The term "Godlike" refers to qualities or attributes that resemble or reflect the nature of God. In the Christian tradition, being Godlike is often associated with embodying the virtues and characteristics that are inherent in God's nature, such as holiness, love, justice, mercy, and truth. The concept of being Godlike is rooted in the biblical understanding of humanity being created in the image of God, as stated in Genesis 1:27: "So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them" .

Imago Dei

The foundational concept of being Godlike is tied to the doctrine of Imago Dei, which means "Image of God." This doctrine asserts that human beings are created with a unique capacity to reflect God's character and attributes. This reflection is not merely physical but encompasses moral, spiritual, and intellectual dimensions. The Imago Dei implies a call to live in a manner that mirrors God's holiness and righteousness.

Holiness and Righteousness

Holiness is a central attribute of God, and being Godlike involves striving for holiness in one's life. Leviticus 19:2 commands, "Speak to the whole congregation of the Israelites and tell them: ‘Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy’" . Similarly, 1 Peter 1:15-16 echoes this call: "But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy'" . Righteousness, closely related to holiness, involves living in accordance with God's standards and commands.

Love and Compassion

God is described as love in 1 John 4:8: "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love" . To be Godlike is to embody love and compassion in interactions with others. Jesus emphasized this in the Great Commandment, as recorded in Matthew 22:37-39: "Jesus declared, 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself'" .

Justice and Mercy

God's nature is also characterized by justice and mercy. Psalm 89:14 states, "Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; loving devotion and truth go before You" . Being Godlike involves upholding justice and showing mercy, as reflected in Micah 6:8: "He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" .

Truth and Faithfulness

Truth is an essential attribute of God, and being Godlike involves living a life of integrity and faithfulness. Jesus declared Himself to be "the way, the truth, and the life" in John 14:6 . Christians are called to reflect this truth in their lives, as Ephesians 4:25 instructs: "Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body" .

Transformation and Renewal

The process of becoming Godlike is one of transformation and renewal, as believers are conformed to the image of Christ. Romans 12:2 exhorts, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God" . This transformation is a work of the Holy Spirit, who empowers believers to grow in Godliness.

Conclusion

While human beings are inherently limited and fallible, the call to be Godlike is a call to pursue a life that reflects the divine attributes of God. Through the power of the Holy Spirit and the example of Jesus Christ, believers are encouraged to grow in holiness, love, justice, mercy, truth, and faithfulness, embodying the character of God in their daily lives.(a.) Resembling or befitting a god or God; divine; hence, preeminently good; as, godlike virtue.2304. theios -- divine
... godlike, divine, godhead. From theos; godlike (neuter as noun, divinity): - divine,
godhead. see GREEK theos. (theias) -- 2 Occurrences. 2303, 2304. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2304.htm - 7k

Concerning the Seraphim and Cherubim and Thrones, and Concerning ...
... whilst admitting this as the arrangement of the holy Hierarchies, affirm, that every
appellation of the celestial Minds denotes the Godlike characteristic of ...
/.../dionysius/on the heavenly hierarchy/caput vii concerning the seraphim.htm

The Likeness of God
... distinctly, lest we should mistake a matter of such boundless importance as the
question of all questions"What is the life of God, the Divine and Godlike life ...
/.../kingsley/discipline and other sermons/sermon xxiv the likeness of god.htm

Concerning Lordships and Powers and Authorities, and Concerning ...
... God, to its utmost ability; and the appellation of the Holy Powers denotes a certain
courageous and unflinching virility, for all those Godlike energies within ...
/.../dionysius/on the heavenly hierarchy/caput viii concerning lordships and.htm

Concerning Things Performed in the Muron, and Concerning Things ...
... For by looking away from the undistorted and well imitated image of the Godlike
virtue to that contemplated and fragrant beauty, he thus moulds and fashions it ...
/.../dionysius/ecclesiastical hierarchy/caput iv i concerning things.htm

Whether in Christ There were virtues?
... vii, 1), virtue is contrasted with a "certain heroic or godlike habit" which is
attributed to godlike men. But this belongs chiefly to Christ. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether in christ there were.htm

Whether Love is the Same as Dilection?
... Nom. iv) that "some holy men have held that love means something more Godlike than
dilection does.". ... And consequently love is more Godlike than dilection. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether love is the same.htm

That Divine and Heavenly Things are Appropriately Revealed, Even ...
... we must be carried through the representations; in order that we also may not, like
the vulgar, irreverently think that the heavenly and Godlike minds are ...
/.../dionysius/on the heavenly hierarchy/caput ii that divine and.htm

Concerning the Ranks of the Initiated.
... yet led back from the worse to holy efforts; and another as having been led back,
indeed, but not yet having a chaste fixedness in more Godlike and tranquil ...
/.../dionysius/ecclesiastical hierarchy/caput vi i concerning the.htm

Concerning Sacerdotal Consecrations.
... it has likewise a threefold division of the Hierarchy, which is divided into the
most holy ministrations of the Mystic Rites, and into the Godlike ministers of ...
/.../dionysius/ecclesiastical hierarchy/caput v i concerning sacerdotal.htm

Letter ix. To Titus, Hierarch, Asking by Letter what is the House ...
... of the shapeless and unformed; of which, if any one were able to see their inner
hidden beauty, he will find every one of them mystical and Godlike, and filled ...
/.../dionysius/letters of dionysius the areopagite/letter ix to titus hierarch.htm

Godlike (4 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Resembling or befitting a god or God; divine; hence,
preeminently good; as, godlike virtue. ...Godlike (4 Occurrences). ...
/g/godlike.htm - 7k

Godliness (16 Occurrences)

/g/godliness.htm - 12k

Libertines (1 Occurrence)
... 16:3, "bounty" substitutes "liberality." It is well to bear in mind that a Biblical
liberality can spring only out of a noble soul, and is Godlike in its ...
/l/libertines.htm - 11k

Liberally (4 Occurrences)
... 16:3, "bounty" substitutes "liberality." It is well to bear in mind that a Biblical
liberality can spring only out of a noble soul, and is Godlike in its ...
/l/liberally.htm - 8k

Liberality (7 Occurrences)
... 16:3, "bounty" substitutes "liberality." It is well to bear in mind that a Biblical
liberality can spring only out of a noble soul, and is Godlike in its ...
/l/liberality.htm - 10k

Liberal (11 Occurrences)
... 16:3, "bounty" substitutes "liberality." It is well to bear in mind that a Biblical
liberality can spring only out of a noble soul, and is Godlike in its ...
/l/liberal.htm - 12k

Godlessness (3 Occurrences)

/g/godlessness.htm - 7k

Divinely (11 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (adv.) In a divine or godlike manner; holily;
admirably or excellently in a supreme degree. 2. (adv ...
/d/divinely.htm - 10k

Divine (39 Occurrences)
... the gods. 5. (a.) Godlike; heavenly; excellent in the highest degree; supremely
admirable; apparently above what is human. In this ...
/d/divine.htm - 19k

Borrowing (1 Occurrence)
... If that death was the close of a life so beautiful, so remarkable, so Godlike, we
are faced with an insoluble mystery-the permanent triumph of wrong over right ...
/b/borrowing.htm - 52k

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