In our previous postings, we began to excoriate the SEVEN DOCTRINAL EMPHASES propounded by Dr. Joseph Tkach, Jr., ex-President of the Grace Communion International in his book Transformed by Truth.  We have found his first two doctrines as convoluted concoctions not only unsupported in the Scriptures but also linguistically indefensible. […]

Sub-Title 1:  From Truth To Gobbledygook

 

Opening Statement:

• By Andy Yparraguirre

        Administrator

        Time-To-Measure Website

 

In our previous postings, we began to excoriate the SEVEN DOCTRINAL EMPHASES propounded by Dr. Joseph Tkach, Jr., ex-President of the Grace Communion International in his book Transformed by Truth.  We have found his first doctrine on the subject of the Trinity as convoluted concoctions not only unsupported in the Scriptures but also linguistically indefensible.

In this post, we will take a close look at his Doctrine No. 2 mentioned in the same book Transformed by Truth as posted on the internet.  

Copied verbatim below is Dr. Tkach’s discussion.  Belo Alvaran’s comments are in red.

2. Who Is Man?

While we thought that true believers would be resurrected to eternal life, we taught that unbelievers remained dead for one thousand years longer. This would have major implications for our teaching on the afterlife.

We taught that God was literally reproducing Himself through mankind. Our destiny was not to remain merely human, but to become God—born again as members of GOD’S FAMILY just as human children are fully human, so (we thought) God’s children will be fully God.

Today we recognize that OUR DESTINY IS NOT TO BECOME GOD; He is forever separate, holy, and blessed, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, WHO ALONE IS IMMORTAL and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see” (1 Timothy 6:15–16). He alone is uncreated; we are His creation, brought into existence by His creative power. He is without beginning or ending. We humans have a beginning. THE REDEEMED WILL ONE DAY BE GLORIFIED AND RECEIVE INDESTRUCTIBLE BODIES LIKE THAT OF THE LORD JESUS AFTER HIS RESURRECTION, BUT WE WILL NEVER BECOME GOD. THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE.

Sub-Title 2:  God’s Two-Phased Plan

Let’s check Genesis 1:26 where  God’s TWO-PHASED PLAN was mentioned:

Gene 1:26 (KJV) And God said, Let us make man in our IMAGE (Phase 1), after our LIKENESS (Phase 2):…

The word “IMAGE” translated from the Hebrew word tselem, item 6754 in Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, means simply a similitude, a phantom, ghost.  In God’s spirit world, we humans are ghosts.  We are made of CLAY.  

Isai 64:8 (KJV, some Israelite people speaking) But now, O LORD, you are our father; we [are] the CLAY, and you our POTTER; and we all [are] the work of your hand.

By contrast, the word “LIKENESS” in God’s plan, Heb demooth, item 1823 in Strong’s, means “CONCRETELY MODEL”.  The key word is “MODEL”.  

According to the online dictionary, the word MODEL means:

• a STANDARD or example for IMITATION or comparison.

Source: https://www.dictionary.com/browse/model?s=t

Real estate developers would advertise their products by constructing house models for buyers to choose from.  They would then construct the house according to the SPECS (specifications) of the model chosen by the buyer.  Those house MODELS therefore are there for IMITATION.

In our case, GOD IS OUR MODEL.  God wants to create us after his own SPECS!  We are to imitate God!

EXACT COPY OF GOD

The word “likeness” therefore, Heb demooth, means EXACT COPY or replicate looking the same as the original in material, form, size and features.  God is spirit; therefore his replicates are also spirit. But to become like God, we need to acquire his attributes:  we need to acquire HIS WAYS, and his Son’s THOUGHTS.  

Phil 2:5 (KJV, Paul speaking) Let this MIND be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

God’s WAYS are not unknown:

Psa 103:6  (KJV, David singing God’s praises) The LORD executes righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed. 7 He made known HIS WAYS unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel. 

Prov 23:26 (KJV, Godly wisdom personified speaking) My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes OBSERVE my WAYS. 

OBSERVE, item 5341 in Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, means to guard, protect, maintain, obey, KEEP; preserve.

As for acquiring his Son’s thoughts, God and his Son think alike.  Here’s what God says about his thoughts:  

Isaiah 55:8 (KJV, the LORD addressing THE WICKED) For my thoughts [are] not your thoughts, neither [are] your ways my ways, said the LORD.  (But WICKED man could acquire God’s ways, and his Son’s thoughts IF THE WICKED CEASES BEING WICKED!)

In the preceding verse, God gave an instruction to the WICKED:

Isa 55:7  (KJV) Let the WICKED FORSAKE his WAY, and the UNRIGHTEOUS man his THOUGHTS: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him;… 

Sub-Title 3:  Image and Likeness Not Same

In the Greek language used by Paul in his writings, the word IMAGE, Gr. eikon, also means LIKENESS so that King James translators interchanged them:

1Cor 15:45  (KJV, Paul speaking) And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul (human); the last Adam (Jesus Christ) was made a…spirit… 47  The first man is of the earth, earthy (subject to death, made of clay): the second man is the Lord (Jesus) from heaven (everliving, made of spirit)…49  And as we have borne the image (LIKENESS) of the earthy (i.e., carnal, subject to death), we shall also bear the image (LIKENESS – i.e., spirit, not subject to death) of the heavenly. 

