gods (and kings)”
Psalms 95:3; 135:2-5: 136:2; 1 Tim 6:15,16 KJV
“…He called them ‘gods’ (the congregation of the House of Jacob) TO WHOM THE WORD (Instruction/’Torah’) OF GOD CAME, and the Scripture CANNOT BE BROKEN” (Ps 68:26; 74:2; 82:1,6; 135:1-6; Lk 1:33; Jn 10:35; Acts 7:38)
The Word confirms that we are “gods” called to YHVH’s own glory, purity and excellence (virtue) (2 Peter 1:3), to sanctify the Universe with our HOLINESS (Rom 8:4,18-22; 1 Peter 1:13-17; Heb 12:14,28,29) as He sanctifies our temples of His Spirit, with His GLORY, according to the pattern (Ex 29:43).
Firstly, “A great God” in Ps 95:3 should read “THE Great God…” (the Unity & Oneness of YHVH’s Supreme Sovereignty is definitely implied by the translators, but is obscured by that grammatical slip) because as we well know, there simply is no other God (only lifeless counterfeits in abundance) (Deut 6:4,5; 4:39; Is 44:6-8,24; 45:21-23; 46:9; Mk 12:28-34).
Secondly, the PRINCIPLE that human beings can actually BE “gods” (always lower case, of course) is FORMALLY established by inference from Jn 10:35/Ps 82:1,2,6, fixing its origin to the founding of Israel as a nation at Sinai, where mankind (through Israel, YHVH’s light to the nations, as proxy) first heard the Ten Pronouncements (‘commandments’) of YHVH to which His awestruck elect nation instantly consented, with “ALL that the LORD hath spoken we WILL DO, and be obedient,” believing that all who would be joined to Israel in future, would likewise “enter into the covenant…and into the oath,” to do the same, in order to be established as His special treasure (Ex 19:5-8; 24:7,8; Deut 28:1,2,9; 29:12-15; Is 14:1; Rom 3:31; 1 Peter 2:9,10).
Our first duty as “gods,” as “children of the Most High” (Ps 82:1,6), once we’ve been baptized into the adoption of sons, is to keep FOURTEEN requirements: all Ten Commandments (which include the Gen 2:2,3/Matt 12:8/Heb 4:1-11 seventh day Shabbat as the first of “the first principles of the Oracles of YHVH” – Heb 5:12) plus the four Levitical regulations in Acts 15:20, derived from the marriage covenant. These are the nucleus of the yoke of Messiah (Matt 11:29,30; 28:20; Rom 3:31).
God unites us to Him by teaching us how to act according to His will, in order to cleave to Him – which becomes in turn, “our life and the length of our days” (Deut 30:10,11,20; 32:47; 2 Jn vs 5&6).
He united the foundational Ten Commandments as ONE, to shine like sapphire (Ex 34:27,28,32; Is 54:11). Those who divide them will see no light. James, speaking about the REDEEMED, makes this point in James 2:8-10, in connection with the six Words of the Royal Law (do to others as you’d be done by – Matt 22:39). The same applies to the first four Words (Matt 22:37,38). All Ten, the pillars of righteous civilization, are indispensable, to live acceptably to partake of the Father’s holiness (Heb 5:9; 12:1-4,8-14,28).
The House of Jacob’s description by the God of the Hebrews as “gods” would remain (just as the name of Jacob would remain the identity of the church forever – Gen 28:14; Ps 59:13; Is 29:22-24; 66:22; Lk 1:33; Rev 21:12) in anticipation of Israel’s corporate salvation (Rom 11:23-29), as an ASPIRATIONAL title (currently honoured more in breach than in observance), notwithstanding the fact that “walking after the flesh” (which became Israel’s default mode – Rom 8:12-14; 10:1-3) was NEVER acceptable to God.
If it were, and if there were no Spirit amongst them, Stephen would not have been stoned eviscerating his fellow Israelites for “ALWAYS resisting the Holy Spirit, AS YOUR FATHERS DID” (Acts 7:51-53) ; and Jesus would not have levelled His sweeping indictment in Jn 7:19 (which confirms Stephen’s later charge in verse 53), that “NONE of you keeps the law” (Jn 7:19).
Dismissing and voiding the good laws of God is never good! (Is 29:13; Mk 7:6,7,13; Rom 3:31; 7:7,12-16,22,25).
