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Why Did God Create Man?


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Author's Bias | Interpretation: conservative | Inclination: dispensational | Seminary: none

1. Because Adam meets and talks with God (Gen 2:15-17), was man created for the purpose of providing fellowship for God? Consult Job 41:11; John 17:5, 24; Acts 17:24-25.

It has been implied that God created man for fellowship; however, God did not need to create man nor is He dependent on creation to be completely happy or completely fulfilled. God already had perfect love, fellowship and communication for all eternity within the Trinity.

John 17:5 reveals that there was a sharing of glory between the Father and the Son before creation.

John 17:24 reveals that there was love and communication between the Father and the Son before creation.

No one contributed anything to God that did not first come from God (Job 41:11). God does not need anything from human beings (Acts 17:24-25).

God is a distinctly unique being. Not only does He not need creation for anything, He could not need creation for anything. God is absolutely independent and self-sufficient.

2. Why was man created? Study Isaiah 43:7 and 62:3-5.

In his exhortation to the nation of Israel, Isaiah reveals that God created man for "His glory" (Isa 43:7). But what does "glory" mean?

"God's glory" refers to God's all encompassing goodness. The Bible may use this definition in 2 senses:

1. Glory in an abstract sense to describe His character.

Then Moses said, "Please, show me Your glory!" And He said, "I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the Lord before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion to whom I will show compassion." (Ex 33:18-19).

2. Glory in a tangible and visible sense.

In this sense God's moral goodness is seen as the pillar of cloud and fire (Ex 13:21; Lev 9:23-24; 1 Ki 8:11).

God's all encompassing goodness is seen in the form of Jesus Christ (John 2:11). Jesus shares His divine glory with Christians (John 17:5-6, 22) so that Believers may be transformed into the glorious image of God (2 Cor 3:18).

God is the object being glorified through the lives of Christians. Christians will be fully glorified at the end of time in God's heavenly presence (Rom 5:2; Col 3:4) where the glory of God will be seen everywhere (Rev 21:23).

3. With the above in view and the verses below, what conclusions do you draw for the question "why was man created?"

Then God said, "Let Us make mankind in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the livestock and over all the earth, and over every crawling thing that crawls on the earth." So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. (Gen 1:26-27)

Therefore they said to Him, "What are we to do, so that we may accomplish the works of God?" Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent." (John 6:28-29)

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all things for the glory of God. Do not offend Jews or Greeks, or the church of God; just as I also please everyone in all things, not seeking my own benefit but the benefit of the many, so that they may be saved. (1 Cor 10:31-33)

Believers are visibly seen and abstractly represent God's all encompassing goodness to the world. With an understanding of why man was created, the purpose of man becomes clear. Human beings are to "do all to the glory of God" by doing the work of God so that the world will "believe in Him whom He has sent."

Among all of His creations, God has determined that human beings would be meaningful to Him; He chose to delight in His people and to allow us to bring joy to His heart (Isa 62:3-5)

"Love the Bible and wisdom will love you; and it will preserve you; honor it and it will embrace you; these are the jewels which you should wear on your breasts and in your ears."

St. Jerome, Epist. CXXX, 400 A.D.

References:

1. Grudem W, Systematic Theology, Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan (1994).

2. Youngblood RF, Bruce FF, and Harrison RK, eds, Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson (1995).


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