Purpose of life?

[dfnj]

I do agree that letting go of attachments is the solution to end suffering Personally i do not know how many human life i have lived, but it does not matter, what matter is only this moment in life

It might be what only matters is this moment in life. But it's not a moment if you know it's a moment. By then it's too late.

 

[Trailblazer]

God does not change their choices. It depends on our frame of mind. Everything is from God and is up to us to know and Love God. Given this, how can anything that happens not have a wisdom for us to move closer to that goal. We are all under the mercy of God. If tests and trials leave us without anything in this life, it all has a reason and though hard to face, we can be thankful the wisdom will be known.

"...He hath endowed every soul with the capacity to recognize the signs of God. How could He, otherwise, have fulfilled His testimony unto men, if ye be of them that ponder His Cause in their hearts. He will never deal unjustly with any one, neither will He task a soul beyond its power. He, verily, is the Compassionate, the All-Merciful. Bahza'u'llah - Bahá'í Reference Library - Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, Pages 104-107

Regards Tony

Thanks Tony. I know that your heart is in the right place. I only wish I could believe that about God, but I don't. Maybe part of the reason is that I hang tight with some atheists who are bitter and angry at God. I am like the blind leading the blind, yet I have known them for years and they are my friends, so I do not feel like I can abandon them. I fully understand how they feel about God and suffering and I do not judge them.

On some level I know you are right about God but my heart does not follow. I hope God will forgive me for that but I know there are no guarantees.

 

[TransmutingSoul]

Thanks Tony. I know that your heart is in the right place. I only wish I could believe that about God, but I don't. Maybe part of the reason is that I hang tight with some atheists who are bitter and angry at God. I am like the blind leading the blind, yet I have known them for years and they are my friends, so I do not feel like I can abandon them. I fully understand how they feel about God and suffering and I do not judge them.

On some level I know you are right about God but my heart does not follow. I hope God will forgive me for that but I know there are no guarantees.

Trailblazer. It is not about judging anyone. We all face our tests and trials and we all see them in our frame of reference.

There is an old saying, 'one mans trash is another mans treasure'. This is true for suffering. One mans suffering is another mans ease.

Its a big subject to pursue, it is a major part of our existence and I will always wish you and all, all the good and happiness in this world and the world to come.



Regards Tony

 

[URAVIP2ME]

The purpose of life is simply to breed and survive long enough for your offspring to repeat the process and continue the propagation of species. Simple really

I find God did purpose for humans to reproduce. Meaning reproduce until Earth is full (populated Not overpopulated)
God's original purpose was that humans would be blessed with everlasting life on a beautiful paradisical Earth.
Satan and Adam threw a monkey wrench into God's purpose by introducing death to the human family.
Since we can Not resurrect oneself or another is why we need someone to resurrect us.
According to Scripture, Jesus can and will resurrect us - Revelation 1:18.
Because God provided us the way out from 'enemy death' is why we should live to praise Him - Ephesians 1:12.
The last enemy ' death ' will be brought to nothing here on Earth according to 1 Corinthians 15:26; Isaiah 25:8.

 

[URAVIP2ME]

If people can get beyond their scriptures, they eventually have to ask themselves why a loving God would even create a world in which He knew there would be so much suffering.
It is difficult to love a God like that, notwithstanding all the religious apologetics that attempt to tell you why suffering is good for you.

If God knew beforehand there would be suffering, then He would Not have given mankind the choice.
God did Not program Adam to be an automaton but created Adam with free-will thinking.
Adam did Not have to break God's Law, Satan and Adam and Eve broke the Law.
'Choice' is Not beyond the Scriptures but is Scripture.
So, No, suffering is Not good for you otherwise Jesus would Not have cured the suffering people.
By curing suffering Jesus was giving us a small preview, or a coming attraction, of what curing and healing Jesus will be doing on a grand-global international scale during his coming 1,000-year governmental rule over Earth.
This is why we are all invited to pray the invitation of Revelation 22:20 for Jesus to come !
Come and bring the benefit of ' healing ' for earth's nations as described at Revelation 22:2 when mankind on Earth will see the return of the Genesis 'Tree of Life ' on Earth again for the healing of earth's nations.

