I am involved in a discussion on what we (born-again believers) will be like after we are raptured into Heaven. The discussion is getting wild and some are suggesting that “we will be like him” to the point of becoming God in the same manner as Jesus Himself. They are quoting verses in the old and new testaments involving the word “glory.” to indicate that we will be exactly like him.
I don’t believe that we are going to become “God” as our Lord Jesus is, can you help?
In his letter to the Romans Paul wrote, The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs–heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.(Romans 8:16-17) and
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. (Romans 8:29-30)
The Apostle John said, Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:2)
Paul also wrote, But someone may ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?” How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. (1 Cor. 15:35-37)
There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another. And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven. (1 Cor. 15:40, 49)
Put it all together and it says that it’s pointless to speculate on what we’ll be like. Just like the plant doesn’t look anything like the seed, the heavenly being doesn’t look anything like the earthly being.
As far as equality with God is concerned, we’ve been made co-regents with Jesus, we’ll be seated with Him on His throne, and our appearance will resemble his. But at the end of the day, one thing has always been certain. He’s God and we’re not. Here’s how He put it. “Before me no God was formed, nor will there be one after me. (Isaiah 43:10) I am the first and the last, apart from me there is no God. (Isaiah 44:6) And speaking of Himself, Jesus said, I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. (Rev. 22:13)