God has presented us with the flesh vs. the spirit (Himself), as if we are to weigh them in our own hands and choose between them.
I see that we are much in agreement. Grace and peace to you as well!
Sure.
That misses the point that God is not flesh, but spirit, and that our purposed future is to be One with Him and "like Him." There is nothing metaphoric about it.
With regard to what you say specifically here, no, there's nothing metaphorical there. But in what Jesus says in Luke 11:33-36, He's indisputably speaking metaphorically. God the Father and God the Son are one in each other, certainly, but they are distinct Persons. As are we, and as will we be, together and with the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. But with regard to the physical body, we will be, one day, just like the Son, and not the Father or the Spirit, Who both, we agree, are Spirit.
Revelation 21:23
The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.
Hmmm, well, Scripture says what it says, for sure. But we... disagree on some things therein, obviously, or what the true thrust and meaning of the text. So be it.
We already are (in our flesh bodies). That is...as Jesus also "was" before His ascension.
Interesting. And what makes you think He disappeared after His ascension? And what makes you think He will return out of body, when he descends from heaven with a cry of command, as Paul puts it in 1 Thessalonians 4:16? After His ascension, Scott, I'm sure you know that the two men standing His disciples in white robes said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven." I'm... sure you will have an interesting answer, but why are you contradicting that? Eh... no answer necessary. I mean, certainly, do whatever you feel compelled to do, but I don't require an answer to that. :)
However, John saying we would be "like Him" did not mean that we would be what he had already known of Jesus, but rather what "has not yet been revealed", just as he said. Which is to say, "as He is" and as we too will be in that same Oneness with the Father (whom is spirit), which no man except Jesus had yet seen. So, the likeness is not of Jesus was as a man--that much had "been revealed", but rather as Jesus now "is" in the same existence as the Father--whom is spirit.
Interesting. Again, a contradiction of several Scriptures ~ for example, when Jesus said, in John 10, while physically present with the Jews to whom He was speaking at the Feast of Dedication, "The Father and I are..." ~ not "will be" ~ "...one" (John 10:30) ~ but interesting none the less.
I do not dabble in opinion..
You're not alone in asserting that... :) And... not purposefully, I'm sure. :) We all have opinions, Scott. And we all think we're right, which is... often a problem, even unto ourselves.
Grace and peace to you.