Since the words “image” and “likeness” are interchangeable in the Greek, let us use “likeness” in Paul’s other writings where “image” was used to get the unadulterated message.  Here’s one of them

Colo 1:15 (KJV, Paul speaking) The Son (Jesus Christ) is the image LIKENESS of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: (Christ was already crucified and resurrected as SPIRIT being at this time.)

Clearly, Paul’s statements were consistent with God’s Plan in Gene 1:26! From clay images, God is molding man into his LIKENESS:

Jere 18:6 (KJV, the LORD speaking) O House of Israel (Gentiles were grafted onto the House of Israel, so Gentiles are also being addressed here), cannot I do with you as this potter? said the LORD. Behold, as the clay [is] in the potter’s hand, so [are] you in my hand, O House of Israel (and Gentiles as well!).

Sub-Title 4:  God’s Work Still in Phase 1 

Humans, at this point in time, are created in God’s IMAGE in the form of animated clay models, which is only Phase 1 in his Plan, but God wants to create us in his LIKENESS, made of spirit, afterwards:  

Gene 1:27 (KJV) So God created man in his [own] IMAGE (made of clay), in the IMAGE of God (i.e., Phase 1) created he him; male and female created he them.

Gene 5:1 (KJV) This [is] the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man (in his image, Phase 1), in the LIKENESS of God (to be) MADE he him (Phase 2, but God has not done that, yet!);

The word “MADE” in Gene 5:1, Heb asah, item 6213, means “to do, to fashion, to accomplish, to make” – indicating unfinished work.  Its completion is still future.

Sub-Title 5:  Phase 1 Completed, Phase 2 Begins

Gene 1:27 (KJV) So God created man in his [own] IMAGE, in the IMAGE of God created he him (Phase 1); male and female created he them.

God is therefore now working on the second phase of his Work Plan, i.e., to create man after his own LIKENESS.  The Church, specifically, the Worldwide Church of God, was founded by God Himself through human instruments to teach members his ways in preparation for his plan’s second phase.  

Sub-Title 6: We Are God’s Children

2Co 6:18  (KJV, Paul, who was taught for three years by the resurrected Christ, speaking to his converts) And (God) will be a FATHER unto you, and you shall be my SONS AND DAUGHTERS, said the Lord Almighty. 

Psa 82:1  (KJV) A Psalm of Asaph. God stands in the congregation of the mighty; he judges among the GODS. 6  I have said, You are GODS; and all of YOU ARE CHILDREN OF THE MOST HIGH. 

Now, we can discuss Dr. Tkach’s arguments based on 1Tim 6:13.  Let’s review what he said and then read the verses cited by him.  Here is what he said, verbatim:

“Today we recognize that OUR DESTINY IS NOT TO BECOME GOD; He is forever separate, holy, and blessed, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, WHO ALONE IS IMMORTAL and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see” (1 Timothy 6:15–16).

Let’s see the verses he cited:

1Ti 6:13 (KJV, Paul admonishing Timothy)  I give you charge in the sight of God…and before Christ Jesus…14  That you keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: 15  Which in his times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; 16  Who only has immortality, dwelling in the light which no MAN can approach unto; whom no MAN has seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power everlasting. Amen. 

Comments:  Man, because he is mortal and made of flesh, cannot see God.  David, who was a prophet, said he will behold God’s face when he becomes LIKE God:

Psal 17:15 (KJV, David’s prayer) As for me, I will behold your face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied when I awake (at resurrection) with your LIKENESS.

Of course David could not behold God’s face if he were not spirit like God.  Moses asked God to show him his spirit body, this was God’s reply:  

Exod 33:18 (KJV) And Moses said (to the LORD), I beseech you, show me your glory (as spirit being)…20  And the LORD said, You cannot see my face: for there shall NO MAN (carnal, subject to death, human) see me, and live.

Dr. Tkach is putting a barrier between God and man. Let him continue:

“He alone is uncreated; we are His creation, brought into existence by His creative power. He is without beginning or ending. We humans have a beginning.

THE REDEEMED WILL ONE DAY BE GLORIFIED AND RECEIVE INDESTRUCTIBLE BODIES LIKE THAT OF THE LORD JESUS AFTER HIS RESURRECTION, BUT WE WILL NEVER BECOME GOD. THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE.

So, who are the GODS that Christ mentioned in John 10:34?

John 10:23  (KJV) And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch. 24  Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long do you make us to doubt? If you be the Christ, tell us plainly. 25  Jesus answered them, I told you, and you believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me….

31  Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32  Jesus answered them, Many good works have I showed you from my Father; for which of those works do you stone me? 33  The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone you not; but for blasphemy; and because that you, being a man, MAKE YOURSELF GOD. 

