God’s creation of humanity is a central theme in the Bible. As the all-powerful, all-knowing Creator, God had no needs or deficiencies that Creation could fulfill. Rather, the act of creating humans and the physical universe was an overflow of God’s infinite love, generosity and creativity. Throughout Scripture, God reveals that He created mankind for His glory, for fellowship with Him, to reflect His image, and for us to enjoy Him forever.
For God’s Glory
The primary reason God created mankind is for His own glory. Being the supreme being, Creator and Sustainer of all things, God deserves all honor, praise and glory. God created us so we would worship Him and declare His greatness. The Westminster Shorter Catechism summarizes this truth beautifully: “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.”
Several Bible verses reveal this purpose. Isaiah 43:7 states, “everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” Romans 11:36 says, “For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.” 1 Corinthians 10:31 teaches, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” Revelation 4:11 declares, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” Clearly, everything God does is ultimately for His glory.
Creating the vast universe with its galactic wonders was one way God displayed His greatness. However, God purposed to manifest His glory even further by creating mankind in His image. Of all creation, only humans can consciously know, worship and glorify God. We have the capacity to declare God’s praises with our words, songs, thoughts, and actions. This brings honor to God in a special way. God created us so we can freely choose to glorify Him by living in loving relationship with Him.
For Fellowship
Out of His boundless love, God also created us for fellowship and communion with Himself. God has no deficiencies or unmet needs. However, He graciously allows created beings like us to know Him personally and experience intimate relationship with Him. From the very beginning, Scripture shows God walking in the Garden of Eden in close relationship with Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:8). God calls us to fellowship with Himself.
1 Corinthians 1:9 says “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” 1 John 1:3 proclaims, “That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.” These verses indicate that humans were created to participate in personal communion with God Himself.
Knowing and loving God is the greatest privilege imaginable. Through Christ, sinful humans can be cleansed and brought into God’s holy presence. We were made to share intimacy with our Creator and Lord. This brings Him glory as we surrender our lives to Him and enjoy relationship with God.
To Reflect God’s Image
Genesis 1:26 reveals another major purpose for human creation: “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.’” Of all physical creation, only humanity bears the image of God. This sets us apart, giving human life inherent dignity and worth. Bearing God’s image does not mean we are mini-gods or somehow equivalent to God. We merely reflect God’s character in a limited, dependent, finite way.
Aspects of God’s image in people include:
- Moral nature – we can discern right from wrong.
- Reason – we can think logically and creatively.
- Spiritual dimension – we can relate to God.
- Capacity to love.
Bearing God’s image gives humans dignity, worth and responsibilities. All human life has value regardless of gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, disabilities, age or stage of development. Protecting innocent human life demonstrates respect for our Creator. Reflecting God’s character also means living by His moral standards. Though marred by sin, we still bear God’s image and can reflect Him through morally upright living.
To Enjoy God Forever
Not only were we created to glorify, know and reflect God, we were also made to enjoy unbroken fellowship with Him forever. God created a perfect paradise in the Garden of Eden where Adam and Eve could delight in His presence continually. Tragically, sin ruptured this idyllic environment and brought devastation into Creation. However, God continued working out His plan to bring humankind into eternal paradise.
Jesus promised His followers, “I go to prepare a place for you . . . that where I am you may be also” (John 14:2-3). Revelation 21-22 describes in vivid detail the dazzling New Heavens and New Earth where God’s people will live and reign forever. This magnificent future era will be even greater than Eden’s original paradise. We were created to enjoy God’s goodness this side of Heaven and next enjoy perfect fellowship with Him for eternity.
These astounding realities should fill us with wonder and gratitude. As human beings, we have the staggering privilege to exist for God’s glory, enjoy intimate friendship with Him, reflect His character in the world, and live with Him forever. Truly, “we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).
Humanity’s Purpose Revealed Through Creation
God’s purpose and intentions for humanity can be further seen through how He created the world and humankind. A close study of Genesis 1-2 provides many insights into why God made us and what He desires for human life.
Made in God’s Image
Genesis 1:26-27 proclaims that God made humans in His own image and likeness. This means we are unique among all creatures because we share attributes with God like self-awareness, morality, creativity, reason, emotions, and the capacity for relationship. Being image-bearers of Almighty God gives human life inherent dignity, worth and purpose. We are set apart from animals to reflect God’s character in how we live and relate to Him.
Made Male and Female
God deliberately created humans as male and female. Genesis 1:27 states, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” This teaches that God’s image is somehow reflected through both genders. Men and women are equal before God yet wonderful compliments to each other. Biblical marriage between man and woman displays the unity-in-diversity within God’s nature.
Blessed by God
The very first words God spoke to humans were a blessing: “And God blessed them. And God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth…” (Gen. 1:28). To “be fruitful and multiply” here refers to procreation. An important aspect of God’s purpose for humanity is for husbands and wives to have children and raise up godly offspring. We were created for intimate family relationships.
Appointed Rulers
Genesis 1:28 also reveals that God appointed mankind as rulers over the earth: “…and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Humans are managers and stewards on God’s behalf. We were designed to care for creation in productive, benevolent ways that honor God.