We err greatly if we imagine the Holy Spirit played a negligible rôle (or none at all), in the Exodus (Is 63:11-14), and if we assume it was not possible for an individual to have a circumcised ear and heart (Deut 10:16,17; Is 50:4,5; Jer 6:10).
Since being “under the law” means to be convicted by YHVH Himself for transgression of His holy laws (as ALL Israel was in Jesus’ day – Jn 7:19), it has ALWAYS been possible to be faithful “under grace,” by leaning not upon one’s own understanding and strength, but by resting in the Spirit, supernaturally obtain quickening power to overcome the power of sin AND discern WHAT Word to apply in ANY circumstance.
This ‘savoir-faire’ (knowing the right thing to do at the right time), has always been within grasp of pious men and women.
It’s the prize for a ‘tutored soul’ – a soul molded by obedience to righteousness to be “crucified to the world” (Gal 6:14). It’s what it means to live in the Spirit and walk in the Spirit, led by the Spirit (Rom 8:4,14; Gal 5:24,25).
There was ALWAYS a remnant which reflected the righteousness of God which is by faith, as a foil to those who did NOT mix the Word with faith, but who followed after righteousness TO merit BEING UPRIGHT (Heb 3&4).
Caleb & Joshua (along with Moses himself), were the outstanding examples of Spirit-led forerunners to New Covenant freedom in the Spirit to do right without UNNECESSARY strain – though entering into that blessed state of rest would always require holy labour (2 Cor 5:9-11; 2 Tim 2:5).
There was no bondage to the flesh in Moses’ and Caleb’s believing and doing.
The generation that perished in the wilderness for “contemning” (having contempt for and defaming) YHVH “these TEN times” (Nu 14), is testimony that Moses, Aaron, Caleb and Joshua and the surviving, like-minded remnant that eventually crossed the Jordan, were indeed “gods.”
The New Covenant has radically increased the power to overcome sin, and our comfort by the Spirit, in the process, through our washing of regeneration and renewal of the Spirit (Titus 3:4,5) through baptism into Jesus’ death and resurrection to “this new life,” through which we are enabled by the indwelling Spirit to draw on the fullness of the better promise that “sin has been condemned in the flesh” (Rom 8:3) so that “the righteousness of the laws of life which comprise the Way of YHVH (the paths of righteousness, precept by precept), may be fulfilled in us,” as the sanctifying work of the Spirit (Is 28:9-13; Rom 2:13,26; 3:20,31; 7:7,12-16,22,25; 8:4,14).
Calling the church of Israel (Acts 7:38) “gods” was intended to magnify God’s Instruction ABOVE EVEN HIS NAME (Ps 138:1,2; Is 42:21; Matt 5:19; Rom 3:31) AND highlight the vital rôle of a well-exercised human conscience in attaining His purity (Heb 5:11-14;;1 Jn 3:3,4), by setting the bar of holiness where it ought to be for spiritual offspring of the Godhead (Acts 17:29) so that there would always be an objective measure of obedience, as the basis of just judgment of motive, speech and actions.
We’ll see below how God uses “gods” as the benchmark for evaluation of Israel’s spiritual condition.
In other words, only a hypocrite with a seared conscience would not feel uncomfortable being called a “god.”
YHVH does not make PERFECTION a CONDITION to be known as “gods” (Eph 4:11-14; Col 1:28,29; 2 Tim 4:17).
Just as He calls us righteous (2 Cor 5:21) expecting us to “learn righteousness” to BE righteous (Is 26:9,10; 28:9-13; 51:1-7); so He calls us “gods” in expectation of our providing justification for bearing His Name and bearing that title.
it’s also important to bear in mind that while YHVH treats every saved individual as a “god” (subject to our living up to that honour in all truth and righteousness, failing which we’ll die compromised “as mere men” as CANCELLED “children of the Most High” – Ps 82:1,2,6,7), this is NOT SO with FRIENDSHIP with God, which is awarded highly selectively by Divine Prerogative ONLY AFTER the most rigorous proving of one’s consecration and integrity (Gen 22; Heb 11:8-19; Jn 15:3-15; James 2:17-24)
The God of HEBREW MONO-THEISM (i.e. of the “one faith” of the one and “the same body,” namely, the ekklesia/kahal YHVH/church of YHVH/ “congregations” of “Abram the Hebrew,” now reckoned “in Isaac” “from the fountain of Jacob”), is the only LIVING Deity (Gen 14:13; 28:14; Ps 68:26; 74:2; Lk 1:33; Acts 7:38; Rom 9:7b; Gal 3:29; Eph 2:11,12,15,19; 3:6,14,15; 4:5,6).