 

[Trailblazer]

I find God did purpose for humans to reproduce. Meaning reproduce until Earth is full (populated Not overpopulated)
God's original purpose was that humans would be blessed with everlasting life on a beautiful paradisical Earth.
Satan and Adam threw a monkey wrench into God's purpose by introducing death to the human family.

I do not believe that there was ever a garden of Eden or two people called Adam and Eve. I believe that was a story, an allegory. This one possible meaning of that story: 30: ADAM AND EVE

But for the sake of argument, let’s say that was a true story. What scriptures support the belief that if “the Fall” had not occurred humans would be blessed with everlasting life on a beautiful paradisical Earth?

How would that even be possible unless no new people were ever born on earth, given the earth can only support so much population?

Since we can Not resurrect oneself or another is why we need someone to resurrect us.
According to Scripture, Jesus can and will resurrect us - Revelation 1:18.
Because God provided us the way out from 'enemy death' is why we should live to praise Him - Ephesians 1:12.
The last enemy ' death ' will be brought to nothing here on Earth according to 1 Corinthians 15:26; Isaiah 25:8.

I do not believe that the enemy is physical death but rather the enemy is spiritual death. When Jesus and Paul talked about death and resurrection, they were referring to spiritual death and spiritual resurrection, not physical death and resurrection of the physical body. The body once dead remains dead.

1Cor 15 does not have the resurrected Jesus with a body. In 1 Corinthians 15:12-22, Some Christians believe that Paul was referring to a spiritual resurrection and that is what Baha’is also believe. http://www.religioustolerance.org/resur_lt.htm

That Jesus was raised up means His spirit was resurrected, brought back to life. If Christ’s spirit was not brought back to life, then your faith would be in vain and you would still be in your sins. “22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” means that all shall be made spiritually alive, not physically rise and be alive in bodies. That does not mean Jesus’ soul (spirit) was brought back to life (because the soul cannot die, so it does not need to be brought back to life); it means that the Cause of Christ (what He taught and represented) were brought back to life after three days... Had it NOT been brought back to life you would still be in your sins because it was the Cause of Christ that needed to be brought back to life in order to save people from their sins... People needed to get the Gospel message that Jesus taught and the disciples needed to carry that far and wide. Their faith in Jesus needed to be renewed (resurrected).

In 1 Corinthians 15:12-22, Paul was referring to a spiritual resurrection. That Jesus was raised up means His spirit was resurrected, brought back to life. If Christ’s Cause was not brought back to life, then your faith would be in vain and you would still be in your sins. “22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” means that all shall be made spiritually alive, not physically rise and be alive in bodies.

16 For if the dead rise not and 13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead refers to Christ’s spiritual resurrection, not to anyone rising from graves

1 Cor 15 is about spiritual death, not physical death. Bodies once dead do not rise from graves. Souls then leave the body and rise to heaven and take on a spiritual body comprised of heavenly elements in that spiritual realm. They then continue to exist for eternity. The souls who are spiritually alive go to heaven the ones who are spiritually dead go to.... well, I do not know where they go, but they still have a chance to get close to God by reaching out to God, by the mercy of God and the prayers of others. There is no guarantee, and that is why it is best to get close to God before we die.

Eternal life does not refer to physical life of the body. It means nearness to God in this life and in the afterlife. Jesus is the resurrection, and the life, because whoever believes in Jesus will attain to eternal life. His body will die, but his soul will continue on to the spiritual world (heaven) where he will be close to God. The rewards of the spiritual world are peace, the spiritual graces, various spiritual gifts, the gaining of the desires of the heart and the soul, and getting closer to God. Gaining these rewards is the gaining of eternal life.

John 3:16: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

1 John 5:13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.

John 11:25-26 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?​

 

[Trailblazer]

If God knew beforehand there would be suffering, then He would Not have given mankind the choice.

