We must grow "till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a PERFECT MAN " (Eph. 4:11-13). Then "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he CANNOT SIN, because he is born of God" (I John 3:9). "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of INCORRUPTIBLE, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever" (1 Pet. 1:23). "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is SPIRIT. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit" (John 3:3-8). He is INVISIBLE. "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also GLORIFIED together" (Rom. 8:17) in the future at "the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in INCORRUPTION: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in GLORY: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in POWER: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a SPIRITUAL body. There is a natural body, and there is a SPIRITUAL body" (1 Cor. 15:42-44). "For the Eternal ... will beautify the meek with salvation" (Ps. 149:4). They "shall shine like the brightness of the firmament" (Dan. 12:3). "Arise, shine" (Isa. 60:1).

Our Lord says humans will worship before our feet (Rev. 3:9). Therefore, He must be referring to when Christians are changed into immortal SONS OF GOD "in the twinkling of an eye" (1 Cor. 15:52). There is a spirit in man (Job 32:8) that is not in animal brains. This human spirit separates us from mere animal instinct (1 Cor. 2:11). In the same way, no man can understand spiritual knowledge except by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 2:11). "The Spirit (of God) itself joins with our (human) spirit, in testifying that we are the CHILDREN OF GOD: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God" (Rom. 8:16-17; NEB & KJV). "But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also QUICKEN (make immortal) your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you" (Rom. 8:11). We have been adopted into God's FAMILY (Rom. 8:15). Our Father has a very large FAMILY on earth (Eph. 3:14-15). But they are not born as spirit beings yet. At the present time, only two beings exist as God. They are God the Father (Gen. 14:19; Isa. 66:1; John 5:19) and the One who became Jesus Christ, our Creator (John 1:3,10; Eph. 3:9; 1 Cor. 10:4; Heb. 1:2). They are equals (John 5:18,26; Phil. 2:6). But since we are joint heirs with Christ, we will be glorified together with Him (Rom. 8:17). Whatever glory God the Father gave Christ, Christ will eventually give to us (John 17:11, 22). That includes the position of being Creator. We may generate eternal life ourselves (John 7:38; 4:14; 3:16; 6:47; etc.). God will "plant the heavens" (Isa. 51:16). "In thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand are there are pleasures for evermore" (Ps. 16:11).

What will we look like as sons in God's family? Since Christ's "countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength" (Rev. 1:16), we know that we may look like that if we overcome too, because He was the pioneer of our salvation (Rom. 8:29; Heb. 2:10; 5:9). "And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall (in the future resurrection) also bear the image of the HEAVENLY. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood (heirs) cannot INHERIT the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit INCORRUPTION. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep (in a grave), but we shall all be CHANGED, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised INCORRUPTIBLE, and we (who are then living) shall be CHANGED. For this corruptible (flesh) must put on INCORRUPTION (spirit) and this mortal must put on IMMORTALITY" (1 Cor. 15:49-53).

"What is man, that thou art mindful of him? ... Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands (creation): Thou hast put all things (the universe -- Moffatt) in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto GLORY, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren" (Heb. 2:6-11). Our Lord Jesus Christ "shall change our vile body (flesh), that it may be fashioned like unto his GLORIOUS body" (Phil. 3:20-21). "And this is the record, that God hath given to us ETERNAL LIFE" (1 John 5:11-12) when we are "MADE PERFECT" (Heb. 11:39-40).

"It has been justly said that men resemble the gods most chiefly in doing good." (Strabo 10:3) "The philosopher who is occupied with that which is divine and orderly, himself becomes divine and orderly as far as lies in man's power." (Plato de rep. 6:13) "If the idea we have of a philosopher and his profession were, merely to wear a cloak and long hair, those who do so may be entitled to the name: but if it be rather, to keep himself free from faults, why are not those who do not fulfill the profession deprived of the title? When we see one handle an axe awkwardly we say, 'This man is no carpenter; and when we hear anyone sing badly, we say, 'This fellow is no musician:' So should it be with philosophers who act contrary to their profession." (Epict. 4:8) "'Tis true, 'tis certain, man though dead retains Part of himself, -- the immortal mind remains." (Homer's Iliad)

"The excellent and liberal man will so conduct him- self as if he were a law to himself." (Aristotle Eth 4:8) "Accustom yourself to command the belly, sleep, lust, and anger." (Pythagoras Aur. Car. 9) "God is never in any respect unjust; but as just as possible; and there is not anything that resembles him more than the man amongst us who has likewise become as just as possible." (Plato Theaet. 85). "It is not lawful for anyone who has not studied philosophy and departed this life perfectly pure, to pass into the ranks of gods; but only for the true lover of wisdom. And on this account those who philosophize rightly abstain from all bodily desires, and persevere in doing so." (Plat. Phaedo 32) "He is not to plead against adulterers who has himself committed adultery, nor to defend insolent conduct, being himself insolent; but one who is liberated from passions, that he may become a true accuser of injustice." (Max. Tyr. diss. 15)

"Would you know where the chief good is to be found! It is in the mind. Unless this be pure and holy it is not fit for the residence of God." (Seneca Epist. 87) "The gods, though immortal, do not grudge through so great a duration of time to bear with so many wicked ones of every sort; nay more, they take all manner of care of them: and dost thou who art so soon to perish grow weary of bearing with them; and that, too, being thyself one of them." (M. Anton. 7:70) "It will be a great advantage to you to remember this of the gods, that they do not wish us to flatter them but to imitate them." (M. Anton 10:8) "By ill life we torture the God who is in us." (Pythagoras). Our bodies are "houses" (Job 4:19; 2 Chr. 6 and "temples" (John 2:15; 1 Chr. 3:16). "Convince the world that you're devout and true, Be just in all you say, in all you do" -- Juvenal