Since the Beginning

Author: Joseph

Date: January 27, 2019

One question above all others tends to gain the attention of all people at least once in their lifetime: why did God create mankind? When we ask this question, we are looking for a sense of purpose or an explanation that motivates us to see life as more than simply being born and then dying when we reach old age.

"...why did God create mankind?"

Too many explanations fall short of being motivating. Some explanations lack Scriptural evidence and are based on generalizations. One such explanation is that we were created to be in community with God. While being in community with God is something we should attain, this is based on the relationship we have with Him after already being created. But this still lacks the explanation of “why were we created to begin with?”

To pose the question differently would help us get to a better explanation: for what purpose was mankind created? Let’s go back to Genesis and read the account of mankind’s creation. On the last day of creation, the sixth day, God creates mankind.

“Then God said, ‘Let Us make man 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 cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth” (Genesis 1:26). At the first mention of mankind, they are said to be created in the image of God and then given the purpose of ruling over all of God’s creation. Mankind’s creation was purposed primarily to represent God (by bearing His image) and rule over His creation (by the authority given to them from God).

“God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:27). While often this verse is used to state that mankind was made for relationship, this explanation does not fit this verse and the later explanation of why male and female were created. Male and female were created because man, by himself, was without a helper and he was incomplete. God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him” (Genesis 2:18). No animal was suitable for the man’s helper because he was created in God’s image, but by taking part of man and making a helper, woman, man was able to be wholesome and not alone. The relationship is necessary for mankind’s existence, but not why mankind was created.

“God blessed them; and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth” (Genesis 1:28). In this verse, two things are being stated. The first is that mankind must now be productive in their good works. Literally, they are to reproduce and bear offspring, but also they are to fill the earth and be a presence that is fruitful, that benefits creation. Second, the responsibility of ruling over creation as a representative of God is restated. Twice now God has purposed mankind to be a caretaker of His creation.

The first man, Adam, was given responsibility for the garden of Eden (Genesis 2:15) and he named all of God’s creatures as part of his rule over creation (Genesis 2:19-20).

Based on the first two chapters of Genesis we can conclude: 1) mankind was made to physically represent God in creation; 2) mankind was given authority to rule over His creation as both its leader and its caretaker; and 3) mankind was given good works to do for God as His representatives among creation.

When sin entered the world, mankind’s ability to live up to their purpose was stripped away. Mankind failed to abide in God and be a good representative of Him (Genesis 3:1-6). The serpent craftily caused division between God and mankind in the words he spoke to the woman, Havah. Thereafter, mankind also lost their authority to rule over creation as they were divided among themselves (Genesis 3:12-13). The man blamed the woman for his sin and sinned both against God and the woman in doing so. Lastly, mankind lost their ability to do good works. Bearing children became painful and the relationship between man and woman would be strained by a constant struggle for ruling over the other (Genesis 3:16). The good work of caring for God’s creation was also tainted, as now mankind had to struggle in helping the earth bring forth produce (Genesis 3:17-18).

What purpose is mankind left with if all this is true? Has mankind’s purpose for being been stripped away forever? Why are we living now that we can never be what God created us to be? The good news is, we can attain who we were meant to be and still rule over creation and do good works. This can only be done through the salvation of Yeshua, God in the flesh.

Yeshua is referred to as the “second man” or the “second Adam” (1 Corinthians 15:45). He died, bearing our sins, in a fleshly body and was raised again in a renewed body. [Although there were others such as Lazarus who were raised from the dead before Yeshua, He was the first one to rise in a renewed body that was not of a fleshly nature, but a heavenly nature (1 Corinthians 15:47-48) – a mystery that could be discussed as another topic.] Since Yeshua rose again in a renewed body and without sin, He has regained what Adam lost.

Adam was the first to be born in the flesh, Yeshua is the first one to be born of the spirit. Therefore, anything born of the Spirit that comes after Him also takes on this same nature. Just as those born to Adam became children of Adam in the flesh, those born to Yeshua become children of Yeshua in the Spirit. By being born again through the Spirit, we again regain bearing the image of God and are restored to who we were meant to be (1 Corinthians 15:49).

Through rebirth in the Spirit, we also regain the authority that was once lost. Yeshua said, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18). By abiding in Him, being born of the Spirit, we also are given that authority (Matthew 28:19-20). The once broken relationship between men and women is also healed when we are reborn in the Spirit and their united authority is restored. Adam and Havah were divided and could never regain their unity (and therefore authority) by the flesh. When men and women are united in the Spirit by Yeshua they no longer live according to division, but now live in unity, and regain their authority as representatives of God in His creation.

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58). We are also now able to do good works, works that are not in vain. Adam was cursed with toiling over the earth to make it reap produce, but we now no longer toil in vain as he did, we now reap the harvest that Yeshua has given us (Matthew 6:26; 9:36-38). Havah was cursed with painful childbirth by which she would only give birth to flesh that dies, but now we can also lead others to new life in Yeshua, in Whom they will never die (John 11:25). Our works bear good fruit when we live renewed lives in Yeshua (John 15:4-5).

Although lost to sin, we are now able to live as we were meant to be in Yeshua. So why we exist and what purpose we exist for is made valid again through Him. Let us then eagerly know and do what we were created for: 1) to physically (and now also spiritually) represent God in creation; 2) to rule over His creation (under His authority) as both its leader and its caretaker; and 3) to do good works (that He has given us) for God as His representatives among creation.

The question now arises again: why did God create mankind? Or as proposed earlier: for what purpose was mankind created?

Can you answer these questions confidently now?

Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB). www.lockman.org