What is mankinds Purpose?
Monkeytime
15 y
1,373
Hello,
Can anyone here show where in the bible God or Jesus specifically tells mankind what his purpose is?
Ya know, what is man to learn to do?
Or what is man to do?
What is the reason for mans existance?- Re: What is mankinds Purpose?
vektek
15 y
1,290
This is a reply to # 1,607,786
For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”†
18Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.
19One of you will say to me: “Then why does God still blame us? For who resists his will?”
20But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’”†
21Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?
22What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath–prepared for destruction?
23What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory–
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- Re: What is mankinds Purpose?
Monkeytime
15 y
1,309
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- Re: What is mankinds Purpose?
vektek
15 y
1,295
- Re: What is mankinds Purpose?
Monkeytime
15 y
1,291
MoreThis is a reply to # 1,607,834vektek,
Where did these verses said anything about the purpose of mankind, as far as what mankind was supposed to do or learn.- Re: What is mankinds Purpose?
vektek
15 y
1,332
This is a reply to # 1,607,837Advertisement
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”This program is probably one of the best on the market, especially for the price.”
One of your questions, was what is the purpose of man's existence?
And you asked for scriptures for support.
I'm sorry I did not clarify the particular question I was choosing to answer, but I think those scriptures I quoted answered the question of the purpose of man's existence very well.- Re: What is mankinds Purpose?
Monkeytime
15 y
1,363
This is a reply to # 1,607,853vektek,
So are you saying mankind is just a toy for God to do with as he chooses?
That man has no greater purpose than just being?
Isn't there something man is supposed to learn?
Isn't there something man is supposed to become?
Isn't there something man is supposed to do?- Re: What is mankinds Purpose?
vektek
15 y
1,280
This is a reply to # 1,607,878Uhhhh, are you still trying to tell us what you think those scriptures mean? I didn't say they mean what all you just said. Are you arguing with God here or me?
- Re: What is mankinds Purpose?
Monkeytime
15 y
1,243
- Re: What is mankinds Purpose?
vektek
15 y
1,314
This is a reply to # 1,607,889I'm saying they mean the purpose of mankind's existence is to glorify God, like thornsandnails said. That's a great purpose for mankind, isn't it? If we are vessels of mercy, we will benefit greatly, beyond words, in our purpose to glorify God. If we are vessels of wrath, not so much.
- Re: What is mankinds Purpose?
Monkeytime
15 y
1,363
This is a reply to # 1,607,899Why would God need mankind to just sit and Glorify him?
After all God has plenty of angels who can do this already.
What kind of Purpose is this for mankind?
Surely God has a Greater paln for mankind than to sit and praise and glorify him all day long?
If this was all God wanted, Why didn't God just take the sand by the sea and turn each grain of sand into a voice box Glorifying him?
- Re: What is mankinds Purpose?
vektek
15 y
1,323
This is a reply to # 1,607,907Advertisement
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”This program is probably one of the best on the market, especially for the price.”
Who ever said anything about sitting? We don't glorify God by just sitting. Although I'm sure there are instances where glorifying God might include sitting. :) We live, and move, and have our being in Him.
God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.
John Piper
God is glorified in His unmeasurable love for us, and all the riches His love brings to us. We will praise Him for this love, that we can't even fully grasp in our minds right now, forever. God doesn't need us for anything. But he does want us. There's a big difference in those two statements.- Re: What is mankinds Purpose?
Monkeytime
15 y
1,344
This is a reply to # 1,607,925What does any of this have to do with what the Purpose of mankind is?
Why did God Create mankind in the 1st place?
- Re: What is mankinds Purpose?
Monkeytime
15 y
1,344
- Re: What is mankinds Purpose?
vektek
15 y
1,323
- Re: What is mankinds Purpose?
Monkeytime
15 y
1,363
- Re: What is mankinds Purpose?
vektek
15 y
1,314
- Re: What is mankinds Purpose?