Placed in Paradise
Genesis 2 provides more details about the paradise God created for humanity’s dwelling. The Garden of Eden provided abundant food, rivers, mineral resources, and beauty for Adam and Eve’s nourishment and enjoyment. Our Creator wants the best for us! He crafted an ideal environment to showcase His love and sustain human community.
As Genesis 1-2 show, God made humankind in His image for relationship, responsibility, care-giving, and enjoyment in perfect harmony with Himself. Tragically sin corrupted God’s good design, but Christ’s redemption makes it possible to fulfill our purpose once again.
Old Testament Insights on God’s Purpose for Humanity
While Genesis provides the foundation for understanding God’s design for mankind, the rest of the Old Testament expands on humanity’s purpose. Here are some key insights it provides:
To Know God
“Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 9:23-24)
To Do Justice and Righteousness
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8)
To Love God and Neighbor
“And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10:27 referencing Deuteronomy 6:5)
To Represent God on Earth
“What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet” (Psalms 8:4-6)
These passages indicate we are made to know, love and obey God. We are appointed as stewards who represent God’s rule on earth. Our lives are meant to demonstrate His righteousness, justice, compassion and lordship over all creation.
New Testament Revelation About Humanity’s Purpose
The New Testament affirms God’s original design and purpose for humanity found in Genesis 1-2. It also provides additional details about why God created us.
To Do Good Works
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)
To Become Like Christ
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” (Romans 8:28-29)
To Bear Spiritual Fruit
“By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.” (John 15:8)
To Praise God
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)
Through Christ, God enables us to fulfill our original purpose once again. We are redeemed and empowered to bear spiritual fruit, do good, become Christlike, and bring glory to God in all things.
Theologians on Why God Created Mankind
Through the centuries, respected theologians and Bible scholars have articulated what they believe to be God’s purpose and motivation for creating humankind. Here are a few examples of their insights:
Martin Luther
Martin Luther, the German monk who sparked the Protestant Reformation, wrote:
“Man is God’s very best creature, created tolive forever. God made him for his own sake, to serve him and enjoy him. This is man’s chief end: to glorify God and enjoy him forever. Because God made man for this purpose, he made him able to rule the animals, fish and birds, and placed all things under his dominion.”
John Calvin
John Calvin, one of the most influential Christian thinkers of the Reformation, said:
“For by the very circumstance of his having been created man is in a manner invited to meditate on the infinite wisdom, goodness, and power of God…Man was so created that this duration of days would be for him just so many invitations to consider the liberality with which God the Father deals out life to his creatures.”
Matthew Henry
Matthew Henry, author of a famous Bible commentary, explained it this way:
“God made man, not only to serve Him, but to enjoy Him; to enjoy his favor, and love,and grace here, and to enjoy him forever in heaven. Man was not made to enjoy the world, but to enjoy God.”
Charles Spurgeon
Revered 19th century preacher Charles Spurgeon said:
“The great object of God in the creation of man was to show forth His own glory. He has so constituted human nature that we must find our happiness in seeking and obeying God…God looks on all men with affection and love, and His greatest desire is that they should glorify Him by becoming holy.”
A.W. Tozer
A.W. Tozer, a modern theologian, expressed it like this:
“God made man in His own likeness to serve as His agent for expressing the divine kind of life and character on earth. The function of man, therefore, is to know, enjoy and manifest God in the visible world.”
These trusted Bible teachers recognized that Scripture reveals God created us primarily for His glory and pleasure. Our lives are meant to demonstrate His character and live in loving relationship with Him.
Fulfilling Our Created Purpose
Despite God’s originally good plan for humanity, we rebelled against Him through sin and fell from our purpose. Yet amazingly, God did not abandon the masterpiece of His creation. He sent Jesus Christ to redeem and restore us through His death on the cross and resurrection from the grave. When we trust in Christ, our sins are forgiven and we are spiritually reborn, enabled to fulfill God’s purpose once again.
2 Corinthians 5:15 says Jesus “died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.” This is the key – we must continually die to selfishness and live for the glory of our Savior. As we submit our lives to following Jesus each day, He transforms our motives, desires, thoughts and actions to align with God’s design.
Living all of life for God’s glory is humanity’s highest purpose and greatest joy. C.S. Lewis aptly said, “In commanding us to glorify Him, God is inviting us to enjoy Him.” It is only when we seek to glorify our Creator that we experience true satisfaction and blessing. Our deepest longing to find identity, meaning and fulfillment is fulfilled when we live for God’s purposes. We were designed, saved and called to glorify God with all that we are as His image-bearers.
Conclusion
In summary, Scripture reveals that God created mankind primarily for His own glory. He made us in His image to enjoy intimate fellowship with Him, to represent Him in caring for creation, to reflect His wise and loving character, and to find unending delight in Him. Our highest purpose and meaning in life is found when we live for God’s honor and His original intentions for how we should live. The wonderful news of the Gospel is that despite humanity’s rebellion against our Creator, He has redeemed us through Christ and enables us to glorify Him once again. By His grace and with His empowerment, we can fulfill our created purpose of enjoying and glorifying God forever.