We looked two weeks ago at how the prophets kept warning Israel not to break the covenant and misrepresent God’s character. In so many ways, over so many years – for generations – they kept failing to live up to the calling that God had placed on them. Sometimes, they just rebelled. Other times, it was because they kept misunderstanding what it was that pleased God because they didn’t understand what God was really like..
Either way, it didn’t seem to consistently click with them that because God was “compassionate and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in faithfulness and truth," [1], as he told Moses, that they should be looking more and more like that instead of less and less like that.
The Prophets kept saying: “You’ve broken covenant – repent, turn around, head in the right direction.” They exposed sin and idolatry, and called for repentance and justice and holiness. They kept pointing them toward a really good God with a life-giving path not just for them but for the whole world.
Failing to get it right wasn’t just a failure to properly introduce other nations to Yahweh; it was catastrophic for the children of God. When you don’t follow the path of life, you follow a path toward destruction. If you remember Jewish history, they eventually end up in exile, separated from the Land of Promise and housed in their spiritual opposite, Babylon.
When Jesus arrived as God in the Flesh, he gave a desperately needed revelation for those who saw God through obscurity and darkness.[2] Jesus told them, “If you have seen me, you have seen the father.”[3]As Jesus’ life unfolded, he demonstrated over and over that God really is “compassionate and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in faithfulness and truth.” It was a game-changing revelation to have the Living Word and not just the written word.
John 1:18 – “No one has ever seen God; but the one and only Son, who is himself God… has made him known.”
This may be a silly example, but as a kid, I loved reading about dinosaurs and seeing pictures of what people thought they might have looked like. But when Jurassic Park came out? I was so, so excited. So THAT’S what a dinosaur is actually like!!! I wonder if the arrival of Jesus was something like that. ( I warned you it was silly.)Their holy scrolls came to life and walked among them as a living image of what God has always been like, even when his people misunderstood Him.
They misunderstood God and His heart as recorded in the written word, so the Living Word incarnated – God in the flesh, fully God and fully human - to show them in person what God is like and what kind of heart God has. People could still misunderstand him, of course. And they did. We still do. But it’s the clearest possible way God could make himself known.
So, we are going to revisit the list from two weeks ago with the prophetic rebukes in the Old Testament and show how Jesus stepped into each of those spaces and revealed what God is like, and what His heart is like.
But Jesus didn’t just reveal God in the flesh. Tom reminded us last week that Jesus intends to take shape in us, through us, as us (in some sense). This is theosis—participation in the very life of God.[4] Jesus invites us to not just follow him but to become the truest image- bearer we can be with the help of Holy Spirit transformation. We are invited to experience the true “life of the age” (aonios or eternal life) that God offers to us.
So we will look at 9 opportunities for theosis by looking at a) what the prophets said, b) what Jesus revealed, c) what that reveals about God, and d) what theosis looks like.
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The prophets condemned exploitation of the poor, widows, orphans, and foreigners (Isaiah 10:1–2; Amos 5:11–12, to cite two of many references).
Jesus declares his mission is “good news to the poor, freedom for the oppressed” (Luke 4:18). He singles out the widow’s[5] offering for praise. (Mark 12:41-44) He tells his followers: “When you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind” (Luke 14:13).
God defends the vulnerable and the voiceless; God’s power is meek (strength restrained for good), not exploitative. “Call thousands of angels,” said Satan. “Bully your way through the world.” No, not that way. That was not the way of Jesus; it’s not the heart of God.
We experience theosis when we participate in being like Jesus by siding with the vulnerable and voiceless, by advocating for justice and mercy, so that all are invited not only to feast at the banquet of God’s spiritual provision, but also to experience the provision and care of God through the people of God. That looks a lot like Jesus.
The prophets exposed the elevation of external rituals as a cover-up for corrupt hearts (Jeremiah 2:13; Hosea 8:4)
Jesus confronts a temple system that kept the poor and the Gentiles from worshipping in the Temple (Matthew 21:12-13). He taught the Samaritan woman that right worship doesn’t rely on the right buildings; true worship happens “in spirit and truth” (John 4:21-24).
God is known through relationship, not ritual. Rituals may help us order our lives in a way that keeps God on the front burner of our minds, but they are meant to give structure to relationship, not be the relationship. God wants our hearts, our time, our thoughts, our loves, in Spirit and in truth.
We experience theosis when we are in righteous relationships with God and others “in spirit and in truth.” I am pretty sure Jesus meant a) that the worship of our hearts is what matters rather than locations, and b) truth should always put false traditions or teachings in their place. When worship is our lifestyle, when we are in steady communion with God, we look a lot like Jesus.
