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Originally Posted by Sheepdawg
I really don't know what it is you really think, but it certainly looks like you've never really considered (or maybe you choose not to mull very deeply over these things, I don't know) that when a grain of wheat falls into the ground (and dies), and then sprouts and shoots back up again to become the full-bodied cereal, the grains that it produces are EXACTLY the same as the original. They are not just 'like' the original grain, they are LIKE the original grain! Nothing more, nothing less! In Life. In Nature. Period.
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There are many analogies and comparisons which the Lord uses to illustrate our relationship with him. However, to extrapolate from the illustration of a grain producing many grains the conclusion that we "become God" in life and nature is like saying we will grow wool and go bah-bah because Jesus called us sheep. There are some things that you can gather from illustrations and some you should not. Jesus' illustration was to show that by dying and resurrecting he would produce many others who were like him. Much beyond that is just speculation.
You've already pointed out that John made clear that "it is not clear what we shall be." The problem is you are trying to clearly define what we shall be when the Bible already said it isn't clear. Why are you doing that? If John (or Paul or Peter) was clear we were becoming God or felt we should be clear about it, don't you think he would have made that clear to us rather than saying it wasn't clear? Is this clear enough?
Paul obviously knew some things he didn't share, because he said he heard things "unlawful for men to speak." Why would some divine things be unlawful for us to speak? I don't know, but the Bible says some are.
Man's first sin was to seek knowledge God didn't want him to have. I believe in seeking knowledge. But we need to stop short of declaring theories as facts; we need to beware of going "beyond what is written."
As I said, we all have theories. Nothing wrong with considering things. I do it. What I try to avoid is insisting on things which are just my theories. And thinking we will become God is just that, a theory. Believe it if you want to. But I think it's a mistake to major on it.
Again, however, it's one of those things LCers feel like they have to believe (and defend) because Lee taught it, no matter how they actually feel about it. I don't see how you can come to truly sober conclusions being subject that kind of pressure and mindset.