Which means that eternal life is nothing less than the OFFER to all the redeemed, of HEBREW ETERNITY (i.e. “sleeping” in Christ, the Seed of “Abram the Hebrew” – Gen 14:13; Gal 3:16, then resurrected to partake of the promise to Israel of rulership of the Universe), because we’re all saved by adoption (through baptism into Jesus as King of Jacob – Is 41:21,27; Lk 1:32,33) into the eternal House of Jacob (Ps 59:13; Is 14:1; 45:4; 54:3; Lk 1:33; Rom 11), the household of YHVH (Eph 2:11,12,19), to be heirs of the world with Israel, by grace, through the righteousness which is of faith (Rom 4:13,16; Rev 21:12).
This one, universal (common, ‘catholic’) (Titus 1:4; Jude vs 3) HEBRAIC faith which came out of Zion from the Jews for the “everlasting salvation” of Israel and the nations (consummated in the mystery of the Lamb slain before Creation), was Moses’ foundation message from YHVH to Pharaoh in Ex 3:13-18; Is 45:17-25, to extend grace to turn him and his people from idolatry.
Because of the deceitfulness of the heart, only a certain number of enlightened Egyptians called a “mixed multitude,” grabbed the opportunity to join themselves to the victorious God of Israel on Exodus 12:38.
That’s the Passover pattern, the forerunner for OUR “sprinkling,” surnaming by the God of Jacob, and ingrafting (by adoption) into the natural Hebrew olive tree (Israel’s covenants and commonwealth – Rom 9:4,5; 11:17-29) as co-heirs of the House of Jacob, to learn “the Way,” for the maturing to perfection of our souls, by obedience to character-forming precepts (1 Peter 1:22) to be “AS our Master” (Is 14:1; 49:5-8; 54:3; Lk 6:40; 20:21; Acts 24:14; Rom 11; Col 1:28,29; 1 Peter 1:2b; 1 Jn 3:3-7).
Mercy and compassion were the reason YHVH devised the destruction of idolatrous Egypt’s ten predominant “gods” (Ex 12:12-14).
He could have extricated Israel with far less Testimony about Himself, had He chosen to do so.
One day Egypt, too, will keep the genuine seventh day (Friday sunset to Sat sunset) Sabbath of the Fourth Commandment, the “sign” of sanctification (Gen 2:2,3; Ex 20:8-11; 31:13,16; Deut 5:15; Is 56:6; 58:13,14; 66:22-24; Mk 2:27,28; Heb 4:1-11), to prove that they’ve fully learnt the prophetic lesson of Passover and the Exodus to become believers in “the Messiah our Passover” (Is 19:24,25; 1 Cor 5:7,8) through the revelation knowledge, that “preservation in Christ” (from the penalties, shame and guilt of sin; and from the power of sin – Matt 1:21; Rom 8:3), is possible only by “sanctification by the Father” through our justification through reconciliation with the Father through the Sacrifice of Christ, the ONLY Hope for us ALL, of glory (Rom 5:8-11; 2 Cor 5:19,21; Col 2:26-29; Jude vs 1-3).
Let’s drill down now, into the question of the identity of “gods” in different contexts.
Ps 95:3 is a GENERAL STATEMENT branching into two (maybe thee) classifications of “gods,” namely,
- faithful true believers, as heirs of “the God of the whole earth” (Ps 82:1,2; 138:1,2; Jn 10:35; 14:15; Rom 8:17); and
- the pseudo-gods or fetishes (idols) of world idolatry (Ps 86:8,9; 97:7,9).
Possibly also,
- fallen angels (who were also “sons of God” – Job 1:6) AND the hybrid creatures (giants) caused before the Flood by angels fornicating with “the daughters of men,” gross abomination to YHVH (Gen 6:2,4-7).
The two MAIN classifications are reflected by the following two texts:
“[A Psalm of Asaph.] GOD STANDETH in the CONGREGATION of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.”
Psalms 82:1, KJV
AND
“For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared ABOVE ALL gods. For all the gods of THE NATIONS are IDOLS: but the LORD made the heavens.”
Psalms 96:4-5, KJV
The second sentence in the latter text confirms its context as idolatry.
