The Shepherds Way (TSW) ~ Eric W. King: Christian Theosis

What is Christian Theosis?

By Eric William King (Presbyter of "Antiochene Christianity")

Theosis is a Greek word used by early Christians. It denotes the idea of a person becoming “God like” or “Christ like” in his or her nature. Becoming Godlike through Jesus Christ is more precisely described as “apotheosis”. Now before I go on let me state that here at “The Shepherds Way” we do not understand both of these terms in the sense of the Greek Orthodox Church or even other "orthodoxies". We have our proper understanding found only within the first 451 years of Christ’s church.

St. Peter states (under inspiration from the Holy Spirit) that true Christians become partakers of “the Divine Nature” (2^nd Peter 1:4) which happens through the process of progressive sanctification (Christian maturity). What we teach here is called “Antiochene Christianity” or if you will “Ancient Antiochene Christianity” which is a title I coined some years ago throughout my studies and struggles with my own faith. Now, we here do not believe that one can lose his or her salvation. In this sense we believe that true salvation is a complete “work of God”. What we do teach is “positional sanctification”, which is the act of salvation in one’s personal life, when you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord, God and Savior (being “born again” or “born from above”) and second “progressive sanctification” which is the growth process…one moving in Christian maturity. Here are some Scripture references regarding progressive sanctification:

Romans 8:23-25: Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

Romans 11:22: Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.

Romans 13:11: And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.

1 Corinthians 1:18: For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

1 Corinthians 15:2: By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

2 Corinthians 2:15: For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.

So true progressive sanctification is true “theosis”, the transformative process with the personal aim of true union with God. So what is “union with God”? Well, the Scriptures teach that ultimately God is a family. When you join His church through regeneration you become a legitimate member of “the God family”. God has always been a family of three; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Collectively we call all three “One God” so when we join the God family we become truly one with God. Apostle Paul calls this transformation a “mystery”, something that is never humanly understood.

Philippians 2:5-11 King James Version (KJV)

⁵Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

⁶Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

⁷But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

⁸And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

⁹Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

¹⁰That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

¹¹And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

So the act of true theosis in your Christian life is the personal development of the “mind of Christ in you”. This is a lifelong process. Only through the recognition of the completed work in and through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ can this truly happen. He will ultimately complete this work in you:

Philippians 1:6:

New International Version
being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

New Living Translation
And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

By God’s means of grace we partake in this process. Even Martin Luther believed in true theosis. As a matter of fact there was no question about this doctrine in the first 451 years of the church (up to the Council of Chalcedon). In ending let me say that true theosis does not teach that through Christ we “become little gods”…no, it teaches that through the one Jesus Christ we become one with the true God…and God is a family. All those born again - many Christians - we become ONE BODY.

I hope this brief statement helps my fellow Christian brothers & sisters at “The Shepherds Way” understand the true process of Christian Theosis.

Eric William King (Founder of TSW & “Nugget of Truth”)