The Purpose of This Life

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

KelbyofGod

Senior Member
Oct 8, 2017
1,881
717
113
#1
Jesus commanded us in Matthew 10:27 "What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops." So, I'm going to be obedient to that (more or less) in sharing the answer to a prayer because I'd prefer that people understand the value of their current existence.

I once asked God "What is the purpose of this life?" (meaning man's earthly life). Surprising to me, God answered in about 30 seconds. "The purpose of this life is for man to CHOOSE."

And in honesty, I guess that's about all I need to share as the first post. :)

Love in Jesus,
Kelby
 

ForestGreenCook

Well-known member
Jul 8, 2018
8,318
1,184
113
#2
Jesus commanded us in Matthew 10:27 "What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops." So, I'm going to be obedient to that (more or less) in sharing the answer to a prayer because I'd prefer that people understand the value of their current existence.

I once asked God "What is the purpose of this life?" (meaning man's earthly life). Surprising to me, God answered in about 30 seconds. "The purpose of this life is for man to CHOOSE."

And in honesty, I guess that's about all I need to share as the first post. :)

Love in Jesus,
Kelby
I believe the scriptures teach us what God wants out of us while we sojourn here in this world. He says that he wants us to love him with all our heart, soul, and mind, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. His inspired words are instructions as to how he wants us to live our lives. God has given us the freedom to choose how we want to live our lives here in this world, but God limits our choice in choosing our eternal inheritance, by his sovereign will. The same as earthly fathers chooses who to name in their last will and testament. God saw, by his foreknowledge, that man's choice would not be to seek him, therefore he choose an elect people out of all of those that would not seek him to be adopted as his children, so that he would have a people that would love, honor, and praise him.

Romans 9:26, And it shall come to pass, that in the place that it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there shall they be called the children of the living God.
 
Nov 26, 2012
3,095
1,050
113
#3
Jesus commanded us in Matthew 10:27 "What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops." So, I'm going to be obedient to that (more or less) in sharing the answer to a prayer because I'd prefer that people understand the value of their current existence.

I once asked God "What is the purpose of this life?" (meaning man's earthly life). Surprising to me, God answered in about 30 seconds. "The purpose of this life is for man to CHOOSE."

And in honesty, I guess that's about all I need to share as the first post. :)

Love in Jesus,
Kelby
Agreed, we all must choose. However, the choice to follow is not passive. We are not to sit on our hands, we are the hands. We are the feet, we are the voice, we are the Body. The limbs work in concert, with instruction from the Head. We care for eachother like the hands wash the feet, while we reach out to the lost in love hoping they too make the right choice.
 

ForestGreenCook

Well-known member
Jul 8, 2018
8,318
1,184
113
#4
Agreed, we all must choose. However, the choice to follow is not passive. We are not to sit on our hands, we are the hands. We are the feet, we are the voice, we are the Body. The limbs work in concert, with instruction from the Head. We care for eachother like the hands wash the feet, while we reach out to the lost in love hoping they too make the right choice.
We are born by our natural birth as sinners, choosing the things of this world for our pleasure, and cannot discern the things of the Spirit, 1 Cor 2:14, until God regenerates us, Eph 2, and gives us the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. We are then able to understand spiritual things and choose to follow after God.
 
Nov 26, 2012
3,095
1,050
113
#5
We are born by our natural birth as sinners, choosing the things of this world for our pleasure, and cannot discern the things of the Spirit, 1 Cor 2:14, until God regenerates us, Eph 2, and gives us the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. We are then able to understand spiritual things and choose to follow after God.
From my understanding, that is putting the cart before the horse. When I chose to follow God and submitted to His authority, it was then I heard the voice and felt the transformation. As I grow in Him, stronger the nerve endings take root in the vine, more clearly I hear Him and see His plans.
 
Apr 15, 2017
2,867
653
113
#6
Jesus commanded us in Matthew 10:27 "What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops." So, I'm going to be obedient to that (more or less) in sharing the answer to a prayer because I'd prefer that people understand the value of their current existence.

I once asked God "What is the purpose of this life?" (meaning man's earthly life). Surprising to me, God answered in about 30 seconds. "The purpose of this life is for man to CHOOSE."