The Prophets denounced empty sacrifices and lip-service religion (Isaiah 1:11-17; Micah 6:6-8).
So did Jesus:“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!” (Matthew 23) because they strained a gnat and swallowed a camel. (Matthew 23:34). Jesus revealed God’s integrity through his priorities. He healed on the Sabbath to show that compassion and care outweigh legalistic boundaries (Mark 3:1-6). He demands authenticity in prayer (Matthew 6:5-6). Grand prayers mean nothing in and of themselves if they are not coming from the right kind of heart.
God desires mercy more than empty sacrifices that might look impressive. He wants integrity over performance. He wants authenticity over a good veneer.
We experience theosis when we let compassion interrupt our legalism. When worship leads us to love, when prayers move us toward action, and when authenticity replaces performance, we participate in life with Jesus.
The Prophets condemned nations that embraced violence and shed innocent blood. (Isaiah 59:7; Amos 1)
Jesus went even further. He commanded his followers to love their enemies (Matthew 5:43-48). He rebuked Peter for using the sword (Matthew 26:52). He forgave his executioners on the cross (Luke 23:34).
God conquers by self-giving love, not force. When Jesus returns in John’s apocalyptic vision in Revelation, Jesus’ robe is dipped in blood before the battle begins. It’s his blood. That’s how the battle is won. By His word (the sword in his mouth) and His blood. God fights with truth and cruciform love.
We experience theosis when we refuse to respond to violence with violence, to harm with harm, to sin with sin. We embody the cruciform power of Christ when we forgive those who damage us, and when we let love have the last word, we look more and more like Jesus.
The Prophets said, “Woe to those who add house to house and join field to field.” (Isaiah 5:8)
Jesus agreed: “You cannot serve both God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24). He saw an idol in the heart of the rich young ruler, and he challenged him to sell all and follow him (Mark 10:17-31). When he ate with Zacchaeus, he turned his greed into generosity (Luke 19:1-10).
God owns the cattle on a thousand hills - and He gives them to his people. God gives good gifts to His children (Matthew 7:11) from the storehouse of His abundance. Abundance is for sharing; possessions exist for love’s sake.
We experience theosis when we hold our resources with open hands, using what we have to bless others. When generosity loosens the grip of greed. When joy replaces anxiety because our trust is in divine provision, not accumulation, then we increasingly look like Jesus.
The Prophets said: “Your heart became proud on account of your beauty” (Ezekiel 28:17), but the arrogant will be humbled (Isaiah 2:11).
Jesus washed his disciples’ feet (John 13). He taught that, “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled” (Luke 14:11). He emptied himself, taking the form of a servant (Philippians 2:5-8).
Ezer (helper) is used 16 times in the Old Testament to refer to God as the helper of Israel. God himself offered His people humble service.
We experience theosis when we choose humility over status, and service over self-promotion. When we lift burdens, sit with outcasts, and honor others by serving them, we reflect the God who bent low to raise us up.
The Prophets warned them not to neglect justice and righteousness (Amos 5:24, Micah 6:8, Isaiah 1:17).
Jesus condemned the Pharisees tithing minutiae while “neglecting the weightier matters of the law — justice, mercy, and faithfulness” (Matthew 23:23). He restored societal outcasts (lepers, Samaritans, prostitutes, tax collecters, adulterers). He began the Beatitudes with blessings on the merciful and peacemakers (Matthew 5:7-9).
Justice and mercy are the heartbeat of God’s kingdom. His love is expressed through His just and merciful care of His image bearers.
We experience theosis when we let our hearts break for what breaks God’s heart. When we use our voice for the voiceless, our influence for the oppressed, and our presence for the lonely, we reveal the image of the just and merciful Jesus.
The Prophets claimed that Israel forgot her vocation to bless the nations (Jonah; Isaiah 49:6).
Jesus honored Gentile faith (the centurion, Matthew 8:10; the Canaanite woman, Matthew 15:28). He declared the temple a “house of prayer for all nations” (Mark 11:17). He sent disciples “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8, rooted in his Great Commission).
God’s kingdom breaks the artificial borders the world puts up that separate “us” from “them.” His love reaches to all the people in all the places.
We experience theosis when we cross barriers of culture, class, and comfort to extend the welcome of Christ. When we build tables long enough for all to join us, we become participants in God’s reconciling mission.
The Prophets warned against trusting unholy alliances and military strength (Isaiah 31:1; Hosea 10:13).
