Don Stewart :: Can Humans Become God?

Can Humans Become God?

The Personal Attributes of God – Question 23

From time to time throughout our history, there have been those who claim that humans are God or that humans can become God. The Mormon Church, for example, teaches that Mormon males have the power to attain godhood. Does the Bible teach that we can become God?

1. Satan Promised Adam and Eve They Could Be like God

The false promise that human beings can become God goes as far back as the first humans, Adam and Eve. When Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden the only negative commandment God gave them was not to eat of fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The serpent appeared to them and disputed God. He said,

“...for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:5 NRSV)

They were promised some type of God-like status if they ate the fruit. While the exact nature of the promise is debated, it is clear that the serpent promised these two that they were to be in some sense God-like.

2. This Is a False Promise

When Adam and Eve ate of the fruit of the forbidden tree, they did not become as God or God-like as the serpent promised. Instead they brought sin into the world, and were banished from God’s presence. Satan, however, has been telling people that lie ever since; that humans can become God-like. Unfortunately, people still believe it.

3. The Nature of God Prohibits It: He Alone Is God

The reason humankind cannot become God is because of the nature of God. God did not become God at some certain point. In fact, He has been, is, and always will be God. He is the eternal infinite God. There is nothing lacking in His character, and He needs nothing to exist. He is adequate in and by Himself. No other being in the universe is like this.

Moreover, He is the only God who now exists or ever will exist. Isaiah the prophet made this clear when he recorded the following words of the Lord.

“This is what the LORD, Israel’s King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty, says: I am the First and the Last; there is no other God.” (Isaiah 44:6 NLT)

He is the first and the last. No other God exists.

Isaiah also recorded the Lord, Yahweh, saying the following about Himself.

“You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD. “I have chosen you as my servant so that you can know and believe in me and understand that I am the one who did this. No god was formed before me, and there will be none after me.” (Isaiah 43:10 God’s Word)

Again, there is the claim that no God was formed before Him neither shall there be any god after Him. He alone is God.

The New Testament concurs. The God of the Bible is God by nature. The Apostle Paul wrote the following to the Galatians.

Before you Gentiles knew God, you were slaves to so-called gods that do not even exist. (Galatians 4:8 NLT)

These other so-called gods have never existed. There never has been, there never will be, any other God or gods.

4. Humankind Is Finite: We Can Never Become God

Human beings, on the other hand, are finite, limited creatures. There was a time when humanity did not exist. When humankind came into being it was because of the will of God. Human beings cannot exist on our own, we are not self-sustaining. We need food, air, and water, to stay alive. Without these and other things, we would perish. God is not like this. He needs nothing to exist.

Furthermore, Scripture compares God to a potter and humans to the clay which is molded. Isaiah acknowledged this when he wrote,

But now, O LORD, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our potter; and all we are the work of Your hand. (Isaiah 64:8 NKJV)

He is the One who molds us; we do not mold Him.

5. God Grants Everlasting Life to Believers: We Cannot Grant This to Ourselves

The Bible also says that God will grant everlasting life to those who believe in His Son, Jesus Christ. John wrote,

Everyone who has faith in the Son has eternal life. But no one who rejects him will ever share in that life, and God will be angry with them forever. (John 3:36 CEV)

God grants us everlasting life. We cannot grant it to ourselves. But this will not mean humans will become God. Each individual must always depend upon God for everlasting life.

Consequently, those who promise that humans can become God either do not understand the differences between the creature and the Creator, or are deliberately perverting the truth of God.

Conclusion: It Is Not Possible for Humans to Become God

It is clear that there is a great gulf between the Creator and the created; between God and humanity. It is not possible for humans to become God. God is God while we are part of His creation. While we are called His children, we still have a different nature and we will always have a different nature.

Summary – Question 23
Can Humans Become God?

Many humans do indeed hope that one day they will actually become God. However, this is something which is impossible to happen.

This false promise that humans can become God-like is not new. Indeed, it was given to Adam and Eve way back in the Garden of Eden by the lying serpent. This lie has been retold ever since.

The reason that humans cannot become God has to do with the nature of God. God is God by nature. He did not become God at some certain point in time. He has always been God and always will be God.

Human beings, on the other hand, are finite, or limited, creatures. There was a time when human beings did not exist but there has never been a time when God has not existed. This is the difference between the creature and the Creator.

While human beings who have believed in Jesus will be given everlasting life this still does not mean that we will become God. Our eternal life will always be dependent upon Him.

Therefore, the answer to the question is clear. Human beings will never become God-like.