I said, “You are gods, and all of you are children of the Most High.” But you shall die like men. (Psalm 82:6-7)
In the opening verse of this psalm it is stated, “God stands in the congregation of the mighty; He judges among the gods.” Now again in this verse, men are referred to as gods. That is because, in both verses, the Hebrew word used is אלהים elohim, which is literally translated as “gods.” However, this same term is often used to refer to the One and only God. For example, when the Bible says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth,” the word translated as God is אלהים elohim. And so, does the Scripture indicate that those regarded as children of the Most High are elohim — i.e. gods?
There is an account in John’s Gospel where Yeshua was confronted by men who were offended that He referred to Himself as the Son of God. He responded to them saying, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, You are gods’?” (John 10:34). Clearly, Messiah quoted this verse from Psalm 82 to undermine the validity of their offense. Then He went on to make this point: if God is the One who called His people gods, why would they have a problem with someone who presented themselves as God’s Son if He was doing things the Father in Heaven would do? Let’s put it this way: shouldn’t God’s children act in the same way He does; shouldn’t they be God-like in their behavior?
Don’t get me wrong; I’m not saying that we are as Messiah, who is the only begotten of the Father. I’m not saying that we are God-like in the way Satan desired to be when he said, “I will be like the Most High” (Isaiah 14:14). I am aruging that we are to be like God in that we are to emulate Godly attributes — things like justice, mercy, long suffering and forgiveness. None of us will ever be as God because He alone is Omnipotent, OmniPresent and Omniscient; only He is the One who has been, is and will be. Nevertheless, we are told that if we have received His Son and believed in His Name, we have been given the right to become the children of God (John 14:14).
Those who are being conformed to the image of the Son of God are called His children. Those who have answered the challenge to be a set apart people are called the sons and daughters of God. This being understood, should be not strive to be like God even though we will certainly feel the sting of death? As His sons and daughters, is it not our mission to emulate His holiness and His goodness in the earth? It is.
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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