Purpose?

[TwIsTeDaNgUiSh]

Hi,

Well, as you can see I'm new here. I ran into the 5Solas room on Paltalk and found they were friendly with better answers for me than the majority of other christian rooms I could find. I have been thinking more and cannot come up with an answer of my own that satisfies me on a particular issue.

You see, in my opinion, if there isn't a god - that would render life pointless, purposeless. On the other hand, if there is a god who requires only that you believe in him and nothing else can be done to be 'saved', that leaves life purposeless as well. If nothing I do on this earth can save me or will last into the next life; what is the point of being alive at all? Why do I bother get up and go to lectures every morning and work every afternoon if there is a god and if when we die intelligence wont matter? What point is there to life even if there is a god?


Sincerely,
A very confused TwIsTeDaNgUiSh

[Jason777]

Hi,

Well, as you can see I'm new here. I ran into the 5Solas room on Paltalk and found they were friendly with better answers for me than the majority of other christian rooms I could find. I have been thinking more and cannot come up with an answer of my own that satisfies me on a particular issue.

You see, in my opinion, if there isn't a god - that would render life pointless, purposeless. On the other hand, if there is a god who requires only that you believe in him and nothing else can be done to be 'saved', that leaves life purposeless as well. If nothing I do on this earth can save me or will last into the next life; what is the point of being alive at all? Why do I bother get up and go to lectures every morning and work every afternoon if there is a god and if when we die intelligence wont matter? What point is there to life even if there is a god?


Sincerely,
A very confused TwIsTeDaNgUiSh

Well, if there is no God---then we would not exist either, for by Him, and through Him, all things were created (Colossians 1:16-17)

You're right--there is nothing we can do to save ourselves--our only hope is trusting in Christ's sacrificial death on the cross. What Jesus did there is totally sufficient for sinners. His blood can make anyone clean.

God gives us real purpose and real meaning for life! Listen to what Jesus said: "The thief [the devil] does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." (John 10:10)

[Skeuos Eleos]

On the other hand, if there is a god who requires only that you believe in him and nothing else can be done to be 'saved', that leaves life purposeless as well. If nothing I do on this earth can save me or will last into the next life; what is the point of being alive at all? Why do I bother get up and go to lectures every morning and work every afternoon if there is a god and if when we die intelligence wont matter? What point is there to life even if there is a god?

I for one am glad that "intelligence wont matter"!

This world is full of "clubs" that impose certain "entry criteria":- wear the right clothes, go to the right school, have the right qualifications, have enough money, have enough brains, etc. But thanks be to God that His choosing is not based upon anything we can contribute for none of us can contribute enough! None of us deserve to be saved!

Why do you suppose that if man can do nothing to save himself that this leaves life "purposeless", that if there is a "god" there is no point to life? Quite the opposite! To know the one true God is to know one's real purpose in life. In fact, all people are actually made for a purpose but the problem is that they look for a purpose which they are happy with rather than the truth. The truth is that all of us are made for the glory of God in some way - whether that be in suffering eternal torment or in receiving eternal life. He is the Creator we are merely the creatures - and sinfull, rebellious ones at that! Man is made by God for God not the other way around!

Those whom God has chosen and called to believe in Jesus as their only hope are the only ones who have had their true purpose in life revealed to them - all others are deluded. That purpose is to glorify and serve and love and worship the living God. This they will gladly do because of the change that God has worked in them which enables them to do so. Apart from this true faith in the Son of God who gave Himself that others might live men will seek to find their purpose and happiness in countless other ways but none will truly, "lastingly" satisfy man's quest to know his purpose. For what greater purpose can there be than to selflessly adore the all-Glorious, Allmighty God who made all things and His Son Jesus Christ? Who else could be worthy of our thanks and praise and desire to please Him and what greater joy could there be for the heart of man than to enjoy the "fullness of joy" and "pleasures for evermore" in His presence (Ps 16:11)? Yet sinful, corrupt man in his pride and rebellion "will not seek God" (see Ps 14:1-3). Hence, it takes a miracle from God to overcome this rebellion and give man a "new heart" on which His ways are written, i.e a heart which wants to seek Him, which wants to please Him. (Ezek 36:25-27).

With this kind of faith even boring lectures become an opportunity to glorify and be thankful to God!

For His Glory,
Martin

[Stabby]

Twistedanguish-

You have stumbled upon one of the great dilemmas of all time: the http://www.tameri.com/csw/exist/] existentialist dilemma. [/url]

One question you may want to consider.

Do you fear the absurdity or do you fear responsibility? It is one thing to say life is pointless, it is another to be pro-active and make a choice to make life meaningful. Which one is easier in your opinion and why?

I agree with you, that on some level—if there is no God, life is absurd. I disagree with you that if there “is a God” life is also absurd. (probably something quite close to it, but of a different flavor.) In what Sartre called the dilemma of bad faith. In that faith in religion is a escape from personal accountability.

Hope this helps.

