It is my belief that we need salvation first. Then, as we follow the path, we can also transcend. I believe that we are the literal spirit children of God. That He is called Father because He is our Father (which also requires that we have a Mother, doesn't it? maybe She is too sacred to be commonly discussed?). As children of God, we are gods and goddesses in embryo. We have much more potential than we can see in this state, because we are so undeveloped. We have far to go to reach the ultimate possible ends of our journeys. But, ultimately, it is not unreachable.