Adam and Eve

[mtolympus]

Wow! Very dangerous. No where and mean no where, does the Eternal God say we can become “like” God.

No matter how many times you say otherwise, the Bible tells us we were made to be like God:

“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.”(Gen.1:26)

…and that man has the potential to became as God:

“And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever.” (Gen. 3:22)

Yes Scripture reads:

be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Mat 5:48)

The church organization, which included apostles and prophets, was given to help baptised members of the church strive toward perfection: "For the perfecting of the saints.” (Eph. 4:12).

We do all that we are capable of doing ourselves and call upon the name of the Lord through repentance and baptism. We continue to improve and renew our lives daily to conform ourselves to the perfect image of Jesus Christ. (Col. 3:9-10) It is by this process that we may become sanctified through the atoning blood of Jesus. (Heb. 13:12) “He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.” (Heb. 10:14)

Jesus will give us the power to become the sons of God if we will receive him. (John 1:12) Why? So that we may become like him!

“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.” (1 John 3:2)

 

[Nicea325]

No matter how many times you say otherwise, the Bible tells us we were made to be like God:

“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.”(Gen.1:26)

…and that man has the potential to became as God:

“And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever.” (Gen. 3:22)

The church organization, which included apostles and prophets, was given to help baptised members of the church strive toward perfection: "For the perfecting of the saints.” (Eph. 4:12).

We do all that we are capable of doing ourselves and call upon the name of the Lord through repentance and baptism. We continue to improve and renew our lives daily to conform ourselves to the perfect image of Jesus Christ. (Col. 3:9-10) It is by this process that we may become sanctified through the atoning blood of Jesus. (Heb. 13:12) “He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.” (Heb. 10:14)

Jesus will give us the power to become the sons of God if we will receive him. (John 1:12) Why? So that we may become like him!

“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.” (1 John 3:2)

And no matter how many times who wish to be something you never will be, the Bible also says there is only ONE ETERNAL God…not multiple gods as Mormons teach. God never teaches we will be come His equals in substance and nature. Where does he teach such a lie? More Mormon inventions?

Being in His likeness does not equate into you being His equal. Perhaps theology 101 would clear up your profound misunderstanding.

 

[SteveVH]

No matter how many times you say otherwise, the Bible tells us we were made to be like God:

“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.”(Gen.1:26)

…and that man has the potential to became as God:

“And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever.” (Gen. 3:22)

Being made in the mage and likeness of God does not mean that we are God. It means we have intellect and reason and free will to do what we please, divine attributes to be sure, but they don’t make us God. If being made in the image and likeness of God meant that we were like God in all respects then what were Adam and Eve doing eating the fruit? What were they lacking, having been made in the image and likeness of God? What were they after? We know what happened and eating the fruit did just the opposite of making them “like God”. They instead inherited pain and suffering and death and through them so did the whole world.

 

[Nicea325]

Being made in the mage and likeness of God does not mean that we are God. It means we have intellect and reason and free will to do what we please, divine attributes to be sure, but they don’t make us God. If being made in the image and likeness of God meant that we were like God in all respects then what were Adam and Eve doing eating the fruit? What were they lacking, having been made in the image and likeness of God? What were they after? We know what happened and eating the fruit did just the opposite of making them “like God”. They instead inherited pain and suffering and death and through them so did the whole world.

The biggest issue I have encountered with Mormons is their practice of re-defining terms or simply bad comprehension of elementary terms such as “likeness” they constantly pervert.

Not only that,but think about it. If we use the argument:

the Bible tells us we were made to be like God

Then why in the heck do we even NEED God? Since we are LIKE Him already? Salvation? For what? We are LIKE Him.

:whacky: Mormon beliefs

 

[SteveVH]

The biggest issue I have encountered with Mormons is their practice of re-defining terms or simply bad comprehension of elementary terms such as “likeness” they constantly pervert.

Not only that,but think about it. If we use the argument:

the Bible tells us we were made to be like God

Then why in the heck do we even NEED God? Since we are LIKE Him already? Salvation? For what? We are LIKE Him.

:whacky: Mormon beliefs

Yes, that is the question. I think the response will be that we have the potential. But we weren’t made potentially in the image and likeness of God, were we? They need to revisit their thinking here.

 

[Isaiah45_9]

No matter how many times you say otherwise, the Bible tells us we were made to be like God:

“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.”(Gen.1:26)

…and that man has the potential to became as God:

“And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever.” (Gen. 3:22)

Besides what Steve and Nicea have pointed out.

Why would there be a prohibition to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil? If it wasn’t because we are unable to comprehend them in the first place. Only the One True God can.

Also, they had permission to eat from the tree of life… but they didn’t.

Let’s see how our capacity to be gods is like:

Eat from the one and only tree that is prohibited

or

Eat from the tree that gives eternal life

… hmmmmm…

Let’s eat from the prohibited tree!

No, we failed.

We were made in God’s likeness to Worship and Praise Him.