According to my beliefs, God is omniscient, which means that God indeed knew beforehand that humans would suffer.

God did Not program Adam to be an automaton but created Adam with free-will thinking.
Adam did Not have to break God's Law, Satan and Adam and Eve broke the Law.
'Choice' is Not beyond the Scriptures but is Scripture.

I do not believe that Adam and Eve were real people but rather they were allegorical. However, had they been real, they would have had free will and they would have chosen not to obey the commands of God, according to the scriptures.

So, No, suffering is Not good for you otherwise Jesus would Not have cured the suffering people.

The fact that Jesus healed people is not proof that suffering can be of no benefit to people. Jesus did not cure everyone, only those He chose to, and for whatever reason He chose to heal certain people and not others. Obviously, Jesus could not heal everyone.

By curing suffering Jesus was giving us a small preview, or a coming attraction, of what curing and healing Jesus will be doing on a grand-global international scale during his coming 1,000-year governmental rule over Earth.
This is why we are all invited to pray the invitation of Revelation 22:20 for Jesus to come

I do not believe that Jesus is going to return because I believe the Christ Spirit promised to be sent by Jesus (the Comforter and the Spirit of truth) has already returned in the Person of Baha’u’llah. Jesus said that His work was finished here and He was no more in the world in John 17:4 and John 17:11. Then in John 18:36, Jesus said that His kingdom was not of this world, and in John 18:37 Jesus said that He came into the world to bear witness unto the truth. Jesus did what He came for so there is no reason why Jesus would ever come back to earth.

Come and bring the benefit of ' healing ' for earth's nations as described at Revelation 22:2 when mankind on Earth will see the return of the Genesis 'Tree of Life ' on Earth again for the healing of earth's nations.

Baha’is believe that as a result of the Coming of Baha’u’llah all the nations will be healed, but it is humans who will do the healing work by following the blueprint instructions Baha’u’llah set forth.We believe that Baha’u’llah was the Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6-7 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.​

Baha’u’llah was the Prince of Peace. He set up a system of government and it has already been established among the Baha’is. The institutions of that government are fully operational, but still in their infancy. They will be more developed in the future as the prophecy says (increase in government).

These prophecies cannot refer to Jesus because Jesus disclaimed being the Prince of Peace when He said, “I came not to send peace, but a sword” (Matthew 10:34). Jesus disclaimed bearing the government upon His shoulder when He said to “rend onto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's” (Mark 12:17, Matthew 22:21). Jesus disclaimed that He would establish a kingdom where he would rule with judgment and justice forever when He said, “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36).

 

[Trailblazer]

Thank you for your reply. Yes, humans cause most of their own suffering but also because of human imperfection.
As far as suffering from sickness, humans do cause some of it by spreading infectious diseases, but humans did Not originate sickness. I like that Isaiah 33:24 wrote that the time is coming when No one will say, "I am sick..."

It seems like given the context of that chapter, Isaiah was referring to spiritual sickness, not physical diseases. However, there is some truth to the fact that in the future, diseases we know of today such as Alzheimer’s and cancer will be eradicated, because of advances in medicine.

I find the lower selfish nature of man is described by the selfish behavior as listed at 2 Timothy 3:1-5,13.
That to me is why see selfish people going from bad to worse. That is a free-choice selfishness.

I fully agree. I believe that humans have two natures, a lower selfish nature and a higher spiritual nature, and we have a brain and free will to choose between the two.

Since most people want peace then it seems odd to me that there is Not more Peace on Earth.
That alone tells me there is a behind-the-scenes invisible influence on mankind aka Satan.

Baha’is do not believe that there is an actual being called Satan but rather Satan refers to the lower selfish nature of man, called the satanic self. That is a visible force at work in the world today but over time that will change and people will learn to live in unity and peace. Isaiah foresaw this:

Isaiah 11:6-9 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den.They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.​

What this means to a Baha’i is that In the future diverse religions and races will become friends, the contentions of races, the differences of religions, and the barriers between nations will be completely removed, and all will attain perfect union and reconciliation. Eventually, there will be only one religion, the religion of God.