The first text clearly refers to believers (Ps 82:1,6; Jn 10:35), the first indication that it was the Passover salvation-rescue that led to the redeemed from Goshen (and fleeing Egyptians) being credited as “gods,” as “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” at Sinai when in good faith, YHVH CONSTITUTED the nation of Israel by receiving the refugee Exodus congregation of the House of Jacob there (Ex 15:13-16; Ps 68:26; 74:2) as His bride-designate, on the strength of their UNANIMOUS ACCEPTANCE of His marriage covenant of Ten Words “given in commandment” (acceptance on OUR behalf too – Deut 29:12-15), with accompanying Instruction (Ex 19:5-8; 24:7,8; 34:27,29,32; Deut 4:10,13,14).
Although the imputing of “gods” to men is strongly associated with the fulfilment of God’s prophecy to Abraham about the release of Israel from captivity (Gen 15:13-16; Ex 12:40-42), It seems that the epithet, “god/s,” is synonomous in EVERY generation (beginning with Seth and Enos, when men “began to call on the Name of the LORD” – Gen 4:25,26, through Enoch and Noah to Abraham, Isaac & Jacob, Moses, David etc), with anyone redeemed as “an heir of the righteousness which is by faith” (e.g. Heb 11:7); AND, having received the Word of the LORD (as in “unto whom the Word of YHVH came” – Jn 10:35), whose lives (“conversation”) would in the end prove to have been conscientiously consecrated and conducted acceptably, to be an offering acceptable to YHVH (Rom 15:16-18; Heb 12:14,28,29).
Which means, lives lived honourably as “children of the Most High” (Ps 82:6), in righteousness and true holiness (Ps 50:5,23; 15; 24; 106:3; Acts 10:35), to receive the crown of life through their willingness and obedience to submit to the process of sanctification (separation) from “friendship with the world,” to be sure to die “the death of the righteous,” in the Last Adam, like Jacob (Nu 23:9), to be reckoned worthy to enter the everlasting Kingdom like the fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Gen 18:18,19; 26:5; Matt 8:11,12; Lk 20:35; James 4; 2 Peter 1:1-11; 1 Jn 2:17,28,29; 3:7; Rev 18:4,5).
So this is a wonderful topic, bearing in mind our Father really does WANT to magnify us (Job 7:17,18; Ps 8:4-6), though on HIS terms, of course.
So it’s excellent for straightening out overall doctrine.
To begin with, it serves to humble us by the reminder that creation of distinctions (Jn 3:27; 1 Cor 4:7; 15:10) and assignment of talents, conferment of purpose (in predestination – Eph 1:11), orders (callings – Eph 4:1), set apart work (Mk 13:34), honours (titles, designations, epithets) and the award and distribution of rewards, is forever a matter of DIVINE PREROGATIVE.
We vainly take honour for ourselves by “the arm of the flesh” at our peril, given that pride AND the conceit and arrogance of presumption are deadly sins (Ps 19:13).
John 15; Phil 2:6,7 & James 2 clearly show us that Y’shua-Jesus’ essential EQUALITY with God (“I and the Father are One”) which He did not consider “ROBBERY of God” (because their DIVINITY is a Unique Uniplural Parity, with the Holy Spirit), cannot be used as a pretext for a PRIVATE claim, that we are God’s FRIENDS.
Proof of having counted the cost of carrying one’s own cross (Lk 14:27-35 ; Heb 12), the willingness to be a ‘living martyr’ by being obedient to YHVH’s will, is the LEAST condition for attaining that state of grace (Matt 6:9,10; 12:50; Lk 17:10; Jn 12:47-50).
Otherwise, we are guilty of FAMILIARITY, which is a vile ASSUMPTION OF INTIMACY which is a sure sign of the absence of appropriate honour and awe (reverence and Godly Fear of God) of the Creator-Ruler of the Universe and Saviour of the World (Is 8:13,14,16,20; Mal 1:6; Rev 14:6,7,12).
We find proof of Abraham’s devotion to the Fear of God (Ps 119:38) through submission to His Voice and His ways, TWICE CONFIRMED in Gen 22 , to which James 2:23,24 refers.
“…for NOW I KNOW…because thou hast done this thing, not witholding thy son…” said the Angel of YHVH about Abraham’s trustworthiness to carry out a command (Gen 22:12,16).
That should help us as “gods,” read Ps 138:1,2 with fresh insight.
Abraham did EXACTLY what it says.