 

[Nicea325]

Yes, that is the question. I think the response will be that we have the potential. But we weren’t made potentially in the image and likeness of God, were we? They need to revisit their thinking here.

In other words…PRIDE. Lucifer felt he had the potential to be LIKE God and be worshipped LIKE God. Well, we all know his outcome for believing he had the potential to be LIKE God.

Eternal condemnation.

 

[mtolympus]

The biggest issue I have encountered with Mormons is their practice of re-defining terms or simply bad comprehension of elementary terms such as “likeness” they constantly pervert.

Really? Mormons define the terms “image and likeness” in the way a boy may be in the image and likeness of his father. We believe God is literally the Father of our spirits.

Here is how the Bible defines “image and likeness”:

“This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; Male and female created he them; and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created. And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth.” (Gen. 5:1-3)

Not only that,but think about it. If we use the argument:

the Bible tells us we were made to be like God

Then why in the heck do we even NEED God? Since we are LIKE Him already? Salvation? For what? We are LIKE Him.

:whacky: Mormon beliefs

Why does a child need a father?

 

[RebeccaJ]

One God. Seriously, how hard is that to understand?

ONE God

Not a bunch of punky gods.

 

[Z_Ninja]

Really? Mormons define the terms “image and likeness” in the way a boy may be in the image and likeness of his father. We believe God is literally the Father of our spirits.

Here is how the Bible defines “image and likeness”:

“This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; Male and female created he them; and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created. And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth.” (Gen. 5:1-3)

Why does a child need a father?

But, we were/are still created by Him. We are not the creator. Jesus was the only begotten of the Father.

 

[RebeccaJ]

No matter how many times you say otherwise, the Bible tells us we were made to be like God:

“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.”(Gen.1:26)

Seth, being the son of the first man and first woman, inherited the likeness and image of God, of which Adam and Eve were made. The message here is, not just Adam and Eve were created in the likeness and image of God, but we all are.

This does not say we are gods, or will be gods.

…and that man has the potential to became as God:

“And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever.” (Gen. 3:22)

Adam and Eve, eating of the tree of good and evil, were separated from the tree of life. (verse 23). This is the definition of Original Sin. Our (human) separation from life, and in the expulsion from the garden, our separation from God. This is the inheritance that was lost.

God commanded them to not eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Adam and Eve sinned against God, doing their own will instead of God’s. In this, they made themselves as God. Self-idolatry is a good way of putting it. It is not a statement that something righteous happened, as seen in the following verse where their sin of disobedience caused them to be removed from the immediate presence of God.

A good question to ask is in what way do you make yourself your own god, rather than doing the will of God. Are you really, actually, a god when you disobey a commandment of God, or merely acting like you are only answerable to yourself? Believing our allegiance is to self first, is what makes us “gods”, but this is a false god. A path to separation from the One True God, as seen in verse 3.

The church organization, which included apostles and prophets, was given to help baptised members of the church strive toward perfection: "For the perfecting of the saints.” (Eph. 4:12).

We do all that we are capable of doing ourselves and call upon the name of the Lord through repentance and baptism. We continue to improve and renew our lives daily to conform ourselves to the perfect image of Jesus Christ. (Col. 3:9-10) It is by this process that we may become sanctified through the atoning blood of Jesus. (Heb. 13:12) “He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.” (Heb. 10:14)

Yes, by conforming ourselves to Christ we are made holy.

Jesus will give us the power to become the sons of God if we will receive him. (John 1:12) Why? So that we may become like him!

“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.” (1 John 3:2)

We are made sons and daughters of God by adoption, through Jesus Christ. Jesus is the only begotten of the Father. Through Him we are made to be like Him, a son and daughter of God. This doesn’t say anything about being a divine being, creating planets, and having eternal offspring worship us as their god(s).

Please keep scripture in context of the whole. God is One, and this is no other. This includes you. You are not a divine being and never will be.

 

[Nicea325]

Originally Posted by Nicea325
The biggest issue I have encountered with Mormons is their practice of re-defining terms or simply bad comprehension of elementary terms such as “likeness” they constantly pervert.

mtolympus:
Really? Mormons define the terms “image and likeness” in the way a boy may be in the image and likeness of his father. We believe God is literally the Father of our spirits.

Here is how the Bible defines “image and likeness”:

“This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; Male and female created he them; and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created. And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth.” (Gen. 5:1-3)

Yes…really! See you just proved my point. Precisely why Mormons worship a different god. I do not accept your Biblical intepretation of Scripture. Again…you are NOT the Eternal God-do you comprehend? The terms image and likeness does not equate into you being God. Humans are finite creatures and God is infinite. Again…I suggest theology 101 so you can learn the basics.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nicea325
Not only that,but think about it. If we use the argument:

the Bible tells us we were made to be like God

Then why in the heck do we even NEED God? Since we are LIKE Him already? Salvation? For what? We are LIKE Him.

Mormon beliefs

mtolympus:
Why does a child need a father?