Stabby~~~

[whs1]

Twisted Anguish said:


""if there is a god who requires only that you believe in him and nothing else can be done to be 'saved', that leaves life purposeless as well. If nothing I do on this earth can save me or will last into the next life; what is the point of being alive at all? Why do I bother get up and go to lectures every morning and work every afternoon if there is a god and if when we die intelligence wont matter? What point is there to life even if there is a god?""


God does give all those whom he saves "purpose"...it is to glorify him. I think that your "Point of being alive" thing is a smoke screen for your pride. Pride is a very insidious foe. Lucifer was the origin of this sin. For he said [prior to his fall and rebellion]:
Isaiah 14:13
"For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High."


So, if you like to be "noticed" or have some recognition...just remember what the first cherub who did that got. Twisted...there is a purpose in serving and living only to glorify God and to enjoy him forever...it is not to be "absorbed" into the great "orb". We still will retain a person....which will not be God. God will still exist separate from us.

But we will be able to know and see and praise God in Christ for saving us for all eternity and worship and adore and marvel that so great and holy a God condescended to even think on us worms of the dust who deserved only the full unmitigated wrath of an offended sin hating God.


Bill

[Jason777]

Twisted Anguish said:


""if there is a god who requires only that you believe in him and nothing else can be done to be 'saved', that leaves life purposeless as well. If nothing I do on this earth can save me or will last into the next life; what is the point of being alive at all? Why do I bother get up and go to lectures every morning and work every afternoon if there is a god and if when we die intelligence wont matter? What point is there to life even if there is a god?""


God does give all those whom he saves "purpose"...it is to glorify him. I think that your "Point of being alive" thing is a smoke screen for your pride. Pride is a very insidious foe. Lucifer was the origin of this sin. For he said [prior to his fall and rebellion]:
Isaiah 14:13
"For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High."


So, if you like to be "noticed" or have some recognition...just remember what the first cherub who did that got. Twisted...there is a purpose in serving and living only to glorify God and to enjoy him forever...it is not to be "absorbed" into the great "orb". We still will retain a person....which will not be God. God will still exist separate from us.

But we will be able to know and see and praise God in Christ for saving us for all eternity and worship and adore and marvel that so great and holy a God condescended to even think on us worms of the dust who deserved only the full unmitigated wrath of an offended sin hating God.


Bill

Bill,

Amen to your last paragraph. To think of all the times I have offended God, and yet He saved me (and puts up with me!) What great love!

Regarding your note about a smokescreen for pride, though---I realize we all have some degree of pride and self-seeking about us, but how do you know that T.A.'s statement was a smokescreen for such?

[whs1]

Jason777 said:

"Regarding your note about a smokescreen for pride, though---I realize we all have some degree of pride and self-seeking about us, but how do you know that T.A.'s statement was a smokescreen for such?"

Well, what else could it be? The need for significance by man is tainted by sin. The root sin is pride; is it not? I want some purpose {not said: "apart from God's glory"} Is that a pure motive apart from God's glory? I shouldn't be accusatory, but rather let TwistedAnguish speak for himself. I am just taking the statement:

"" If nothing I do on this earth can save me or will last into the next life; what is the point of being alive at all? Why do I bother get up and go to lectures every morning and work every afternoon if there is a god and if when we die intelligence wont matter? What point is there to life even if there is a god."

"Intelligence won't matter."??? That is pride...I am sorry.

We are not saved by our "intelligence". The Intelligence of man is not God's intelligence. Now, once we are saved we are given the mind of Christ. That is very intelligent. But without Christ, man has a hostile mind towards God. Wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. Our faith iexplained in such a way as to be called "foolishness" by man's wisdom.

[Jason777]

Jason777 said:

"Regarding your note about a smokescreen for pride, though---I realize we all have some degree of pride and self-seeking about us, but how do you know that T.A.'s statement was a smokescreen for such?"

Well, what else could it be? The need for significance by man is tainted by sin. The root sin is pride; is it not? I want some purpose {not said: "apart from God's glory"} Is that a pure motive apart from God's glory? I shouldn't be accusatory, but rather let TwistedAnguish speak for himself. I am just taking the statement:

"" If nothing I do on this earth can save me or will last into the next life; what is the point of being alive at all? Why do I bother get up and go to lectures every morning and work every afternoon if there is a god and if when we die intelligence wont matter? What point is there to life even if there is a god."

"Intelligence won't matter."??? That is pride...I am sorry.

We are not saved by our "intelligence". The Intelligence of man is not God's intelligence. Now, once we are saved we are given the mind of Christ. That is very intelligent. But without Christ, man has a hostile mind towards God. Wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. Our faith iexplained in such a way as to be called "foolishness" by man's wisdom.

What you write is true enough, but on the other hand---I don't think I'm in a position to interpret exactly what "intelligence won't matter" means.

[Jason777]

That is, I don't know what T.A. meant by the phrase "intelligence won't matter"

[Robert R. Higby]

Well, the exercise of our minds DOES matter. The redemption of mankind includes the redemption of the mind. God wants us thinking! So intelligence DOES matter!

Jason, I miss your posts and presence on this board.