In Abraham being willing to sacrifice Isaac (suppressing his paternal compassion to do his Father’s will), and in Isaac’s willingness to BE the sacrifice (equally astounding acts of devotion to God, by both father and son), Abraham magnified God’s command (Word) above even His Name, and passed the Mt Moriah test with flying colours!
How many of US have listened FOR the will AND yielded TO the righteous demands (“if ye do WHATSOEVER I command you”) of our Father, often for NECESSARILY extreme testing (1 Peter 1:2-9; 4:12-18), even like silver refined seven times in a clay oven, to prove worthy of the ultimate commendation, “friend” (Jn 15:14,15; James 2:23), because not all “gods” will attain that acknowledgement.
Very few of us would credit an instruction such as that given to Abraham to sacrifice his son of promise in Gen 22:1,2, as the Voice of YHVH.
As is true of so much in Scripture, NOTHING we’re allowed to partake of during our probation (Phil 2:12,13; 3:10-18; Heb 12) is to be taken for granted.
EVERYTHING pertaining to salvation into the Kingdom of light, must be “confirmed TO the end,” if we are to have “full assurance of hope, to the end” in order to “lay hold ON eternal life.”
Our sanctification is twofold:
- We’re saved from our sins through repentance and justification by faith through sanctification by the Blood of sprinkling and baptism;
- To overcome the POWER OF SIN through our sanctification by obedience to the Spirit (Acts 5:32; Rom 15:16-18; Eph 4:23;24,30; 1 Thess 5:23; 1 Peter 1:2b), to show evidence (fruit worthy) of the sincerity of our repentance (Acts 26:18,20).
Heb 6:11 assures us that that will require “the same diligence” as others who have taken Jesus seriously as our impeccable Rôle Model (Prov 23:17,18; 24:13,14; 1 Cor 1:8; 1 Tim 6:11-14; Heb 6:1-11; 1 Jn 2:3-6,17).
When we acknowledge the finished work of Reconciliation to the Father through the Atonement of YHVH-Immanu El as Y’shua the Word made flesh (2 Cor 5:19,21), we “all receive of His FULLNESS” (His righteousness, purity, innocence, the Character traits of His Divine Nature, the rights and obligations of heirs AND the title and stature of “gods,” as “children of the Most High”) as the IMMEDIATE benefit of being justified by faith through the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
From that moment on, our lives become a DEFENCE OF OUR REBORN INNOCENCE.
By learning righteousness to “deny (say no to) unGodliness” we have to PROTECT the PURITY which Jesus ascribed to us through our sanctification by His Blood, when we first believed the Word of faith, the grace that brings salvation (Jn 15:3; Rom 10:8-13; Titus 2:11,12).
The sincerity of our salvation is tested by EVERY choice we make, once becoming heirs of the righteousness of God, by faith.
Sin will “find us out.”
Being a “god” means living up to the Holiness of the “God of gods,” by which we demonstrate whether we’re willing to sanctify (‘hallow’) His Name on the narrow path of transfiguration of our souls from glory to glory to be conformed to His Image (Matt 7:13-27; Rom 8:29; 2 Cor 3:18), by doing His will on earth, as it is done in heaven, to work out our own salvation in fear and trembling (in love AND reverential and Godly Fear) to be accounted worthy to be included in the holy and spotless bride (Matt 6:9,10; Lk 17:10; 20:35; Phil 2:12,13; Heb 12:14,28)
The obedient “jewels” (of holiness) (Ex 19:5-8; Is 35:8; Mal 3:16-18; Heb 12:14,28; 1 Peter 1:2,13-17; 2:9,10) who served God “acceptably,” to “remain” in Christ to STILL BE “gods” in the end, will be welcomed to enter “the Everlasting Kingdom” because they’ll be RECOGNIZED AS PURE, by having been fully conformed to the Image of God by allowing Him to form Himself in us (Rom 8:29; Gal 4:19; 2 Peter 1:1-11).
They will be those who will have obeyed the Holy Spirit to the end, to be “the blessed and holy” worthy to be given “fine linen clean and white” to wear with holy and spotless Y’shua (Acts 5:32; 10:35; Rom 8:4,14; Eph 4:11-14,23,24,30; Heb 5:9; Rev 3:1-6; 19:7-9; 20:6).
We are Israel’s inheritance in Messiah (Is 14:1; 54:3; 49:5-8; 55:1-5; Lk 1:33; Rom 11).