This one religion was also foretold by Jesus:

John 10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.​

To me the ' world of liberty ' is the coming ' righteous new world ' under Christ for a thousand years.
Freed from the vices of human imperfection and gaining healthy human physical perfection as Adam originally had.
I like how Revelation 22:2 lets us know that mankind living on Earth will see the return of the Genesis "Tree of Life" right here on Earth. The purpose of the "Tree of Life" returning is for the ' healing of earth's nations '.
That is how it will be possible for everyone on Earth to say, " I am Not sick...."

As I said in my previous post above I do not believe that Jesus is going to return because I believe the Christ Spirit promised to be sent by Jesus (the Comforter and the Spirit of truth) has already returned in the Person of Baha’u’llah. The new righteous world will be established under Baha’u’llah during the Golden Age of mankind.

I am wondering what you might think about God's promise to father Abraham (Genesis 12:3;Genesis 18:18; 22:18)
That ALL families of Earth will be blessed, and ALL nations of Earth will be blessed.

I believe those refer to the long-awaited Golden Age of mankind. God’s promise is the same thing as God’s purpose.

“God’s purpose is none other than to usher in, in ways He alone can bring about, and the full significance of which He alone can fathom, the Great, the Golden Age of a long-divided, a long-afflicted humanity. Its present state, indeed even its immediate future, is dark, distressingly dark. Its distant future, however, is radiant, gloriously radiant—so radiant that no eye can visualize it......

What we witness at the present time, during “this gravest crisis in the history of civilization,” recalling such times in which “religions have perished and are born,” is the adolescent stage in the slow and painful evolution of humanity, preparatory to the attainment of the stage of manhood, the stage of maturity, the promise of which is embedded in the teachings, and enshrined in the prophecies, of Bahá’u’lláh. The tumult of this age of transition is characteristic of the impetuosity and irrational instincts of youth, its follies, its prodigality, its pride, its self-assurance, its rebelliousness, and contempt of discipline.”
The Promised Day is Come, pp. 116-117​

You can read the whole passage on that link if you want to know what I believe is going to happen between para 1 and para 2.

 

[URAVIP2ME]

I do not believe that there was ever a garden of Eden or two people called Adam and Eve. I believe that was a story, an allegory. This one possible meaning of that story: 30: ADAM AND EVE
But for the sake of argument, let’s say that was a true story. What scriptures support the belief that if “the Fall” had not occurred humans would be blessed with everlasting life on a beautiful paradisical Earth?
How would that even be possible unless no new people were ever born on earth, given the earth can only support so much population?
I do not believe that the enemy is physical death but rather the enemy is spiritual death. When Jesus and Paul talked about death and resurrection, they were referring to spiritual death and spiritual resurrection, not physical death and resurrection of the physical body. The body once dead remains dead.
1Cor 15 does not have the resurrected Jesus with a body. In 1 Corinthians 15:12-22, Some Christians believe that Paul was referring to a spiritual resurrection and that is what Baha’is also believe. http://www.religioustolerance.org/resur_lt.htm
That Jesus was raised up means His spirit was resurrected, brought back to life. If Christ’s spirit was not brought back to life, then your faith would be in vain and you would still be in your sins. “22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” means that all shall be made spiritually alive, not physically rise and be alive in bodies. That does not mean Jesus’ soul (spirit) was brought back to life (because the soul cannot die, so it does not need to be brought back to life); it means that the Cause of Christ (what He taught and represented) were brought back to life after three days... Had it NOT been brought back to life you would still be in your sins because it was the Cause of Christ that needed to be brought back to life in order to save people from their sins... People needed to get the Gospel message that Jesus taught and the disciples needed to carry that far and wide. Their faith in Jesus needed to be renewed (resurrected).
In 1 Corinthians 15:12-22, Paul was referring to a spiritual resurrection. That Jesus was raised up means His spirit was resurrected, brought back to life. If Christ’s Cause was not brought back to life, then your faith would be in vain and you would still be in your sins. “22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” means that all shall be made spiritually alive, not physically rise and be alive in bodies.
16 For if the dead rise not and 13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead refers to Christ’s spiritual resurrection, not to anyone rising from graves
1 Cor 15 is about spiritual death, not physical death. Bodies once dead do not rise from graves. Souls then leave the body and rise to heaven and take on a spiritual body comprised of heavenly elements in that spiritual realm. They then continue to exist for eternity. The souls who are spiritually alive go to heaven the ones who are spiritually dead go to.... well, I do not know where they go, but they still have a chance to get close to God by reaching out to God, by the mercy of God and the prayers of others. There is no guarantee, and that is why it is best to get close to God before we die.
Eternal life does not refer to physical life of the body. It means nearness to God in this life and in the afterlife. Jesus is the resurrection, and the life, because whoever believes in Jesus will attain to eternal life. His body will die, but his soul will continue on to the spiritual world (heaven) where he will be close to God. The rewards of the spiritual world are peace, the spiritual graces, various spiritual gifts, the gaining of the desires of the heart and the soul, and getting closer to God. Gaining these rewards is the gaining of eternal life.