Monkeytime
15 y
1,243
- Re: What is mankinds Purpose?
thornsandnails
15 y
1,397
This is a reply to # 1,607,878
Monkeytime It seems that you do not get the same amount of awesome pleasure that I do being a vessel of honor instead of a vessel of destruction. I am pleased to be a vessel that the holy spirit works through. I am honored in knowing that no one deserves salvation, that we're all sinners. Yet in his grace he chose me.
I know I was not looking for him.
Romans 3:10-12: As it is written, There is none righteous, no not one; There is none that understandeth, There is none that seeketh after God; They have all turned aside, they are together become unprofitable; There is none that doeth good. no, not so much as one.
He justified me and the Spirit regenerated me. He made me alive. I did nothing.
Ephesians 2:1-3: And you did He make alive, when ye were dead through your trespasses and sins, wherein ye once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the powers of the air, of the spirit that now worketh in the sons of disobedience; among whom ye also all once lived in the lusts of your flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.
I am honored that the Father gave me to Christ, That Christ was not praying for the world but for ME
John 17: 6 "I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. 8For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. 9I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them.
I am not a puppet I am a vessel, He has ordained my steps.
Proverbs 240:24 A man's steps are from the LORD; how then can man understand his way?
I am pleased to know that whatever comes my way. Whether it be for him to give me a beautiful wife, yet afflict her with an chronic illness. Lose my Job, House or anything else. That it is for his glory. How awesome is that!
- Re: What is mankinds Purpose?
Monkeytime
15 y
1,292
- Re: What is mankinds Purpose?
thornsandnails
15 y
1,379
This is a reply to # 1,607,909Advertisement
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”This program is probably one of the best on the market, especially for the price.”
the passages demonstrate that we do nothing that everything is 100 percent God. My avatar reflects this everything is Christ. With that I am going to bed. It is after 10 and I have been working in the garden all day. I am pooped.
On my way out here is my prayer for you and anyone else reading this.
May God open your eyes and ears to his word. May he show you that you do nothing to please God. That everything is accomplished in him. He said he will keep us until the end. Not that we could do anything to keep ourselves. I pray that he gives you peace if you are suffering, and mercy if you are in pain. If you do not know him. I pray that he will reveal himself to you. then you can know the peace that he has given me. Goodnight curezone- Re: What is mankinds Purpose?
Monkeytime
15 y
1,275
This is a reply to # 1,607,941Your quote: "the passages demonstrate that we do nothing that everything is 100 percent God."
"It is after 10 and I have been working in the garden all day. I am pooped."
If what you say was True, that we do Nothing, then Why did you work all day in the Garden?
- Re: What is mankinds Purpose?
vektek
15 y
1,279
This is a reply to # 1,607,950
John 15:5 "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.
This is what thornandnails means, that without Christ, you can do nothing. Without Christ, non-believers would cease to exist, because their every breath comes from Him.
So thornandnails was just saying, God get's the glory in all things.
- Re: What is mankinds Purpose?
been there done that
15 y
1,478
This is a reply to # 1,607,950Advertisement
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”This program is probably one of the best on the market, especially for the price.”
Monkeytime,
You have a tendency to ask some VERY interesting questions, 'thinker'. That's the real way to learn well (by being a FREE THINKER instead of conforming to the church of man and it's teachings).
Since the church of man hasn't stolen your mind, what do you suppose would have happened if Adam didn't make the wrong decision in the Garden of Eden?
1) There would have been no need for God to send His son.
2) There would never have been any Israelites, Jews, Hebrews, bible, Disciples or Apostles.
That's right, the whole earth would be a "Garden" and we'd all be living in perfect harmony with God enjoying life for ourselves (this would have been our WHOLE purpose...TO SIMPLY ENJOY LIFE AND BE HAPPY).
Since God is the creator of earth and life, our happiness would bring Him "glory".
God is "glorified" by knowing that HE is responsible for us being HAPPY....
..........(of course, the whole world will be disappointed to realize that WE cannot PERFORM "glorification").....we can CAUSE it by doing the right thing, but we can't cause it with WORDS.
"Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by man, nor is he served by human hands" (Acts 17:24 and 25,....the Athenians were philosophers/THINKERS like you, Monkeytime)....spiritual understanding comes from a mind that can be philosophical.
