Is ‘God’ a Title We Could Earn?

Welcome to Day 10 of our 60-Day Challenge! But before we tackle today’s question, let’s take a moment to reflect on the question from Day 9: Why do so many early Christian fathers, those closest to the New Testament church, and even respected scholars like C.S. Lewis, speak of the concept of multiple gods?

The question of “multiple gods” can be misleading if taken in a strictly polytheistic sense. However, early Christian fathers and scholars, including C.S. Lewis, used such language to emphasize humanity’s divine potential and our relationship with God rather than to suggest multiple, independent gods. They believed in one Supreme God, but their writings reflect a profound belief in the transformative power of divine grace, where humans could one day partake in a god-like nature.

Understanding the Christian Fathers and Early Theologians

The early Christian fathers—writers and theologians from the 1st and 2nd centuries—had a unique perspective. They were either taught directly by the apostles or mentored by those who had first-hand knowledge of Jesus’ teachings. Figures like Clement of Rome, Ignatius of Antioch, and Justin Martyr emphasized that Christians, as children of God, held a unique destiny to be transformed and perfected through Christ’s Atonement. They believed in humanity’s potential to become more like God, rooted in the teachings of Jesus, who taught that “you are gods” (referencing Psalm 82:6 in John 10:34).

This concept was not about creating new gods but rather about elevating humanity to its intended divine nature. For early Christian thinkers, this didn’t challenge the idea of one Supreme God; instead, it highlighted the extraordinary promise of spiritual transformation and inheritance within God’s eternal family.

C.S. Lewis’s Perspective on “Becoming Gods”

C.S. Lewis, one of the most respected Christian scholars of the 20th century, spoke of human potential in ways that aligned with these early Christian fathers. In The Weight of Glory, he wrote that the “dullest and most uninteresting person you talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship.” For Lewis, the idea of humanity’s transformation was awe-inspiring. He believed that, through God’s power, we could one day reflect God’s glory in ways beyond our current understanding.

In Mere Christianity, Lewis even goes as far as to say that God’s command for us to “be perfect” isn’t empty; it’s a call that He intends to fulfill within us. To Lewis, this transformation would ultimately make us “dazzling, radiant, immortal creatures,” reflecting God’s love and goodness. Lewis’s language about “becoming gods” is not polytheistic but is instead an expression of the Christian belief in spiritual growth and perfection through Christ’s grace.

The One True God and Our Divine Potential

Throughout Christian teachings, the “oneness” of God remains central. Early Christian fathers and theologians, as well as Lewis, spoke of the unity of God while acknowledging our divine heritage as His children. In Romans 8:16-17, Paul refers to believers as “heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ,” suggesting that we are part of God’s eternal family with the potential to inherit His divine nature.

When the early Christian fathers or scholars like Lewis mention “gods” in reference to believers, they speak of a future where we become glorified, perfected beings through God’s grace, not independent deities. This divine potential is an invitation for each of us to grow spiritually and align our lives with God’s purpose, culminating in an eternal relationship with Him.

In summary, this “multiplicity” language is an ancient way of capturing our promise of spiritual transformation and eventual perfection. It reflects our journey toward becoming more like God, not through our power, but through His—making us reflect His glory and love in all we do.

What to Reflect On for Today's Challenge:

The word “God” is a title. It’s not the actual name of Christ or our Heavenly Father. Could others, like you and I, one day be called by that title if we are faithful children of a being with the title of God?

This question pushes us to consider the depth of our divine identity and destiny. John 10:30-34 and Romans 8:16-17 offer insights, as Jesus Himself says, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, you are gods’?” and Paul speaks of our inheritance as “heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.” These passages encourage us to reflect on what it truly means to be children of God, with an inheritance beyond what we can imagine.

As usual I’d love to hear your thoughts—share your reflections in the comments section below.

Transcription:

Hi, my name is Joe Cirillo with Gospel First, and thanks for your decision to follow me on this exciting journey to find Christ's restored church in our day. But before I give you question number 10, did you get the answer to question number 9? Why do so many of the early Christian fathers, those that were closest to the New Testament church, and respected Christian scholars such as C. S. Lewis, speaks of there being multiple gods? Well, first, I want to ask, what is a Christian father? The term can mean different things to different people. In scholarly circles, Christian fathers referred to theologians from the 1st and 2nd centuries AD who either knew some or one of the original apostles, or were tutored by someone learned directly from one of the original apostles.

Now here's a couple quotes from one of the most famous Anglican theologians, whose name happens to be C. S. Lewis. It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you talk to may be one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship. And that was the Weight of Glory by C. S. Lewis. Again, a more complete statement of his beliefs from his book, Mere Christianity. The command BE PERFECT is not idealistic gas. Nor is it a command to do the impossible. He's going to make us into creatures that can obey that command. He said in the Bible that we were gods and he is going to make good his work. If we let him for, we can prevent him. If we choose, He will make the feeblest and filthiest of us into a god or goddess. Dazzling, radiant, immortal creature, pulsating all through with such energy and joy, and wisdom and love as we cannot now imagine. A bright stainless mirror which reflects back to God perfectly, though of course on a smaller scale. His own boundless power and delight and goodness.

The process will be long, and in parts very painful, but that is what we are in for. Nonetheless, he meant what he said, that's C. S. Lewis and Mere Christianity. So here's question number 10. The word God is a title. It's not the actual name of Christ and it is not the name of Heavenly Father. So could others like you and I be called using that same title someday if we are faithful children of a being with a title of God? Now, you can find the answer to this question in John chapter 10 verses 30 to 34 and Romans chapter 8 verses 16 to 17. And of course, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Now, I hope you've enjoyed this episode of Gospel First Lesson and have found it inspiring. For more insights on God's plan of happiness for you, you can visit our website at gospelfirst. net. Now, I'd love to hear from you, so please leave your questions or comments and in the comments section of this video. Also, you can help me spread the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ by hitting the like, subscribe, and share button. Together, we can make a difference. So, until next time, God Bless.