John 3:16: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
1 John 5:13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.
John 11:25-26 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?​

I wonder if the body remains dead then why did Jesus bother to physically resurrect the dead ?
ALL the resurrections that Jesus performed were physical resurrections.
The ' soul that sins dies ' or ' can be destroyed ' as per Ezekiel 18:4, 20; Acts of the Apostles 3:23.
We are given two (2) choices at 2 Peter 3:9 if we do Not want to 'perish ' ( be destroyed ) then ' repent '.
The wicked will be 'destroyed forever' as per Psalms 92:7.
Even sinner Satan will be destroyed by Jesus as per Hebrews 2:14 B.
So, the future resurrection of Acts of the Apostles 24:15 is for the just and unjust and Not for the destroyed wicked.
The first or earlier resurrection is for those like the ones of Luke 22:28-30; Revelation 2:10.

1 Corinthians 15:20-23 is about a 'first fruit' resurrection. First indicates a second to follow.
Those called to reign in Heaven with Jesus have that first or earlier resurrection of Revelation 20:6.
Those Not called to Heaven have that later resurrection.
That is why Acts of the Apostles 24:15 uses the ' future tense ' that there ' is going to be ' a resurrection.....
As 1 Corinthians 15:40 mentions both celestial bodies and terrestrial earthly bodies.
As 1 Corinthians 15:44 mentions both spiritual bodies and natural bodies.
As 1 Corinthians 15:48 mentions both the earthly and the heavenly bodies.
Jesus' brothers ( Matthew 25:40 ) are the ' brothers ' of 1 Corinthians 15:50.
Those ' brothers ' have that first fruit or earlier resurrection of 1 Corinthians 15:51-53.
So, to me it all what is in the context. The meek will inherit the Earth Jesus promised from Psalms 37:9-11.
Those ' brothers ' of verses 50,58 are the ones with a heavenly calling, the rest earthly.
Our last enemy death will be brought to nothing here on Earth - 1 Corinthians 15:24-26.
Jesus puts all enemies under his feet - Psalms 110 - So, 'enemy death' is included.
So, to me there is No room for a short view of life on Earth as per 1 Corinthians 15:12; 1 Corinthians 15:32.
The prospect now (Matthew 25:31-33,37) is that those counted as worthy ' sheep ' at this coming ' time of separation ' on Earth have the opportunity to 'Not die at all' because they can be around when Jesus begins his 1,000-year governmental rule over Earth when enemy death will be brought to nothing - Isaiah 25:8.