And in honesty, I guess that's about all I need to share as the first post. :)

Love in Jesus,
Kelby
Ecc 1:1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
Ecc 1:2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
Ecc 1:3 What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?

Ecc 1:12 I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
Ecc 1:13 And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.
Ecc 1:14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

Ecc 1:16 I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.
Ecc 1:17 And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.

Ecc 2:1 I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity.
Ecc 2:2 I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?
Ecc 2:3 I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.
Ecc 2:4 I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards:
Ecc 2:5 I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits:
Ecc 2:6 I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees:
Ecc 2:7 I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me:
Ecc 2:8 I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts.
Ecc 2:9 So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.
Ecc 2:10 And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.
Ecc 2:11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.

Ecc 12:1 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;
Ecc 12:2 While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain.
Ecc 12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
Ecc 12:8 Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.

Ecc 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Ecc 12:14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

Mat 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

The purpose of life is to follow God and keep His commandments, for the only thing pleasing to God is we follow Him.

Jud 1:13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.

But the wicked are like wandering stars and not put in the position that God wants them to be.
 

Pemican

Senior Member
Sep 27, 2014
954
234
43
#7
Jesus commanded us in Matthew 10:27 "What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops." So, I'm going to be obedient to that (more or less) in sharing the answer to a prayer because I'd prefer that people understand the value of their current existence.

I once asked God "What is the purpose of this life?" (meaning man's earthly life). Surprising to me, God answered in about 30 seconds. "The purpose of this life is for man to CHOOSE."

And in honesty, I guess that's about all I need to share as the first post. :)

Love in Jesus,
Kelby
Yes our purpose is to choose. Our choice to believe in Christ recognizes that God is Righteous, Just and also Loving, all of which come together at the cross. All of this plays into and resolves the angelic conflict. We are witnesses against Satan.
 

ForestGreenCook

Well-known member
Jul 8, 2018
8,318
1,184
113
#9
From my understanding, that is putting the cart before the horse. When I chose to follow God and submitted to His authority, it was then I heard the voice and felt the transformation. As I grow in Him, stronger the nerve endings take root in the vine, more clearly I hear Him and see His plans.
When you choose to follow him you had already been born again, and given the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, or you would not had a desire to choose to follow him. Reread 1 Cor 2:14.
 
Nov 26, 2012
3,095
1,050
113
#10
When you choose to follow him you had already been born again, and given the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, or you would not had a desire to choose to follow him. Reread 1 Cor 2:14.
I disagree with your interpretation. Making a decision to follow is the leap of faith. Once you submit, the Spirit teaches you. That’s how it worked for me regardless of what Paul wrote to the Church of Corinth.
 
Sep 6, 2014
7,034
5,435
113
#11
The purpose of life is to find it in God with Christ.

"I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."

"For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

"For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God."

"Consequently, he does not live out his remaining time on earth for human passions, but for the will of God."
 

KelbyofGod

Senior Member
Oct 8, 2017
1,881
717
113
#12
The purpose of life is to find it in God with Christ.

"I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."

"For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

"For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God."

"Consequently, he does not live out his remaining time on earth for human passions, but for the will of God."
Many fail to find life in Christ ...but no one fails to choose.
 
Sep 6, 2014
7,034
5,435
113
#13
Many fail to find life in Christ ...but no one fails to choose.
Except the many here...

Revelation 7: 9-10

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

The sovereign choice as it pertains to salvation is God's...

Zechariah 4:6
Then he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts.

John 1:13
children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God.
 

KelbyofGod

Senior Member
Oct 8, 2017
1,881
717
113
#14
There's something else that needs to be said about the choosing God sets before us...
Jesus gave us the parable of the 2 sons... the first said "I won't go"...but then went...The other said "I go"...but then didn't.

People forget that God will honor the choices of his children. If people say "Yes, God" and become Christians,.. then through their actions say "I don't actually want to spend time with HIM (reading, praying, praising, asking, seeking, testifying ), I'd rather enjoy my life"... Why do they then claim to want to go to heaven...where all their time would be spent with God?

Do they not realize that God will honor their choice to be separate from him? And that they fulfill the role of the second son?

Matthew 21:28-32 KJV
[28] But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. [29] He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. [30] And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. [31] Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. [32] For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.
 

KelbyofGod

Senior Member
Oct 8, 2017
1,881
717
113
#15
Except the many here...

