Humans exist for the glory of God, because of the love of God, and out of the joy of God. Before creation, the Triune God (Father, Son, Spirit) dwelt in perfect glory and love; creation is the overflow of that goodness. We are made in His image to be known and loved by God and to respond by loving Him and others.
The cultural moment: confusion about humanity
Questions everywhere: What is a human? Whose life has value? What is a woman?
Competing measures of worth (independence, contribution, utility) devalue people.
Where to start: not with us, but with God
Genesis 1 sets the frame: God created and called it very good; humans uniquely in His image (1:26–28).
But before “how” and “what,” we must ask “why?”
God as He is: the Triune God
Hebrews 1:1–3: the Son is the radiance of God’s glory; all things made through and sustained by Him.
God is chiefly revealed as Father (by the Son) in the Spirit—eternally self-sufficient, not dependent on creation.
Before creation: glory and love within the Trinity
John 17:4–5, 22–24: the Father and Son shared glory and love “before the foundation of the world.”
Therefore, God did not create out of need or loneliness, but out of overflowing love and delight.
Why humans exist
Glory: Everything God does displays His glory; we are made to reflect it.
Love: God freely chose to create image-bearers who can truly know and be known by Him.
Joy: God intends us to share in His joy (Ps 16:11; cf. Jn 17:13).
What this means for daily life
Our lives are not about us: we exist for God (Eccl 12:13; 1 Cor 10:31).
The way we glorify God is by loving Him (whole being) and loving our neighbor (Matt 22:37–39).
Dignity and value: Every person bears God’s image—this shapes ethics, compassion, and mission.
Counterfeits about humanity
“Human as machine,” “mere animal,” “economic unit,” “pawn of fate,” “self-defining sovereign,” “only social construct.”
Each holds a fragment (at best) but cannot ground worth, love, or hope.
The gospel hope
Sin distorts our design and purpose.
The Father sends the Son (Jn 3:16; 1 Jn 4:10) to redeem image-bearers so we may know God—which Jesus defines as eternal life (Jn 17:3).
Redemption restores us to our purpose: to glorify God by being known and loved by Him and returning that love in joyful obedience.
We are called to recognize humanity’s universal need for Christ, uphold personal responsibility for sin, and proclaim the gospel with clarity and compassion.
Romans 5:12; Ezekiel 18:4, 20; Revelation 20:11-13
Because sin has shattered every part of human life, we must look to Christ as the only One who can truly restore what is broken and teach us how to live as God meant.
Genesis 3:7-19
A church with a clear, biblical view of sin will view the world realistically, depend on Christ fully, and minister to others with truth and compassion.
Genesis 3:1-24
Because every person bears the image of God, love all people, including those unlike you or opposed to you, with the dignity, mercy, and truth that reflect Christ Himself.
Genesis 1:26-27; Acts 17:26-27; James 2:1-9
Because every human life bears God’s image, we must honor, protect, and love all people with the same value, compassion, and dignity that God Himself gives.
Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 5:1-2; Titus 2:1-8
Honor God in both body and soul: care for your physical and spiritual life as one, unified whole redeemed by Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:23; Genesis 2:7; Matthew 10:28
