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9. Our Divine Potential: Heirs of God
What Latter-day Saints believe
Latter-day Saints believe that because we are God’s children, we can grow to become like Him through the grace of Jesus Christ. Children grow up to be like their parents. The Bible calls the faithful “heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.” We will always worship our Father in Heaven, and this growth is entirely possible only through the Savior.
Key verses
1. Romans 8:16-17
16The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17And 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.
We are “children of God... heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.” An heir receives what the parent has.
2. Matthew 5:48
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” Jesus would not command something impossible.
3. Psalm 82:6
I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.
“Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.”
4. John 10:33-36
33The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. 34Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? 35If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; 36Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?
Jesus quotes Psalm 82 to defend Himself: “Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?”
5. Revelation 3:21
To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
“To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne.”
6. Revelation 21:7
He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
“He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.”
7. 1 John 3:2
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
“When he shall appear, we shall be like him.”
8. 2 Peter 1:4
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
We can become “partakers of the divine nature.”
9. 2 Corinthians 3:18
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
We are “changed into the same image from glory to glory.”
10. Galatians 4:7
Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
“Thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”
11. Ephesians 4:13
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
We grow “unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.”
How other Christians read these verses
Many Christians read these verses as describing a share in God’s blessings and holiness, not as becoming like God in His nature. Eastern Orthodox Christians teach theosis, or deification, which has some similarities. Many readers also take Psalm 82 to speak of human judges. Latter-day Saints believe God’s children can truly become like their Father.
Full index: 27 verses
Includes the key verses above, the Church's Topical Guide, and every King James verse that uses these words: heirs of God, joint-heirs. Key verses are highlighted. Tap a book to open it.
Genesis (2)
Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
Genesis 3:22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:
Leviticus (1)
Leviticus 19:2 Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy.
Psalms (3)
Psalm 8:5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
Psalm 8:6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
Psalm 82:6 I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.
Matthew (1)
Matthew 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Luke (1)
Luke 24:39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
John (4)
John 10:33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
John 10:34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?
John 10:35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
John 10:36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?
Acts (1)
Acts 17:29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.
Romans (2)
Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Romans 8:17 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.
2 Corinthians (1)
2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Galatians (1)
Galatians 4:7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Ephesians (1)
Ephesians 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
2 Timothy (3)
2 Timothy 2:10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
2 Timothy 2:11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:
2 Timothy 2:12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
Hebrews (1)
Hebrews 12:9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
1 Peter (1)
1 Peter 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
2 Peter (1)
2 Peter 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
1 John (1)
1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
Revelation (2)
Revelation 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
Revelation 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