We’ve joined THEIR remnant, not them, our’s.
That’s what Gabriel prophesied to Mary, to confirm dozens of Old Testament texts (Is 49:5-8; 56:6-8/Jn 10:16; Lk 1:32,33).
Bear in mind we are heirs of YHVH Himself, not just joint-heirs with Jesus as Messiah (Rom 8:17)
So it’s easier to understand why, as bona fide sons of God (1 Jn 3:1,2,3-7), we should we called “gods” provided we are wholeheartedly applying ourselves to walk in truth & righteousness and “true holiness,” NOT GRIEVING THE SPIRIT (Acts 5:32; Eph 4:23,24,30).
The LORD uses different labels and epithets for Israel in history, as well as for us all as co-heirs of and with Israel today, to describe us at different stages of our sanctification of spirit, soul and body (1 Thess 5:23), to show His pleasure or disappointment at our commitment and progress, or lack thereof.
“Yeshurun” (a description of ideal Israel – when noble and true, merciful and just) in Deut 32:15 & 33:5,26, and “gods,” are examples.
Deut 32:15 laments their failure to clear the bar of purification; while Deut 33:5,26 applauds the fine achievement which lies ahead, when Zion, refined like silver and gold, rises to chief of nations in their Land (Is 46:13; Jer 31:7,10,17,31-36; Haggai 2 :7,9; Micah 4:1-8; 7:8-20; Lk 2:32) and Y’shua will not only not be ashamed to call them brothers (Heb 2:11; 1 Jn 2:28,29), but as one of His many crowns, will joyfully and triumphantly wear the crown of “King in Yeshurun” as Head of the House of Jacob, forever (Is 44:1-8; Rev 19:12)
In Ps 86:2, He is warning Israel their backsliddenness is jeopardizing their use of “gods” as a compliment.
In disobedience, they self-congratulate themselves to their shame, a pitfall which we too need to avoid (1 Cor 15:34).
They will “die as MERE MEN (i.e. NOT “the death of the righteous”), if their error and unbelief and injustice persist (Ps 82:2,3; Heb 2:1-3; 10:26-39).
“For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons (no respecter of persons/impartial in judgment/consistent in chastising and scourging), nor taketh reward:”
Deuteronomy 10:17; Heb 12 KJV
“The LORD God of gods, the LORD God of gods, he knoweth, and Israel he shall know; if it be in REBELLION, or if in TRANSGRESSION against the LORD, (save us not this day,)”
Joshua 22:22, KJV
The great lesson in all of this is that everyone saved by grace into the PROMISE of salvation (it has to be “worked out” in word and deed with real understanding, through sanctification by the Spirit, hence “in fear and trembling” – Rom 15:16-18; Phil 2:12,13; 2 Thess 2:13), is a soul under reconstruction in the image of the Highest, El Elyon, to perfectly reflect His Character and Way of life.
The “But” in Ps 82:7 (implied in Is 41:23’s “Yea, do GOOD…”), reinforces the fact that being called a “god” is CONDITIONAL.
We’re all on what Judaism insightfully calls ‘a mission of sanctity,’ to sanctify the Creation which is groaning in bondage to decay, under the curse of defilement by the sin, transgression and iniquity of mankind (Is 24:3-6; Rom 8:4,14,18-22; Rev 11:18b).
It is appointed to “gods,” namely, true worshippers in Spirit and in Truth, to find and confine ourselves to the narrow path (Ps 119:1,45), to be undefiled by walking in the light, to ‘repair the world,’ to improve the Universe (‘tikkun ha olam’ in Hebrew), because it is only PROVEN righteousness as fruit worthy of repentance (Acts 26:18,20; 1 Jn 3:3-7) that will result in “the God of gods” sending His Spirit to “renew the face of the earth” (Ps 104:30).
So we have much to live up to, as “gods” “called to glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:3-11) by being called in YHVH’s Name as those “created for YHVH’s glory, formed and made by Him” to inherit and curate the Universe amongst Israel’s remnant, as THEIR inheritance (Is 54:3; Rom 11).
No greater purpose and plan; no more noble theme and endeavour, has ever existed.
But none of it can be lastingly achieved without us being occupied with and deeply engaged in the transfiguration of our souls (minds, wills, emotions) from glory, to glory (Lk 21:19; 2 Cor 3:18), by each of us “putting on the new man (“learning Christ,” to imitate the perfected Last Adam) which is renewed in knowledge after the image of YHVH (Heb 11:1-3) Who created Him” (Eph 4:23,24; Col 3:10).