Revelation 7: 9-10
After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

The sovereign choice as it pertains to salvation is God's...

Zechariah 4:6
Then he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts.

John 1:13
children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God.
Yes, but the purpose of THIS life, (not that additional life) is given to ALL men. And the purpose of THIS life is to choose. (Whether to qualify for that additional life is one of the choices set before us)

Love to you in Jesus,
Kelby
 

KelbyofGod

Senior Member
Oct 8, 2017
1,881
717
113
#16
Yes, but the purpose of THIS life, (not that additional life) is given to ALL men. And the purpose of THIS life is to choose. (Whether to qualify for that additional life is one of the choices set before us)

Love to you in Jesus,
Kelby
Remember, the bible says many choose death over life. They choose poorly, but indeed they choose.

Which means this life served it's purpose in them also.
 

Blik

Senior Member
Dec 6, 2016
7,312
2,424
113
#17
Ever since the fall of man in the garden of Eden the purpose of man was to be saved. Christ was given for that, Christ lived in God's eternal time. Salvation was through the blood of Christ, and until Christ lived in our kind of time His blood was used symbolically. The blood of perfect animals was the symbol, and no salvation was given without blood. When Christ was crucified this was made perfect and through what Christ did man went directly to heaven. Before that salvation was only that man saved through the symbolic blood of Christ only slept. Matthew 27:51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

While we live on this earth we are given many tasks, they are all about love, love for both God and man.
 

KelbyofGod

Senior Member
Oct 8, 2017
1,881
717
113
#18
Ever since the fall of man in the garden of Eden the purpose of man was to be saved. Christ was given for that, Christ lived in God's eternal time. Salvation was through the blood of Christ, and until Christ lived in our kind of time His blood was used symbolically. The blood of perfect animals was the symbol, and no salvation was given without blood. When Christ was crucified this was made perfect and through what Christ did man went directly to heaven. Before that salvation was only that man saved through the symbolic blood of Christ only slept. Matthew 27:51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

While we live on this earth we are given many tasks, they are all about love, love for both God and man.
It sounds like you think the choosing started at the fall and ended with the crucifixion of Jesus.


Even before the fall, God set life and death (a tree for each) before man; told him what would happen if he chose the path of death; then appeared to have stepped away in order for man to choose without feeling like God was looking over his shoulder. Adam chose death. And God honored that choice.

In the new testament (John 3:19) Jesus himself said:
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

(Because the choice between life and death that GOD set up still remains. It did not begin or end at the fall. And it did not begin or end with the crucifixion of Jesus). It could even be said that the choice is greater now because greater life is made available to us...and greater death. Greater life= Holy Ghost. Greater death = blasphemy against the Holy Ghost (a sin that cannot be forgiven).

People need to wake up to what is at stake in the choices set before us, and stop living this life as though our actions have only minor consequences.

Love in Jesus,
Kelby


John 3:20-21 KJV
[20] For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. [21] But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
 

ForestGreenCook

Well-known member
Jul 8, 2018
8,318
1,184
113
#19
The purpose of life is to find it in God with Christ.

"I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."

"For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

"For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God."

"Consequently, he does not live out his remaining time on earth for human passions, but for the will of God."
Your quote "If you died and your life is hidden with Christ in God" is explained in Eph 2:5; Even when we were dead (spiritually, as indicated in 1 Cor 2:14) in sins, hath he quickened (given us spiritual life by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit) us together with Christ, By grace ye are saved. The natural man, who is dead spiritually, cannot understand the things of the Spirit until he has been born again, and given the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. A dead man cannot bring himself to life, but the grace of God can.
 

ForestGreenCook

Well-known member
Jul 8, 2018
8,318
1,184
113
#20
Many fail to find life in Christ ...but no one fails to choose.
God gave mankind the freedom to make choices in how he wants to live his life here in this world, and by God's foreknowledge, he saw that no one would choose to follow him (Psalms 53:2-3). That is why God choose a portion of fallen mankind to be quickened to a new spiritual life, so that he would have a people who would show praise and honor to Him. Sense mankind did not choose Him, 1 Cor 2:14, God had to choose to have mercy on those that he had elected. None of us choose to seek God, until he regenerated us and has given us the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Eph 2