Season 3 Podcast 229 A Layman's Argument for the Existence of God Pt 5
A Layman’s Argument for the Existence of God Pt 5
We are here on earth to become Christ-like.
1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth 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.
3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. (1 John 3:1-7)
Examine the eleven primary concepts from the writings of John above:
1. We should be called the sons of God.
2. We are the sons of God.
3. When he shall appear, we shall be like him.
4. We shall see him as he is.
5. Every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself.
6. Christ is pure.
7. Sin is the transgression of the law.
8. Christ was manifested to take away our sins.
9. In Christ is no sin.
10. Those who abide in Christ sinneth not.
11. He that doeth righteousness is righteous even as Christ is righteous.
We do not become the sons of God—in other words we do not reach that state of perfection—until Christ appears and purifies us. That will not occur until after we are resurrected. As John said, “It doth not yet appear what we shall be.” That is a future day. Only Christ, through his atonement, can take away our sins. Only those “that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” In other words, we can only be purified by Christ if we have hope in Christ and strive to keep his commandments.
But the promises are astonishing:
“When he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”
Christ himself tells us what it means to be like him.
“43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.” (Matthew 13:43)
That is what Paul is referring to in 1st Corinthians 15 when he talks about the resurrection of the dead.
40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
Christ will be a celestial body. He will shine with the glory of the sun as described by Paul who saw Christ on the road to Damascus. He told King Agrippa:
“13 At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.” (Acts 26:13)
John also saw the resurrected Lord and describes him in the same way.
“and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.” (Revelation 1:16)
If you want to know what God looks like imagine a being like yourself with the following differences: he is a resurrected being with a perfect body that shines like the glory of the sun.
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