 

[URAVIP2ME]

It seems like given the context of that chapter, Isaiah was referring to spiritual sickness, not physical diseases. However, there is some truth to the fact that in the future, diseases we know of today such as Alzheimer’s and cancer will be eradicated, because of advances in medicine.
I fully agree. I believe that humans have two natures, a lower selfish nature and a higher spiritual nature, and we have a brain and free will to choose between the two.
Baha’is do not believe that there is an actual being called Satan but rather Satan refers to the lower selfish nature of man, called the satanic self. That is a visible force at work in the world today but over time that will change and people will learn to live in unity and peace. Isaiah foresaw this:

Isaiah 11:6-9 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den.They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.​

What this means to a Baha’i is that In the future diverse religions and races will become friends, the contentions of races, the differences of religions, and the barriers between nations will be completely removed, and all will attain perfect union and reconciliation. Eventually, there will be only one religion, the religion of God.
This one religion was also foretold by Jesus:

John 10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.​

As I said in my previous post above I do not believe that Jesus is going to return because I believe the Christ Spirit promised to be sent by Jesus (the Comforter and the Spirit of truth) has already returned in the Person of Baha’u’llah. The new righteous world will be established under Baha’u’llah during the Golden Age of mankind.
I believe those refer to the long-awaited Golden Age of mankind. God’s promise is the same thing as God’s purpose.

“God’s purpose is none other than to usher in, in ways He alone can bring about, and the full significance of which He alone can fathom, the Great, the Golden Age of a long-divided, a long-afflicted humanity. Its present state, indeed even its immediate future, is dark, distressingly dark. Its distant future, however, is radiant, gloriously radiant—so radiant that no eye can visualize it......

What we witness at the present time, during “this gravest crisis in the history of civilization,” recalling such times in which “religions have perished and are born,” is the adolescent stage in the slow and painful evolution of humanity, preparatory to the attainment of the stage of manhood, the stage of maturity, the promise of which is embedded in the teachings, and enshrined in the prophecies, of Bahá’u’lláh. The tumult of this age of transition is characteristic of the impetuosity and irrational instincts of youth, its follies, its prodigality, its pride, its self-assurance, its rebelliousness, and contempt of discipline.” ​

You can read the whole passage on that link if you want to know what I believe is going to happen between para 1 and para 2.

I am wondering what you think about Isaiah 35th chapter if Not literal then why did Jesus cure people.
Also, since the Genesis ' Tree of Life ' will return to Earth according to Revelation 22:2, then what is the ' healing of earth's nations ' for.

 

[URAVIP2ME]

http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/ab/SAQ/saq-30.html
But for the sake of argument, let’s say that was a true story. What scriptures support the belief that if “the Fall” had not occurred humans would be blessed with everlasting life on a beautiful paradisical Earth?

How would that even be possible unless no new people were ever born on earth, given the earth can only support so much population?






I do not believe that the enemy is physical death but rather the enemy is spiritual death. When Jesus and Paul talked about death and resurrection, they were referring to spiritual death and spiritual resurrection, not physical death and resurrection of the physical body. The body once dead remains dead.

1Cor 15 does not have the resurrected Jesus with a body. In 1 Corinthians 15:12-22, Some Christians believe that Paul was referring to a spiritual resurrection and that is what Baha’is also believe. http://www.religioustolerance.org/resur_lt.htm

That Jesus was raised up means His spirit was resurrected, brought back to life. If Christ’s spirit was not brought back to life, then your faith would be in vain and you would still be in your sins. “22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” means that all shall be made spiritually alive, not physically rise and be alive in bodies. That does not mean Jesus’ soul (spirit) was brought back to life (because the soul cannot die, so it does not need to be brought back to life); it means that the Cause of Christ (what He taught and represented) were brought back to life after three days... Had it NOT been brought back to life you would still be in your sins because it was the Cause of Christ that needed to be brought back to life in order to save people from their sins... People needed to get the Gospel message that Jesus taught and the disciples needed to carry that far and wide. Their faith in Jesus needed to be renewed (resurrected).

In 1 Corinthians 15:12-22, Paul was referring to a spiritual resurrection. That Jesus was raised up means His spirit was resurrected, brought back to life. If Christ’s Cause was not brought back to life, then your faith would be in vain and you would still be in your sins. “22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” means that all shall be made spiritually alive, not physically rise and be alive in bodies.

