Questions for Deification Deniers

What could the Apostle John mean when he wrote "We will be like Him?" (1 John 3:2)

Now if God became a man, then we are already like Him and do not wait to be like Him. When He became a man He became like us so we have been like Him ever SINCE . . . He became a man.

So WHY does John say that in the FUTURE . . . "We shall be like Him?"

I mean, what HAPPENED to this One who was God becoming a man that "WE WILL . . . [future tense] . . . BE LIKE HIM?"

@sonship said
What could the Apostle John mean when he wrote "We shall be like Him?"

Now if God became a man, then we are already like Him and do not wait to be like Him. When He became a man He became like us so we have been like Him ever SINCE . . . He became a man.

So WHY does John say that in the FUTURE . . . "We shall be like Him?"

I mean, wha ...[text shortened]... to this One who was God becoming a man that "WE SHALL [future tense] BE LIKE HIM?"

@PB1022

Because we’ll have an immortal body and no longer be subject to death?

@sonship said
@PB1022

Because we’ll have an immortal body and no longer be subject to death?

I see.
That was pretty easy.

But wait a minute now.
I lose my temper sometimes and react and say really mean things to people when offended. As I am sure some have noticed.

Now if I get a new body BUT that tendency is still in my soul . . . will God count that as being "like Him?"

@PB1022

I don’t know. God did get pretty po’d in the Old Testament, and in the New Testament too, calling the Pharisees a “child of Hell,” “blind fools,” “vipers.” and “serpents” in Matthew 23.

That’s pretty harsh.

And woe would be you if you had a table set up in the Temple and were selling doves.

@sonship said
@PB1022

I don’t know. God did get pretty po’d in the Old Testament, and in the New Testament too, calling the Pharisees a “child of Hell,” “blind fools,” “vipers.” and “serpents” in Matthew 23.

That’s pretty harsh.

And woe would be you if you had a table set up in the Temple and were selling doves.

I see.
Well if that is a questianable exa ...[text shortened]... nication is still thriving in my soul, will the Lord Jesus count that as me being "like Him?"

@PB1022

I’d say, No.

@sonship said
@PB1022

I’d say, No.

I think you must be on to something there.
I suspect you're right.

What has to happen to me so that within and without I am really "like Him?" I mean if I am just getting a new physical body that won't die, but my mind, emotion, will, conscience, tendencies, imagination, memory and all are all just the same as, say, when before I even got saved, then what has to happen to make me "like Him?"

@PB1022

I don’t think “like Him” means exactly like Him.

What do you make of this verse from the Apostle John?

“Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.”

(1 John 4:17)

PB1022,

"And now little children, abide in Him, so that if He is manifested, we may have boldness and not be put to shame from HIm at His coming." (1 John 2:28 Recovery Version)

And here it is not merely a matter of a FEELING of shame. It is rather PUT to shame accompanying the shortage of boldness.

The Recovery Version is faithful to the Greek here. Not many English versions carry the sense of an action on His part rather than just a subjective feeling on ours.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And now, little children, abide in him, that when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be confounded by him at his coming.

See, here confounded BY him is somewhat different from just "draw back" or "hide away" or "shrink back" or "be ashamed" as many versions render it.

Do not misunderstand me. To BE ashamed with the FEELING of the lack of boldness is a problem in itself. But "put to shame" or "confounded by him" shows some discipline on His part, I think.

A Faithful Version
And now, little children, dwell in Him, so that when He is manifested we may have boldness, and not be put to shame before Him at His coming.

Darby Bible Translation
And now, children, abide in him, that if he be manifested we may have boldness, and not be put to shame from before him at his coming.

Literal Emphasis Translation
And now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears we might have bold resolve, and not be put to shame from Him in His coming.

My bottom line on your reference to 1 John 4:17 is that the perfecting will render also the boldness. My emphasis is on the process of this perfecting and our cooperation with that process.

@sonship said
@PB1022

I’d say, No.

I think you must be on to something there.
I suspect you're right.

What has to happen to me so that within and without I am really "like Him?" I mean if I am just getting a new physical body that won't die, but my mind, emotion, will, conscience, tendencies, imagination, memory and all are all just the same as, say, when before I even got saved, then what has to happen to make me "like Him?"

@sonship said
Now if God became a man, then we are already like Him and do not wait to be like Him. When He became a man He became like us so we have been like Him ever SINCE . . . He became a man.

@josephw said
Why "wrest" with the scriptures to make them appear to say something not actually said?

@sonship said
I mean, what HAPPENED to this One who was God becoming a man that "WE WILL . . . [future tense] . . . BE LIKE HIM?"