And why does a child need a mother? And is that child literally ONLY his father? Mom has no part in his creation and characteristics? Or does he posses some characteristics of his father and mother? Oooooh mtolyympus do you see where I going with this?

 

[Nicea325]

Seth, being the son of the first man and first woman, inherited the likeness and image of God, of which Adam and Eve were made. The message here is, not just Adam and Eve were created in the likeness and image of God, but we all are.

This does not say we are gods, or will be gods.

Adam and Eve, eating of the tree of good and evil, were separated from the tree of life. (verse 23). This is the definition of Original Sin. Our (human) separation from life, and in the expulsion from the garden, our separation from God. This is the inheritance that was lost.

God commanded them to not eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Adam and Eve sinned against God, doing their own will instead of God’s. In this, they made themselves as God. Self-idolatry is a good way of putting it. It is not a statement that something righteous happened, as seen in the following verse where their sin of disobedience caused them to be removed from the immediate presence of God.

A good question to ask is in what way do you make yourself your own god, rather than doing the will of God. Are you really, actually, a god when you disobey a commandment of God, or merely acting like you are only answerable to yourself? Believing our allegiance is to self first, is what makes us “gods”, but this is a false god. A path to separation from the One True God, as seen in verse 3.

Yes, by conforming ourselves to Christ we are made holy.

We are made sons and daughters of God by adoption, through Jesus Christ. Jesus is the only begotten of the Father. Through Him we are made to be like Him, a son and daughter of God. This doesn’t say anything about being a divine being, creating planets, and having eternal offspring worship us as their god(s).

Please keep scripture in context of the whole. God is One, and this is no other. This includes you. You are not a divine being and never will be.

As I said before, Mormons worship a different god, a false one to be frank and precisely why they will never get it. Dealing with cults is very difficult.

 

[RebeccaJ]

As I said before, Mormons worship a different god, a false one to be frank and precisely why they will never get it. Dealing with cults is very difficult.

Most have the desire for God, which is a good starting point.

 

[Nicea325]

Most have the desire for God, which is a good starting point.

Yes…but which one? The Eternal God of orthodoxy or the Mormon god?

 

[RebeccaJ]

Yes…but which one? The Eternal God of orthodoxy or the Mormon god?

It is the Church’s teaching that God created us with the desire for Him. Cultures and peoples express this desire in different ways, including polytheism. All will be judged according to their understanding of God and how they have followed what they understand. The Church exists to bring people to Christ, as to fully satisfy the desire that God has made, He gives Himself. So, we Christianize people and cultures, which is a turning of the desire for God to Jesus Christ.

So, LDS have a desire for God, as there is but One God. It is a foundation on which to build. Destroying this foundation leads to atheism, particularly it seems for LDS.

 

[Nicea325]

It is the Church’s teaching that God created us with the desire for Him. Cultures and peoples express this desire in different ways, including polytheism. All will be judged according to their understanding of God and how they have followed what they understand. The Church exists to bring people to Christ, as to fully satisfy the desire that God has made, He gives Himself. So, we Christianize people and cultures, which is a turning of the desire for God to Jesus Christ.

So, LDS have a desire for God, as there is but One God. It is a foundation on which to build. Destroying this foundation leads to atheism, particularly it seems for LDS.

Very well said. I’ll pray for those seeking God.

 

[RebeccaJ]

Very well said. I’ll pray for those seeking God.

Always my prayer.

 

[mtolympus]

Yes…really! See you just proved my point. Precisely why Mormons worship a different god. I do not accept your Biblical intepretation of Scripture. Again…you are NOT the Eternal God-do you comprehend? The terms image and likeness does not equate into you being God. Humans are finite creatures and God is infinite. Again…I suggest theology 101 so you can learn the basics.

Mormons worship the God that said: “Let us make man… after our likeness.” (Gen 1:26) And the Bible compares this likeness to a father and his son:

“This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; Male and female created he them; and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created. And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth.” (Gen. 5:1-3)

And why does a child need a mother? And is that child literally ONLY his father? Mom has no part in his creation and characteristics? Or does he posses some characteristics of his father and mother? Oooooh mtolyympus do you see where I going with this?

No.

 

[SteveVH]

Mormons worship the God that said: “Let us make man… after our likeness.” (Gen 1:26) And the Bible compares this likeness to a father and his son:

“This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; Male and female created he them; and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created. And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth.” (Gen. 5:1-3)

You are making God in your image rather than the other way around. “God made us in his image and likeness therefore God must be like us”.

It doesn’t work that way. God is God and you are not. He is the Creator, we are the created. He is glory and majesty beyond all telling. We have divine attributes such as intellect and free will and the ability to love, to have compassion, to forgive… And the greatest sign of being made in God’s image and likeness is the human family, reflecting that God’s own nature is a family made up of the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit. We are invited to become a part of God’s family as adopted sons and daughters. But we will never be God and our desire should be to worship him, not to attain equality with him.