16 For if the dead rise not and 13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead refers to Christ’s spiritual resurrection, not to anyone rising from graves

1 Cor 15 is about spiritual death, not physical death. Bodies once dead do not rise from graves. Souls then leave the body and rise to heaven and take on a spiritual body comprised of heavenly elements in that spiritual realm. They then continue to exist for eternity. The souls who are spiritually alive go to heaven the ones who are spiritually dead go to.... well, I do not know where they go, but they still have a chance to get close to God by reaching out to God, by the mercy of God and the prayers of others. There is no guarantee, and that is why it is best to get close to God before we die.

Eternal life does not refer to physical life of the body. It means nearness to God in this life and in the afterlife. Jesus is the resurrection, and the life, because whoever believes in Jesus will attain to eternal life. His body will die, but his soul will continue on to the spiritual world (heaven) where he will be close to God. The rewards of the spiritual world are peace, the spiritual graces, various spiritual gifts, the gaining of the desires of the heart and the soul, and getting closer to God. Gaining these rewards is the gaining of eternal life.

John 3:16: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

1 John 5:13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.

John 11:25-26 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?​

Adam and Eve would have only died if they ate from the forbidden ( No trespassing ) tree.
Right, the time would come when No new people would be born on Earth.
Mankind was given the opportunity to reproduce only until Earth was filled as per Genesis 1:28.
So, mankind was Not to over populate or over fill Earth, but just to reproduce til Earth was populated.
In other words, reproduction on Earth would cease at that populated time.
As for populating other planets, that seems like a likely probability.

 

[Vaderecta]

Adam and Eve would have only died if they ate from the forbidden ( No trespassing ) tree.
Right, the time would come when No new people would be born on Earth.
Mankind was given the opportunity to reproduce only until Earth was filled as per Genesis 1:28.
So, mankind was Not to over populate or over fill Earth, but just to reproduce til Earth was populated.
In other words, reproduction on Earth would cease at that populated time.
As for populating other planets, that seems like a likely probability.

You do know Adam and Eve are a really bad creation hypothesis? We have some better ideas now. Thousands of years later. Not going to knock the writers of genesis. Cool ideas. But it doesnt hold up based on what we know now. As far as humans not overpopulating the planet this is a real debate with tons of content. I am going to riff a bit but I think the society of long term thinking has an open bet on this right now. (Basically one dude thinks human population is going to go down because humans are so successful now that people dont want to have 14 kids but are good with 1 or 2 and the other side is like the idiocracy argument (Great movie btw) and thinks the breeders are going to overtake the planet...)

Meh. Its a bit more complicated then that but thats as a said a quick riff. No Drizzit and whoever was in shades of gray dont matter in terms of reality anymore then adam or his rib made woman: Eve.

 

[URAVIP2ME]

................ As far as humans not overpopulating the planet this is a real debate with tons of content. I am going to riff a bit but I think the society of long term thinking has an open bet on this right now. (Basically one dude thinks human population is going to go down because humans are so successful now that people dont want to have 14 kids but are good with 1 or 2 and the other side is like the idiocracy argument (Great movie btw) and thinks the breeders are going to overtake the planet...)

Biblically speaking, I find the ^ above^ has Not taken into account that there will be: earthly resurrections.
So, by the end of Jesus' coming 1,000-year governmental rule over Earth is completed Earth will be ' populated '.
First, there will be the people living on Earth at the soon coming ' time of separation ' as per Matthew 25:31-33,37,40.
The figurative humble 'sheep' can remain alive on Earth, and continue to live on Earth right into the start of calendar Day One of Jesus' millennium-long day of governing over Earth for a thousand years.
Second, those Not called to Heaven, can have a happy-and-healthy physical resurrection back to live life on Earth.

To, me the real debate today is more about the un-even distribution of food due to greed, and Not overpopulation.

