Chapter 4: God’s Purpose for Mankind
In exploring what God reveals about Himself, we have delved deeply into the Old Testament and New. We’ve looked at clear passages about God the Father and the Son of God. We have even examined several often-misunderstood scriptures and learned how the writers of the Bible and the early Church understood the Holy Spirit. But God didn’t record all this just as an academic exercise.
Based on what we’ve seen, let’s now focus on God’s purpose for creating mankind. Understanding what the Bible teaches about our potential helps us understand God’s character and rounds out the picture of who God is.
As we will soon see, this information about why we exist is ignored or suppressed by the more popular explanations of God. They fail to adequately convey the amazing destiny God has in store for humanity.
God’s plan for man revealed at our creation
In preparing the earth for mankind, God created the plants and animals each “according to its kind” (Genesis 1:11-12, 21, 24-25). Man, however, was created differently. Mankind was made in the image of God.
As the creation account explains, “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him, male and female He created them” (verse 27). Being made in God’s image and being given “dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth” differentiated humans from all other physical life on earth (verse 26).
Being made in God’s image and given dominion over the earth means we were given the ability to communicate, reason, plan and rule over the earth in a way that animals cannot. From the very beginning, mankind had the preeminent status in God’s physical creation. Being made this way indicates that God had a special purpose for mankind.
The Bible later reveals that this purpose was for humans to become part of the God family.
Created to rule
Musing on God’s creation and mankind’s esteemed role within it, King David asks, “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him?” (Psalm 8:3-4).
David then notes the unique position God had given mankind: “For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen—even the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea that pass through the paths of the seas” (verses 5-8).
And why was mankind so favored by God? Why did God give mankind dominion—rulership—over the earth? Because God has a great purpose for humans that far exceeds that of the remainder of His creation.
Building upon this observation by King David, the book of Hebrews notes: “‘You [God] have put all things in subjection under his [mankind’s] feet.’ For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him” (Hebrews 2:8).
So what else is going to be put under mankind’s jurisdiction? What else is mankind destined to rule over?
Verse 7 explains that mankind’s status is currently “lower than the angels.” But God’s plan is for us to eventually be over “all things” (verse 8). Verse 5 explains that the angels will not be in charge of “the world to come.”
Jesus Christ and the saints—people who have been faithful to God’s calling—will reign over the earth when He returns (Revelation 1:6; 2:26-27; 5:10). In addition to assisting Christ in establishing the Kingdom of God here on earth, God’s faithful people will apparently at this time also be over the angels (1 Corinthians 6:2-3). God truly has great plans for those who will submit to His beneficial laws and way of life.
How we become members of the God family
In addition to ruling with Christ, God’s ultimate purpose for creating humans is to have them become part of His eternal family. As we have already noted, God the Father is the head of “the whole family in heaven and earth” (Ephesians 3:14-15).
The process begins when the Father opens our minds to comprehend His teaching and plan (John 6:44, 65) and then has us come to Him through His Son (John 3:17; 1 John 4:9). Expounding upon the reason the Word became flesh, John writes: “He [the Word] came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:11-13).
This passage explains that it is God’s will that we become His children. But this doesn’t just happen automatically. God expects something of us.
The biblical process for responding to God’s call requires us to repent of our sins, be baptized and have hands laid on us so we can receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38; 19:6). Having the Holy Spirit—the power of God—helps us to live in a way that pleases God, and it identifies us as belonging to God (Romans 8:8-9).
We are to use the power of the Holy Spirit to help us grow in the “fruit of the Spirit”—to become like God. Paul lists the fruit of the Spirit as “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, selfcontrol” (Galatians 5:22-23; read more in our online section “The Fruit of the Spirit”).
And now we come to something truly astounding.
Paul writes in Romans 8:14: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” Here we are told that even though we are human, we are already considered sons of God if we follow the lead of the Holy Spirit. How can this be?
Paul continues: “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom [whereby, King James Version] we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit Himself [itself, KJV] bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God” (verses 15-16, compare 2 Corinthians 6:18; Galatians 4:6; Hebrews 2:10-15).
Reflecting on this amazingly kind, generous and merciful plan that God has for us, we are reminded that we were made in the image of God at creation and mankind has continued to be in God’s image even after sin entered the world.
Christ, who did not sin, is even more so in the image of God (Colossians 1:15; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Hebrews 1:3), and this is why we are instructed to let Christ’s mind be in us (Philippians 2:5). As we grow spiritually, we conform to the image of the Son (Romans 8:29).
In short, through the Holy Spirit in us, we are to take on the family characteristics of God. In this process, we begin to act like God acts. We begin to think like God thinks. We begin to do things that God does. We become like God. Just as children in human families take on and exhibit family characteristics, we take on and exhibit characteristics of the God family.