34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, YOU ARE GODS? 

Christ cited from the book of Psalms.  The book of Psalms is part of the Jewish Law. Let’s see what it says:

Psa 82:1  A Psalm of Asaph. God stands in the congregation of the mighty; he judges among the Gods (the word Gods is Elohim in Hebrew, same word to describe God Almighty!). 

Psa 82:2  (God Almighty was chastising his “fellow Gods” who were still humans) How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked?  3  Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. 4  Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked. 5  They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course. 6  I have said, YOU ARE GODS (Heb. Elohim); and all of you are CHILDREN OF THE MOST HIGH. 

Let Christ continue:

John 10:35  If he called them GODS (Elohim), unto whom the word of God came, and THE SCRIPTURE CANNOT BE BROKEN; 36  Say you of him, whom the Father had sanctified, and sent into the world, You blaspheme; because I said, I am the SON OF GOD? 

So, to summarize, when God finishes his creation process in us, we will appear IN THE LIKENESS of God in material, form, size and features. Not only that, we shall be Christ’s brethren.

Roma 8:29 (KJV, paraphrased) For whom God the Father did foreknow (both Israelites and Gentiles), he also did predestinate [to be] fashioned unto the image LIKENESS of his Son (Jesus Christ, who is now a spirit being), that THE SON MIGHT BE THE FIRSTBORN AMONG MANY (SPIRIT) BRETHREN.

If Jesus Christ, the firstborn, is called Son of God, whose sons are his brethren?  

The conclusion is incontrovertible:  we shall be called Sons of God, and sons of God are GODS like Christ!

Among God’s physical creation, there are animals called ANTHROPOIDS, such as the frogs, monkeys, apes, which have human features but are not humans.

In Dr. Tkach’s doctrine, there will be spirit beings who will look like God, think and behave like Christ, but unlike Christ, they shall not be called Gods.  Dr. Tkach didn’t mention how they shall be called.

How about calling them TKACHOPOIDS? Just kidding!

Clearly, Dr. Tkach’s second doctrine is — gobbledygook!

ADMINISTRATOR’S PARTING WORDS:

BUILT ON FAULTY FOUNDATION

It’s not difficult to see why Dr. Joseph Tkach, Jr. and his group believe that man’s “destiny is not to become God” and that man “will never become God”. They embrace the faulty doctrinal foundation that God is a Trinity composed of three (3) supreme coequal divine persons. Hence what can we expect? As George Fuechsel, an early IBM programmer, put it, “garbage in, garbage out”. The truth is, as explained in the previous rebuttal article, God is not a Trinity because God the Father is definitely greater than His Son Jesus Christ in authority and the Holy Spirit is by no means a divine person. As a consequence to their faulty belief, Dr. Tkach and company are  figuratively placed in a box and constrained to view God as an exclusive club of only three divine persons that don’t welcome new membership. This compelled them to close eyes over plain scriptures that would have deepened their understanding of God’s purpose for creating man male and female after the image and likeness of their creators. God is reproducing God beings out of man through the Holy Spirit (Rom 8:11) that flows from Him. This is the awesome truth thoroughly expounded in the scriptures that Dr. Tkach and the grace believers rejected.

FACE TO FACE WITH GOD

Consider this principle. God’s words do not and should not contradict each other. Dr. Tkach quoted 1Timothy 6:15-16 where it is stated that God “lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see” to support his claim that man will never become God. However, he failed to account other scriptures which clearly state that those called sons of God today, referring to Christ’s disciples and God’s servants, shall, in the future, be able to see God the Father as He is, face to face.

“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knows us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he (the Father) shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” (1Jn 3:1-2)

“And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.” (Rev 22:3-4)

And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. (Rev 7:2-3)

“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:” (Rev 1:1)

ANOTHER GOBBLEDYGOOK

To Dr. Tkach and his followers, if man shall become a member of God family he will also become coequal with that One Supreme God in authority and power. Therefore it is impossible. They cannot accept the simple truth that in the coming kingdom the sons and daughters of God will have lesser rank, authority and power than the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. In the human family, and more so in the Family of God, the father is always higher in power and authority over his children. That is why one of God’s commandments is to give honor to father and mother. But Dr. Tkach’s destiny of man doctrine muddled this basic truth. That makes his doctrine nothing but just another religious gobbledygook.

Our next installment in defense of Herbert W. Armstrong and our faith will tackle the question about Salvation.  Is Salvation a one-off event in a man’s life that occurs the moment he puts his trust in Jesus Christ, as explained by Dr. Tkach in his book Transformed by Truth?  My associate Belo Alvaran has prepared some surprises for you.

If you have questions or comments please direct them to:

Andy Yparraguirre

luklok522000@yahoo.com ;

Belo Alvaran

beloalvaran@yahoo.com

Thank you and may God continue guiding you into all truth.

Andres Yparraguirre

Administrator

Time-To-Measure Website