You are gods? (Waitara)

Introduction

How does it make you feel with the title of this sermon? How does it feel if I was to say to you that you are a god? Would that sit well with you? Why doesn’t it sit well with you? What makes you feel uncomfortable with this thought?

Now you might think that I am blaspheming, or that I am sharing something that is an apostasy or heretical. But in fact, Jesus talks about this.

John 10:32–36 NLT

32 Jesus said, “At my Father’s direction I have done many good works. For which one are you going to stone me?” 33 They replied, “We’re stoning you not for any good work, but for blasphemy! You, a mere man, claim to be God.” 34 Jesus replied, “It is written in your own Scriptures that God said to certain leaders of the people, ‘I say, you are gods!’ 35 And you know that the Scriptures cannot be altered. So if those people who received God’s message were called ‘gods,’ 36 why do you call it blasphemy when I say, ‘I am the Son of God’? After all, the Father set me apart and sent me into the world.

Jesus here is referring to the verse that was shared in the Scripture reading. But, what does He say?

Jesus doesn’t call it blasphemy, why? Because He said those that received God’s message were called ‘gods’ and that they were set apart and sent into the world.

Jesus is ‘the’ Son of God, we are still His children but we must never forget the clear distinction of those that are God’s true children and Jesus reveals to us more on that as we read further.

John 10:37–38 NLT

37 Don’t believe me unless I carry out my Father’s work. 38 But if I do his work, believe in the evidence of the miraculous works I have done, even if you don’t believe me. Then you will know and understand that the Father is in me, and I am in the Father.”

The distinction that Jesus shares to us of those that are God’s children are those that does the work of the Father as well as we abide in Him.

The role of a Christian is an important one especially in this day and age, because we are the ones to bring knowledge and understanding through the inspiration of God’s Word and His Holy Spirit.

Unfortunately, many Christians today are distracted rather than abiding in the Life Giver, they are led astray to by the social and economic climate of this world. Christians nowadays abide in the Father and they abide in the world.

But this is not what God intended for His children. For we are to do the Father’s work and

Romans 13:12 NKJV

12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.

So, to surmise John 10:34-37:

Receive God’s message

Set apart and sent into the world by God.

Does the work of the Father.

Abides in the Father.

How many of you are fulfilling this? If you are, do you consider yourself now as gods? Or a child of God?

But, let’s elaborate more on this verse, because Psalms 82 has a lot more to say.

Psalms 82

Let’s have a read of Psalms 82

Psalm 82 NKJV

A Psalm of Asaph. 1 God stands in the congregation of the mighty; He judges among the gods. 2 How long will you judge unjustly, And show partiality to the wicked? Selah 3 Defend the poor and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and needy. 4 Deliver the poor and needy; Free them from the hand of the wicked. 5 They do not know, nor do they understand; They walk about in darkness; All the foundations of the earth are unstable. 6 I said, “You are gods, And all of you are children of the Most High. 7 But you shall die like men, And fall like one of the princes.” 8 Arise, O God, judge the earth; For You shall inherit all nations.

Q: How many times is God or gods mentioned here in this chapter?

Most people would acknowledge that God or gods is mentioned 4 times in this chapter (would you agree?), but what is interesting is that there is more than 4.

In fact, there is a fifth mention of God in this verse and we’re going to discover where, we’re also going to dissect this chapter and try to understand it a bit more, you see, I find this chapter important as I feel it deals with end time themes.

I am going to use a translator and convert only the words that that mention God or gods.

As you can see, there are 5 mentions of God/gods in this chapter, but Psalms 82:1 provides both you and I an insight into the setting of the scene of Psalms 82.

Understanding verse 1.

So, let’s explore verse 1 and try to understand what this verse is trying to tell us.

‘Elohim’ stands in the congregation of the ‘el’; He judges among the ‘elohim’

So, if we were to translate this into English it would mean this:

God stands in the congregation of the god; He judges among the gods.

Does that make sense? How do we interpret congregation of the god? How would we reword that because it doesn’t make sense in English?

Most modern translators would interpret god or ‘el’ as ‘divine assembly’ or ‘assembly of God’. NKJV & KJV states congregation of the mighty, NLT states heaven’s court, NASB states God’s own congregation.

Either way, there is an assembly of God’s people.

But why is God standing in that assembly? Why is He judging among the gods?

What imagery comes to mind with God standing in the midst of an assembly, where God is judging?

Where do we find the connection?

When I read this verse, I can’t help but notice a similar scene. in Daniel 12:1-3

Daniel 12:1–3 NKJV

1 “At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in the book. 2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever.

I can’t help by notice the similarity with Psalms 82:1

In Revelation 20:11-15 we also find God judging as well, however, here is the million dollar question, who is God judging with? Who are the ‘el’ (god)?

In Daniel and Revelation references, we find that God is with the saints and in Psalms 82:1 it says God judges among the god/mighty. Could this mean that we are gods?

Q: What does that mean? God judges among the god/mighty?

My message today is ‘you are gods?’

Are these verses connecting us to the idea that God’s people; the saints, are gods? Is the divine assembly or the assembly of God referring to some judgement where God judges among His children?

Are you ready to be god? How about this, are you ready to be a Christian?

The rest of Psalms 82

We understand that we are all created, and that there is no possible way that we can be a god because the rest of Psalms 82 describes our flaws.