Let’s now return to what Paul writes in Romans 8:14-16, where we saw that if we have God’s Holy Spirit within us and follow its direction in our lives, God already considers us part of His divine family.
Why does God do this? Because He is the One “who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did” (Romans 4:17). God sees in advance where the path we have chosen will lead. If we remain faithful to God and do not abort this process by neglect or not repenting of sin, we will in due time become part of God’s eternal family.
Addressing this same point, John writes: “And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 John 5:11-12).
Of course, for now we are still flesh and blood. What else will occur when we transition from this physical life to full-fledged members of the God family?
Glorification as spirit beings
Peter comments on the blessing of having “the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord” (2 Peter 1:2), explaining that we have been given “exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature” (verse 4).
John also writes of this amazing future: “When He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2). The destiny of those who respond to God’s calling is to eventually have the same nature as God.
This means we will exchange our physical existence for one that is spiritual. We will become spirit beings—we will “bear the image of the heavenly Man [Christ]” (1 Corinthians 15:49).
We will not be equal with God. God will always be the Supreme Head of His family. But we will be elevated from this human level of existence to the God level.
The transition from being flesh and blood to being spirit occurs when we are resurrected—brought back to life from the grave—or changed into spirit if we are alive at Christ’s return (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; 1 Corinthians 15:50-52). King David knew this would occur for him when he would awake from the grave. As he put it: “As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in your likeness” (Psalm 17:15).
Explaining this transition from physical life to spiritual life, Paul writes: “The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body … For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality” (1 Corinthians 15:42-44, 53).
In this statement Paul reveals something else about our future spiritual state. Not only will we be spiritual, immortal beings, we will also be glorified. Foreseeing the glory that those who respond to God would receive after being resurrected, Daniel describes them as ones who will “shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever” (Daniel 12:3).
As amazing as it may sound, the glorification of faithful humans when they are changed into spirit is often repeated in Scripture. In Hebrews 2:10 Christ’s ministry is described as one of “bringing many sons to glory,” and Peter speaks of our remaining faithful to God so “when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away” (1 Peter 5:4).
And as we might expect, God the Father is the member of the God family who oversees not only our calling (John 6:44) but also our glorification. Paul explains: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified” (Romans 8:28-30).
In this passage we see God the Father and the Son calling and working with humans so they can be added to the family of God. Since all humans are made in God’s image, God “desires all men to be saved” and is “not willing that any should perish” (1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9). This is who God is and what His plan is for humanity.
For further study, see “How to Become a Child of God” and “Children of God.”
How should we respond?
We have now seen how God is revealed in the Bible and His astounding purpose for mankind. God’s plan for us is truly one of love and compassion that is sure to be fulfilled. As the psalmist notes: “The Lord’s purpose is eternal, the designs of his heart go on through all the generations of man” (Psalm 33:11, Bible in Basic English).
Perhaps this is why John, the apostle who had a special relationship with Christ and who reveals in his writings so much of what God is like, says simply: “God is love” (1 John 4:8).
Our Creator wants us to respond to Him with love just as He demonstrated His love for us by allowing Christ to die for us “while we were still sinners” (Romans 5:8).
And how do we love God?
The apostle John answers: “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3). Starting to keep all of God’s commandments—including the one that tells us to rest on the Sabbath, the seventh day of the week, Saturday—is a first step in this process.
John further explains: “And everyone who has this hope in Him [of becoming part of the God family] purifies himself, just as He [God] is pure” (1 John 3:3). Paul words this concept similarly, encouraging the Thessalonians to “walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory” (1 Thessalonians 2:12).
When we repent of our sins and start living by God’s commands, God is there to help us and encourage us, similar to the way a human father can lovingly encourage his child. Those of us who are part of the Church of God, a Worldwide Association, are also willing to assist you in your quest to fulfill the destiny God desires for you.
If you begin attending Sabbath services in one of our congregations, you will hear the timeless truth of first-century Christianity as opposed to the traditions and ideas of men. At our services you will also be able to speak with a trained minister, who can answer your biblical questions and suggest additional resources to help you grow in your spiritual understanding.
We suggest you begin or enhance your relationship with God by reading the article “The 10 Commandments for Today” and the articles associated with it, by subscribing to our free magazine titled Discern, and by attending a congregation of the Church of God, a Worldwide Association, near you.
Having a knowledge of God and His plan for mankind is of little value unless we respond to our loving Creator. As James writes: “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!” (James 2:19). Hearing and knowing is not enough. We have to be “doers” (Romans 2:13; James 1:22).
Paul writes that God “will render to each one according to his deeds” (Romans 2:6). Then Paul lists the two possible judgments we can receive: “Eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath” (verses 7-8).
We in the Church of God, a Worldwide Association, hope you will be among those who repent and seek God’s forgiveness and help—who change their lives and gratefully receive glory, honor and immortality as children of God. Let us know how we can help.