Jesus rejected Satan’s offer of worldly kingdoms (Matthew 4:8-10). He enters Jerusalem on a donkey, not a warhorse (Matthew 21:5). He insisted that His kingdom was not of this world (John 18:36).
God, the true King, rules through peace, through love. His most powerful moment was demonstrated on the cross. Then He rose again. He doesn’t need any help. There is no need to find worldly allies. God is enough.
We experience theosis when we lay down our need to control outcomes and trust in the Lamb’s way of power. When we choose faithfulness over fear, prayer over panic, and peace over coercion, we manifest a kingdom that cannot be shaken while looking more and more like Jesus.
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Let’s use this opportunity to move toward spiritual reflection and theosis.
Jesus stood with the poor, the sick, and the overlooked.
Jesus’ heart moved him toward the vulnerable; does mine? Is there pain Jesus sees that I don’t want to see because it makes me uncomfortable? Do I use my strength to protect the weak? Do I increasingly look like Jesus to the poor and powerless around me?
We know God desires worship built on relationship.
Am I more focused on doing the right religious things, or on being a Christ-follower in right relationship with God and others? Am I embracing worship as my lifestyle, not just something that happens on Sunday? Do I increasingly look like Jesus as my life reflects true devotion to God in my heart and with my hands?
Jesus warned against praying to be seen, giving to be admired, and fasting to look holy.
Do I serve because I love, or because I like being seen as loving? Am I polishing the outside while neglecting the inside? Where might I be hiding a cold heart or compromised life behind a good image? Do I increasingly look like Jesus in that there is integrity - integration - between inner reality and outer expression?
We know Jesus builds his Kingdom by self-giving love, not force, because Jesus stopped the sword and forgave those who crucified him.
Do I really trust that cruciform love is powerful enough to win the day? When I feel threatened or wronged, do I respond from a place of love? Am I more interested in winning the fight or embodying the cross? Do I increasingly look like Jesus as I use the way of Jesus to partner in accomplishing the purposes of Jesus?
We know Jesus loves to see abundance generously shared.
Does the way I save and share reveal a heart shaped by fear of scarcity or trust in abundance? The heart of God is revealed in Jesus’ open, nail-scarred hands; where am I refusing to open my arms and unclench my hands? Do I increasingly look like Jesus by being 'broken and spilled out' for the sake of others?
Jesus became a servant to all and knelt to wash feet.
How do I respond when I’m asked to serve beneath my status or comfort? Do I believe humility is beneath me, or that it is the truest expression of who I am in Christ? Do I increasingly look like Jesus in my willingness to offer humble service, even if it feels embarrassing and uncomfortable?
Jesus called justice, mercy, and faith/fulness the “weightier matters” of the law. If this is the heart of God revealed in Jesus, am I committed to prioritizing those things too? Am I ignoring injustice, mercilessness, or faithlessness that should be on my radar, or do I increasingly look like Jesus?
Jesus marveled at the faith of Romans and Samaritans and called the temple “a house of prayer for all nations.”
Do I draw lines of separation God is trying to erase? Do I believe God’s call to love stops where my discomfort begins? Who have I assumed is too far gone, too different, or too wrong to be invited tothe table? Do I increasingly look like Jesus by my invitational posture toward everyone?
Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey, not a warhorse, offering a counter-cultural, peace-filled Kingdom.
Do I want a kingdom of power and privilege or one that heals the world through service and love? Can I trust that cruciform love, not coercion or control, is the power of God? As an ambassador for Jesus introducing people to the way of Jesus, do I increasingly look like Jesus?
When compassion replaces indifference, when justice and mercy guide our steps, when humility bends us in service to others, when we forgive as we’ve been forgiven, when generosity opens our hands, when love crosses every border so that “whosoever will may come,” (Revelations 22:17) we experience theosis; Christ lives through us.
This is participation already in eternal life, a life in which the heartbeat of God is shared with and growing in His people. May Christ live through us and continually transform us into his image, until the day when he promises to make all things new (Revelation 21:5)
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[1] Exodus 34:6; similar language in Psalm 86:15, Psalm 103:8, and Joel 2:13.
[2] Isaiah 29:18
[3] John 14:9
[4] The goal is union, not sameness: Theosis does not mean humans become God in being, but that they are filled with God's presence and grace, making them "partakers of the divine nature". “The Orthodox Church understands theosis as a union with the energies of God and not with the essence of God which always remains hidden and unknown.” (Thomas Fitzgerald)
[5] Remember, the Hebrew word for “widow” has the idea of one who has no voice in society.