Verse 2 we judge unjustly.

Verse 5 we do not know or understand, we walk around in darkness and we live in an unstable world.

Verse 7 we are not immortal and we die like the rest.

There is no equal with the Living God nor are we perfect and loving like our Father in Heaven.

However, we are children of God and on this earth we represent the Father as His children that should follows His will.

We have received God’s message, we are set apart and sent into this world, to do God’s work and to abide in Him.

Ambassadors our individual role

2 Corinthians 5:20–21 NKJV

20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Paul states that as God’s children, God is pleading through us to this world to help save those that are lost, those that are need of a Saviour. Those that Jesus is calling.

Psalm 82:3–4 NKJV

3 Defend the poor and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and needy. 4 Deliver the poor and needy; Free them from the hand of the wicked.

James tells us this in James 1:27

James 1:27 NKJV

27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

However, this is a role as an individual, to walk righteously and judge justly because there will come a time, where all that we have experienced and learnt on this earth will be used to judge the whole world when God judges among His children.

1 Corinthians 6:2–4 NKJV

2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? 4 If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge?

Who are the judges?

But what is fascinating is the second part of Psalms 82:1, you see it’s interesting to know that we as Christians are considered ‘elohim’, which is very weird of course, but let me share to you something very interesting in this word, because there is another reference to as ‘elohim’ in the Bible that connects it to His children.

Have a read of Exodus 21:1-6

Exodus 21:1–6 (NKJV)

1 “Now these are the judgments which you shall set before them: 2 If you buy a Hebrew servant, he shall serve six years; and in the seventh he shall go out free and pay nothing. 3 If he comes in by himself, he shall go out by himself; if he comes in married, then his wife shall go out with him. 4 If his master has given him a wife, and she has borne him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall be her master’s, and he shall go out by himself. 5 But if the servant plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,’ 6 then his master shall bring him to the judges. He shall also bring him to the door, or to the doorpost, and his master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve him forever.

Find which word would have Elohim?

The word for Elohim in Exodus 21 is ‘judges’! The judges in these instances were to help make the decisions for cases brought by the people. They were the ones who were designated to uphold justice and counsel the congregation to do right and to uphold the law of God.

The judges were to direct the hearts of the sinner to Christ, they were the representatives of God’s sovereignty. I mean when we think about a judge, who do they represent? What do they uphold? What are their roles in our system?

Although, Jesus does say Matthew 7:1-3

Matthew 7:1–3 NKJV

1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?

Jesus also says in John 7:24

John 7:24 NKJV

24 Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”

That is, our judgement should not be something that would put people down; a judgement of condemnation, our judgement should be ones that would help uplift and help others; encouraging judgement. One that benefits the one being judged to help them have a relationship if God.

It’s easy for people to make judgement on others but what are you really doing when you make those types of judgement? What are you really saying? Is it to uplift and encourage of downtrodden and discourage?

We as Christians, as God’s children, are better than these and so our judgement should be righteous judgement that helps people build that relationship with God and defends the poor, bring justice to the afflicted and needy, to deliver the poor and needy, and to free those from the hand of the wicked.

2 Corinthians 5:20, 21 We are ambassadors for Christ! Judges for Christ! We are His children.

You are gods! But that doesn’t mean that you can start raining down thunder from heaven or go out and start punishing people! Or even curse people and give them boils or leprosy.

No, you are God’s ambassadors, His servants to uphold His law and perform His judgements! To do what is right and holy because we are representing our Loving and Wonderful God who has redeemed us by His blood. You obey and follow as He commands. This is your duty and role.

What does that mean for us?

Some of you may not like the thought that I have just inserted that ‘you are gods’ and that’s OK.

I am uncomfortable with this title as well, because attached with this title includes a duty and a role that we need to uphold and maintain.

However, if you take the name that we’re all familiar with; Christian, and we do things that are contrary to being a Christian then you and I need to have discussion.

But there is a sense of duty that we need to uphold, a standard. Like me being an associate pastor to Waitara, there is a duty God and a duty in serving His church and His community. There is a duty to me to serve my family and a duty to myself. I play an important role as do we all to everyone that I meet because my role is to be an example as a follower of Jesus.

But in this social and economic climate, this role and duty is being attacked. You see it everywhere the vanity of this world and what it has to offer seems attractive to us Christians. We are being bombarded by the corrupted gospel of this world. Being a Christian is seen in the secular world as being offense because we’re battling to fit in. It’s easy to shift roles as Christian and secular but what we don’t realise is that we lead people astray and mar the image of God who is reflected in you.

Romans 12:1–2 NKJV

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Our duty is to God and God alone, we are His children and to take the name Christian you uphold the banner of His image. You have:

Receive God’s message

Set apart and sent into the world by God.

Do the work of the Father.

Abide in the Father.

The greatest want of the world is the want of men—men who will not be bought or sold, men who in their inmost souls are true and honest, men who do not fear to call sin by its right name, men whose conscience is as true to duty as the needle to the pole, men who will stand for the right though the heavens fall.

Conclusion

The promise here for all of us is that last verse, God is going to perform the final judgement, His final act on humanity and defend, perform justice, deliver and bring freedom to His children.

It is through Him that we can find our peace and surety.

You are gods! You are His representatives of Him on this earth! You know Him because you know His Word.

Are you willing to accept this role?

Amen.