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If God alone has immortality.....
skydreamers:
Okay, this might seem like a really strange and unimportant question but God has wired me in such a way that once a question pops into my head I have to pursue it until, if at all possible, I get to the bottom of it.
Last night I couldn't sleep, and as I was laying there I started thinking about "immortality" which I know means deathlessness. God cannot die, and He alone possesses this trait:
1 Timothy 6:15-16 ESV
15 ...the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords,
16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see...
Also, I understand that we are not granted immortality until resurrection time when we are fully begotten anew into the spirit.
Now, here's my question. What about the spirit beings that God has created? Has God given them immortality already or do they also get this at some future point? Since the Bible says that no one but God has immortality, this seems to say to me that at the time of the writing of that scripture no spirit beings had immortality, whether the bad ones or the good ones.
So Satan and his messengers are put through the Lake of Fire which is the Second Death. I think Ray has said somewhere that though Satan and his messengers are spirit beings, they possess carnal minds nonetheless (and so it makes sense that they would have to "die" to their carnal minds and also be begotten anew somehow).
But what about the good spirit beings? Do they have to die too? What will be their "experience of evil to be humbled by it"?
I suspect that God did not create good or bad spirit beings with the purposes of transforming them to be in the "image and likeness of God". Perhaps this is a special honor reserved for human beings?? I realize that all his creatures are his children, thus the spirit beings can be called "sons of God", but does that mean they are, or will be, in the "likeness of God"?
Does anybody else think about these silly things? Perhaps this should be moved to the "Off Topics" section...I wasn't really sure where to post this! I realize it's not earth-shatteringly (is that a word?) important.
Just thought there was maybe someone else out there who has mulled over these questions....
Peace,
Diana
Sorin:
Diana, hope you don't mind, but I think this is a related question. If not, I can start a new thread. What exactly does it mean, to be in the Image of God? If God is Spirit, and is invisible, then how can He even have an image? ???
Peace,
Sorin
rrammfcitktturjsp:
To All,
Seems to me the answers You are looking for You are trying to base them in a limited system, that being time. When one steps away and realizes that the time contiunium does not exist, then immortality ceases to have meaning as well does image. For it just simply is.
Sincerely,
Anne C. McGuire
josh:
Interesting thread…
Diana,
Is it possible that 1 Tim.6:15-16 is a description/statement of ownership… as thought to say, God is the only one who has ownership of or is able to offer/give immortality?
Also, I believe 1 Cor. 6:2-3 might help in the process of answer your questions about angels…
1Co 6:2 Do you not know that the saints shall judge the world? And if the world shall be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
1Co 6:3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels, not to mention the things of this life?
Sorin,
I think “image” refers to a fleshly vessel taking on the personality and characteristics of the invisible God.
------------------------------------------------
G1504
εἰκών
eikōn
i-kone'
From G1503; a likeness, that is, (literally) statue, profile, or (figuratively) representation, resemblance: - image.
-------------------------------------------------
I believe this is speaking figuratively as Christ was a perfect representation/resemblance of the very fabric of who God is…
I don’t know if any of this helps, but I hope you guys are having a great weekend.
God’s Peace.
Josh
Kat:
Hi Diana,
This is an interesting topic that I had not really comtemplated, until your question, now I can't stop thinking about it. I looked at the scripture about angels and have come to a better understanding now.
Here are the scripture.
Heb 2:9 But, Jesus, (was)made some little less than messengers(angels), we do behold: by reason of the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour, to the end that, by favour of God, in behalf of every one, He might taste of death.
v. 10 For it was becoming in Him—For the sake of whom are the all things, and by means of whom are the all things,—when, many sons, unto glory, He would lead, The Princely Leader of their salvation, through sufferings, to make perfect.
v. 11 For, both He that maketh holy, and they who are being made holy, are, all, of One; For which cause, He is not ashamed to be calling them, brethren,
v. 12 saying—I will declare Thy name unto My brethren, in the midst of an assembly, will I sing praise unto Thee;
v. 13 and again—I, will be confident upon Him; and again—Lo! I, and the children which, unto Me, God, hath given.
v. 14 Seeing therefore the children have received a fellowship of blood and flesh, He also, in like manner, took partnership in the same,—in order that, through death,—He might paralyse(destroy) him that held the dominion of death, that is, the Adversary,—
v. 15 And might release these—as many as, by fear of death, were all their lifetime liable, to bondage.
v. 16 For, not surely of messengers(angels), is He laying hold, but of Abraham's seed, He is laying hold. (Rotherham) (from other translations)
Heb 1:4 By so much becoming superior to the messengers(angels), by as much as, going beyond them, He hath inherited a more distinguished name.
v. 5 For unto which of the messengers(angels) said He at any time—My Son, art, Thou, I, this day have begotten Thee? and again—I, will become, His Father, and, He, shall become my Son?
v. 6 But, whensoever He again introduceth the First-begotten into the habitable earth, He saith—And let all God’s messengers(angels) worship Him!
v. 7 Even as to the messengers(angels), indeed, He saith—Who maketh His messengers(angels), winds, and His ministers(servants) of state, a fiery flame;
Heb 1:13 But, to which of the messengers(angels), hath He said, at any time—Sit thou at My right Hand, until I make Thy foes Thy footstool?
Heb 1:14 Are they not, all, spirits, doing public service,—for ministry(ministering spirits), sent forth, for them who are about to inherit salvation? (Rotherham) (from other translations)
Psa 104:4 Making His messengers(angels) winds, His ministers(servants) a flaming fire, (CLV)
Luk 20:36 For neither can they still be dying, for they are equal to messengers(angels), and are the sons of God, being sons of the resurrection." (CLV)
Mat 25:41 Then, will he say unto those also, on his left hand: Depart ye from me, accursed ones! Into the age-abiding fire, which hath been prepared for the adversary and His messengers(angels); (Rotherham)
Jud 1:6 Besides, messengers(angels) who keep not their own sovereignty, but leave their own habitation(proper dwelling), He has kept in imperceptible bonds under gloom for the judging of the great day." (CLV)
2Pe 2:4 For if God spares not sinning messengers(angels), but thrusting them into the gloomy caverns of Tartarus, gives them up to be kept for chastening judging;"
1Co 6:3 Are you not aware that we shall be judging messengers(angels), not to mention life's affairs?
Very interesting study.
mercy, peace, and love
Kat
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