The Divine Nature
The Greek language, in which the New Testament was written, contains so many great insights which are sometimes lost when translated into other languages. The Greek words from which the English word “godhead” is translated is one such example. The word “godhead” is found three times in the King James Version and twice in the New King James Version of the Bible (Acts 17:29; Romans 1:20; Colossians 2:9 (KJV) – the NKJV does not use this word in Acts 17:29). Other translations try to show the difference in these two words by using other words rather than “godhead.”
- C. Trench, a Greek scholar, points out that although these passages are all translated with the same English word, “godhead,” they involved two different original words in which there are subtle but important differences. Interestingly, the two Greek words have very similar spellings: theiotes and theotes. The only difference is the little letter “i” which occurs in the middle of theiotes. Theiotes is from an adjective theios and refers to the characteristics of deity (God). Theotes comes from the noun theos – “God” – and has to do with the essences of God, not just the characteristics of God.
Christ Is Theotes
Paul said about Christ, “For in Him all the fulness of Deity (godhead – KJV) dwells in bodily form” (Colossians 2:9). This tells us that Christ did not just have the characteristics of God, but that He was God. Jesus Christ is as much God as is God the Father. He is not inferior to the Father. The apostle John declared this clearly when he wrote, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… and the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us” (John 1:1, 14). Thus, those individuals and religious groups, such as Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons are wrong when they say Christ was a created being and not equal to the Father. We also must be careful that we do not make the Son of God inferior to God the Father.
Christians Are Theiotes
You and I can never be theotes – the essences of God – but we can and should have theiotes. Peter wrote, “For by these (facts of knowledge) He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises; in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust” (2 Peter 1:4). At this point, one might think of any number of characteristics which God has which Christian ought to manifest. As these characteristics are added to one’s life, one becomes more godly. We become more God-like, but not any more deity The Holy Spirit, through Paul, urges, “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children” (Ephesians 5:1).
Maybe one can more easily accomplish this goal by looking at Jesus who not only was theotes but who also manifested theiotes. Again, Paul urges us, “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ” (I Corinthians 11:1). “For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps” (I Peter 2:21).
Our Goal
Christ is fully God. We can’t be that, but all of us can take on the nature or spirit of God and Christ. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if every Christian attained “to a mature man, to the measure of the statue which belongs to the fulness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13).
Wayne Burger
Chosen by God
There are several different forms of the word “chosen” used in the New Testament. In many passages, it refers simply to one’s decision about a matter. It is used the same way we use the word today. What this article deals with is the way it is used in the spiritual realm. To summarize, “chosen” refers to one who belongs to God. When one comes to the word “chose” in a verse after Acts 2, one can substitute the word “Christian.” Also, the Greek word for “chosen” is “election” and sometimes is translated “elect” (Matthew 24:22) instead of “chosen.”
How Is One Chosen (Elected)?
Usually, the question connected with “election” or “being chosen” is, “How does it happen?” Did God just arbitrarily choose some to be Christians and others to be lost? This is the doctrine of Calvinism which many denominations teach. This cannot be the way God elects because God would be a respecter of persons in selecting some to go to heaven while others He selected to go to hell. Peter declared, “God is not one to show partiality” (Acts 10:34).
God chooses through a plan which is called the “gospel.” When the gospel is preached, God is calling one to become one of the chosen. Those who decide to obey the gospel become one of the chosen. God allows each person to choose or not choose to become one of the elect. The right to choose is “the free moral agency of man.” But, because God is God, He knew from the beginning who would be one of the chosen and who would refuse to be part of the chosen. But, His foreknowledge does not mean that He foreordained it. Each individual makes his or her own decision.
A Study of 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14
“But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. And it was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14).
First, when did God choose them? “From the beginning.”
Second, how did God call them? – “through our gospel” – When they heard the gospel message, God was calling them. If one responds to that call, he or she is “chosen.” Unfortunately, many reject the call of God. Jesus said, “For many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14).
Third, how were they chosen? “Through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.” “Sanctification” means “to be set apart for God’s use.” How and when does the Spirit sanctify a person? He accomplished this by revealing the truth and that truth convicts one of sin. When one obeys the truth, he or she is sanctified or “elected.”
Notice this: Since election occurs through “sanctification of the Spirit and faith in the truth,” it must follow, therefore, that since one does not believe from all eternity, one is not elected from eternity, but rather when one believes and obeys the truth. Then he or she is elected, not before the worlds were created, as the Calvinist teach.
A Study of I Peter 1:1-2
Peter wrote to groups of Christians who were scattered in what is known today as Turkey. He said, “To those…who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood” (I Peter 1:1-2).
Before time on earth began, God established a plan whereby men and women could come back to Him after they had sinned. God selected the plan as to how one would become one of the chosen, but He did not select which people would be the chosen. One becomes one of the chosen when he or she obeys that plan. Calvinists teach that God selected which individuals would be saved and which individuals would be lost. No, God did not preordain each person’s destiny. He preordained the plan and let each person decide if he or she wants to obey that plan.
Jesus said that after He left this earth and returned to the Father, the Spirit would convict men and women of their sin (John 16:8). The Spirit convicts the conscience of people (Acts 2:37) by using “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17). When one who is convicted is obedient to Jesus he or she is “chosen.” God and each person work together to bring about sanctification. The Spirit’s work through the word of God is God’s part; the obedience to truth is the human part of sanctification. When one obeys the gospel, symbolically, the blood of Jesus is sprinkled on his or her soul for cleansing.
Thus, one sees that each person of the godhead has a part in each person’s salvation. God the Father had the plan, Christ, the Son of God, offered His blood to pay for the sin and the Holy Spirit convicts one of sin. This is salvation extended by God’s grace and accepted by each person’s faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). When this happens, one is chosen by God.
Wayne Burger
Are You One of God’s Chosen? If Not, Why Not?
