Being one with God

[Szymon]

In many Bible verses, for example John 17:21 it is said that humans will “be in God” or will be “one with God”. How is that possible for imperfect humans to become part of perfect being(God), does that mean that we will be on the same level as God? Or these verses shouldnt be taken literally?
Thanks in advance for your answer.

 

[Vico]

In many Bible verses, for example john 17:21 it is said that humans will “be in god” or will be “one with god”. How is that possible for imperfect humans to become part of perfect being(god)? Or these verses shouldnt be taken literally?
Thanks in advance for your answer.

By being partakers of the divine nature.

Catechism of the Catholic Church

442 'But when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.'1 This is ‘the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God’:'2 God has visited his people. He has fulfilled the promise he made to Abraham and his descendants. He acted far beyond all expectation - he has sent his own ‘beloved Son’.3

460 The Word became flesh to make us " partakers of the divine nature ":78 "For this is why the Word became man, and the Son of God became the Son of man: so that man, by entering into communion with the Word and thus receiving divine sonship, might become a son of God."79 "For the Son of God became man so that we might become God."80 "The only-begotten Son of God, wanting to make us sharers in his divinity, assumed our nature, so that he, made man, might make men gods."81

1 Gal 4:4-5.
2 Mk 1:1.
3 Mk 1:11; cf. Lk 1:5,68.
78 2 Pt 1:4.
79 St. Irenaeus, Adv. haeres. 3, 19, 1: PG 7/1, 939.
80 St. Athanasius, De inc. 54, 3: PG 25, 192B.
81 St. Thomas Aquinas, Opusc . 57, 1-4.

2 Peter 1

4 By whom he hath given us most great and precious promises: that by these you may be made partakers of the divine nature: flying the corruption of that concupiscence which is in the world.
81 St. Thomas Aquinas, Opusc . 57, 1-4.

 

[Beryllos]

I take it literally, although our oneness with God, like our oneness with each other, is imperfect here in this earthly life.

This is a topic I have been thinking about a lot this year, and I’ll try to write more about it today.

 

[stpurl]

Hi Szymon: Unless you are the son of e.e,cummings may I respectfully inform you that names and proper nouns are capitalised? It would be John 17:21 (John is a proper name) and God (capital G) for all mentions of God, etc.

It is a mystery but God has designed us to be in His image and likeness, to know Him, love Him, and to serve Him with our whole hearts, souls, mind, and strength, in this world, AND the next. So we shall partake of His divine nature, as His Son partook of our own human nature.

 

[JGD]

In many Bible verses, for example John 17:21 it is said that humans will “be in God” or will be “one with God”. How is that possible for imperfect humans to become part of perfect being(God), does that mean that we will be on the same level as God? Or these verses shouldnt be taken literally?
Thanks in advance for your answer.

We will never be on the same “level” as Almighty God - be of the same essence/substance. Eg. we cannot be creators, almighty, all knowing, be uncreated and have no beginning, …
We will always be “human” albeit in a glorified state if we die in the state of grace.

 

[Beryllos]

I’ll try to write more

(continued) Think about the Eucharist. We receive the Body of Christ. By consuming it, we make his body a part of our bodies, and we also become members of Christ’s body. We are joined to Christ spiritually and materially. In John 6, Jesus speaks directly of the material/bodily aspect and its necessity for eternal life.

Also let’s examine the word Communion. It comes from two Latin words that can be translated as mutual oneness. This is a lot like Jesus’ words in John 17:

“that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us”

“that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one”