The Lord doesn't want us to be condescending to Him (He doesn't want us to 'kiss up' or flatter Him), neither does He has no get pleasure from being COMPLEMENTED or patronized.
So what's all this "praise"?...it's what the people who "worship with lips"/sound do (you know, the ones who insist on fearing the loving kind creator).....
"And the Lord said: "Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment of men" (Isaiah 29:13).
Of course, God always knew how things would turn out in the Garden of Eden. Now our purpose is to learn the truth of our true heritage so that we can return to Him.
Our true and sincere desire to return to Him will "glorify" Him.
- Re: What is mankinds Purpose?
vektek
15 y
1,279
- Re: What is mankinds Purpose?
Monkeytime
15 y
1,275
- Re: What is mankinds Purpose?
thornsandnails
15 y
1,379
- Re: What is mankinds Purpose?
Monkeytime
15 y
1,292
- Re: What is mankinds Purpose?
vektek
15 y
1,280
- Re: What is mankinds Purpose?
Monkeytime
15 y
1,363
- Re: What is mankinds Purpose?
vektek
15 y
1,332
- Re: What is mankinds Purpose?
Monkeytime
15 y
1,291
- Re: What is mankinds Purpose?
vektek
15 y
1,295
- Re: What is mankinds Purpose?
Monkeytime
15 y
1,309
- Re: What is mankinds Purpose?
thornsandnails
15 y
1,393
This is a reply to # 1,607,786
Let's start in Eph 1:11
In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will
So first off those who call themselves Christians do so because God predestined them according to the council of his good will
So man's purpose is whatever God's will is for their lives
Lets look at a few examples of individuals and ask ourselves did they do anything, or did God do it just because he wanted to.
Jeremiah 1:4-5
4 Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
5 Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you;
I appointed you a prophet to the nations.
Now the prophet goes on in that chapter to say hey God I can't speak. The passage goes on to say that god reached own and touched his mouth and put his words in it.
So far this all God no man involved.
He tells him he will send the people to him. More God no man.
God's will for Jeremiah was to sit back and be a vessel for his use, his glory.
In Romans Paul speaks of two vessels one God creates for honorable use and one for dishonorable use.
We looked at an honorable example now lets look at a dishonorable one.
Exodus 14:17 And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen. 18 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.
God used not only Pharaoh but also on all his host (his army) to bring him honour.
Lets look at another passage about pharaoh
Romans 9:14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! 15 For he says to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion. 16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. 18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.
James got his concept very well. Chapter 4:13-17
Come now, you who say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit— 14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15 Instead you ought to say, If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that. 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.
So what is the right thing to do he is talking about in 17? Is it the law?
Lets see what Paul wrote to the church in Galatia Chapter 3
10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them. 11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for The righteous shall live by faith. 12 But the law is not of faith, rather The one who does them shall live by them. 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree— 14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.
So Paul says it is evident that we are not justified by faith (v11). So he is not talking about justification but sanctification in this Chapter
He makes this clear in the first part of the chapter
2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?
So you are seeing this consistent Spirit reference. We know to do what God desires us to do, not by the law, but by the leading of his spirit directing us to his perfect will for our lives.
St Augustine gave an example of people being beasts of burden (Horses if you may). He said these beasts have no will as to where to go as this is dictated by the rider. and there are only two riders God and the other guy. I have always loved this example because it shows us in such simple terms how it works
Monkeytime I think this has been said to you before. You could benefit from a good systematic theology course. or at least learn how to study systematically
My favorite is Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine
The first reviewer says this
"Though I have found immense help in Dr. Grudem's book over the past months, I have post-poned a review in order to get a complete reading of it first. Now that I have read it all, I can say that this may be the best systematic theology written in the 20th century."
I wholeheartedly agree. Anyone on this forum who does not want to go to seminary yet get the same quality systematic theology course, buy this book. It is used in many seminaries across the world.
Expand 17 messages, 21 to 37 of 37 Monkeytime
15 y
1,345
- Re: What is mankinds Purpose?
vektek
15 y
1,290