 

[Vaderecta]

Biblically speaking, I find the ^ above^ has Not taken into account that there will be: earthly resurrections.
So, by the end of Jesus' coming 1,000-year governmental rule over Earth is completed Earth will be ' populated '.
First, there will be the people living on Earth at the soon coming ' time of separation ' as per Matthew 25:31-33,37,40.
The figurative humble 'sheep' can remain alive on Earth, and continue to live on Earth right into the start of calendar Day One of Jesus' millennium-long day of governing over Earth for a thousand years.
Second, those Not called to Heaven, can have a happy-and-healthy physical resurrection back to live life on Earth.

To, me the real debate today is more about the un-even distribution of food due to greed, and Not overpopulation.

Right the righteous themselves will possess the earth and they will reside forever upon it along with he will wipe out every tear from their eye and death will be no more, neither shall mourning nor outcry be anymore because blah blah. I was raised as a Jehovah Witness so I didn't magically forget their fantastical interpretation of texts written thousands of years ago by people who couldn't interact with anyone except in most cases their local tribe. They didnt have cars or planes or the internet. They wrote some things down that people to this day revere and the fact that people now revere it must mean its based on something more then just their ramblings. Not to mention there has been heavy editting and these things were just all thrown together to form a bible. And still no one agrees on that. There are like 100s of versions which pivot on key points. The whole thing contradicts itself all the time. If you really read it which I recommend there are some very sadistic and cruel stories but also some interesting stories.

Beyond that there are other religions which dont even care about the bible. Based on completely different gods.

One additional side point... Jehovah witnesses always like to say when you look at the world today all you see is more and more evil and sin everywhere. Except anyone who does even light research will find every violent crime is at an all time low. People are more civilized then ever before. There is less war, less theft, less murder, less violence and that extends beyond the gilded border wall of the united states to overall statistics. People don't need god to reset civilization, they needed civilization.

 

[tayla]

What is life all about spiritually?

In my view, the purpose of life is the living of life, the experience of it. Also, to enjoy the goodness and beauty created by the good and beautiful God; to commune with him/her in this experience.

 

[Vaderecta]

In my view, the purpose of life is the living of life, the experience of it. Also, to enjoy the goodness and beauty created by the good and beautiful God; to commune with him/her in this experience.

Cells of any lifeform in general are alive and seem to accomplish their purpose without the baggage. Don't overthink it. Most life is not capable of thought and if you are saying they need your genetic profile to figure out the purpose of life you are disregarding 99% of life on the planet and selecting purely for the the purpose of life only matters if you know god and can imagine such etc. etc.

Its a nice thought though.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

In your view/opinion, What is life all about spiritually?

The upwards growth of the soul through the cultivation of virtue until it reaches a divine state.

 

[Vaderecta]

The upwards growth of the soul through the cultivation of virtue until it reaches a divine state.

Wolves hunt in packs and use some of the most clever and ruthless methods to succeed in some of the most brutal environments our planet offers. They are not at the top of the food chain but I'm sure they are meeting regularly to discuss their soul and the cultivation of virtue.

Just kidding. Honestly you are starting with all of these concepts which are nebulous and have no concrete definition and even when someone defines them they have no evidence supporting them whatsoever. Soul, Divine and even to some extent virtue. I see this response as a rhetorical non sequitor.

 

[Nakosis]

In your view/opinion, What is life all about spiritually?

Being happy. One seeks to be happy as often as possible. I suppose we need the times of sorrow and suffering so we don't take happiness for granted.

What brings one person happiness may not be the same as what makes another happy. So best not to go about trying to push other folks into whatever your personal version of happiness is.

How to find happiness? When you find yourself happy, take the time to understand what caused you to be happy. It's not always the thing you thought should be making you happy or what others said would make you happy.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Wolves hunt in packs and use some of the most clever and ruthless methods to succeed in some of the most brutal environments our planet offers. They are not at the top of the food chain but I'm sure they are meeting regularly to discuss their soul and the cultivation of virtue.

Just kidding. Honestly you are starting with all of these concepts which are nebulous and have no concrete definition and even when someone defines them they have no evidence supporting them whatsoever. Soul, Divine and even to some extent virtue. I see this response as a rhetorical non sequitor.

*Clicks ignore*