If more of us would see ourselves as “gods,” fully comprehending what that means in PRACTICE, both as an honour and as a comprehensive set of duties as true sons (Lk 17:10; Heb 12) there can be little doubt that the redemption of mankind and thereby, the Creation we’re part of, would be more speedily accomplished, with far less collateral damage along the way due to poor judgment through lack of exercise of the advanced meat of the Word (Heb 5:11-14).
Godly character (acquired by trials of obedience to righteousness – Rom 6:12-22; 1 Peter 1:2-9) is the criterion for the integrity by which our holiness is being tested, moment by moment (Job 7:18b; 22:21-30; Heb 5:9; 12:14).
To conclude, wrap your mind around the moral of the fascinating account of the healing of the paralytic in Matt 9:1-8, of whom Jesus said: “Which is EASIER to SAY: ‘Thy sins be forgiven thee,’ or, ‘Arise and walk (i.e. be made whole)?’ “
He continued with, “But that thee (the condemnatory scribes) may know that the Son of Man hath POWER on earth TO FORGIVE SINS… ‘Arise, take up thy bed and go unto thine house'”
Even though salvation from our sins is itself a miracle of conviction by the Spirit, and therefore, forgiveness of a repentant heart is RELATIVELY EASY, it is a far greater, time-consuming miracle of transformation (through step by step parting of the veil and redemption from the POWER OF SIN) for the Spirit of Truth and Holiness to renew the spirit of one’s MIND to all the counsel of God (Acts 20:25-32; Col 4:12), to purge, purify and SANCTIFY a professing believer in the WAYS of YHVH, to make their souls a mirror of the Divine Nature, to bring them to final redemption of their bodies (Jn 5:24,28,29; 17:17,19; Rom 8:4,14,29; 1 Thess 4:1-3a; 5:23; 2 Thess 2:13-15).
THAT is the great test of a “god” – ‘saying no to Ungodliness’ (Titus 2:12), and “adorning God’s doctrine” with good works (2 Tim 3:10; 4:3-8; Titus 2:10) consistent with our call to a sanctified, sacrificial life of well-doing (e.g. Matt 5-7).
Righteous works (commandments, ordinances, Biblical traditions) ultimately decide both eternal status and rewards, because once saved, faith without works is dead because we are called to “WORK RIGHTEOUSNESS” (“follow after righteousness” to BE righteous), not just PROFESS it (Acts 10:35; Rom 2:6-13; 8:3,4; 1 Cor 7:19; 11:1,2; Eph 2:10; 2 Thess 2:13-15; 1 Tim 6:11-14; Titus 2:11-14; James 1:22-25; 2:8-26; 1 Jn 3:7).
We are to imitate our Father’s works, to walk circumspectly as His Son did, being made perfect by the love command, to be perfect as He is in heaven (Matt 5:19,48; 12:50; Mk 12:28-34; Eph 5:1,10,15-17; 1 Jn 4:17).
The Gospel and the New Covenant it represents is actually the Reformation of the fall of man through restoration of our original innocence (Jn 15:3), in preparation to own and be worthy of being stewards of a Universe greater and far more glorious than the one that first existed when the earth was young (Jn 15:3).
The Gospel is the Glad Tidings “to the Jew first” (the first to be regarded as “gods”) that YHVH has made a way where there seemed to be no way, to restore the Image of God to man (Gen 1:26), as proof of preparation of our souls for eternity by being “chaste virgins” by striving for masteries of “the Way,” which will be the fulfilment of His promise to redeem “fallen virgin Israel,” and make them a commonwealth of nations.
That’s why CHRISTLIKENESS, meaning “gods” reflecting the marked traits of the Goodness of the “God of gods,” is the goal (telos) of Instruction in righteousness (Gen 35:9-15; Amos 5:2,4; 9:11-15; Lk 1:33; 20:21; Acts 24:14; Rom 8:29; 2 Cor 5:9-11; 11:1,2; Eph 2:11,12; 2 Tim 2:5; 3:14-17).
So there’s a lot more to “gods” than meets the eye.
“Among the gods there is none like unto Thee, O LORD; neither are there any WORKS like unto THY WORKS.”
Psalms 86:8; Rev 2:5,26; 3:2-6 KJV
