bytor2112 Posted October 22, 2009 Report Posted October 22, 2009 The pre-existence is a fundamental part of LDS teaching. We are literally sons and daughters of God and existed with him before our sojourn here in this probationary estate. My question to other Christian denominations is why were we created? Why the need for Christ's sacrifice? Since you believe that Adam and Eve sinned and were cast out of the garden and as a result all mankind is fallen and needs to be redeemed......why couldn't or why didn't God just start over? If we are merely his creations and came in to existence when HE placed us in our mothers womb.....why not just start over? He very nearly did at the time of the great flood.....so why not go all the way? As a former Southern Baptist, I often pondered these questions. Why should I be held accountable for the sins of Adam....what does that have to do with me? What did I do to need saving? I didn't ask to be born....yet here I am. I am told that I must believe in someone who allegedly lived on the earth 2000 years ago or spend eternity in a place of endless torment called Hell. All because of some guy named Adam and some fruit. What then is the purpose of our creation/existence according to other Christian denominations? Why did God continue to create people.....knowing surely that many would end up in the fiery abyss? If we did not exist before our birth......if we are not literally HIS children....why in the world wouldn't he have just started fresh after Adam and Eve if his intention was that HIS creations should live in the state that Adam and Eve were in before the fall? What is the purpose of this life? Did you exist before you were born? Quote
TheAngelPalmoni Posted October 22, 2009 Report Posted October 22, 2009 Very good logical thought process. I Strongly Agree Quote
prisonchaplain Posted October 23, 2009 Report Posted October 23, 2009 King Solomon says the purpose of life is to fear God and obey his commands. Our purpose is to be reconciled to God, through Christ, and to engage in the Great Commission, so others may do so as well. The Christ was promised to Adam & Eve (Gen. 3:15). In the life to come, while we do not expect to become Gods, we do expect glorification. We shall rule and reign with Christ. We shall judge angels. We shall see as He sees. Bottom line: Reconciliation with God, Evangelization of the world, and walking righeously with my God. These are my purposes. Quote
BenRaines Posted October 23, 2009 Report Posted October 23, 2009 PC, please help me to understand. You say that we will judge angels, for what? If after the resurrection and judgment all will be done what will we judge angels for? I have never heard this before. Ben Raines Quote
prisonchaplain Posted October 23, 2009 Report Posted October 23, 2009 Ben, Paul was rather cryptic in writing that. His point was that since we will judge angels, we should be able to settle our small disputes amongst ourselves, without going to secular courts. See: We Shall Judge Angels Quote
Seminarysnoozer Posted October 23, 2009 Report Posted October 23, 2009 King Solomon says the purpose of life is to fear God and obey his commands. Our purpose is to be reconciled to God, through Christ, and to engage in the Great Commission, so others may do so as well. The Christ was promised to Adam & Eve (Gen. 3:15). In the life to come, while we do not expect to become Gods, we do expect glorification. We shall rule and reign with Christ. We shall judge angels. We shall see as He sees. Bottom line: Reconciliation with God, Evangelization of the world, and walking righeously with my God. These are my purposes.Yes, this is interesting. I appreciate you sharing your views here. I am curious what you think God's purpose is then, it certainly can't be to have someone else to walk around with.Does "reconciled with God" mean you have no more business with God? I feel a little jealous sometimes, it seems like every other religion's heaven is a place where you get to just hang out where the LDS heaven entails working your behind off forever. Quote
joofob Posted October 26, 2009 Report Posted October 26, 2009 King Solomon says the purpose of life is to fear God and obey his commands. Our purpose is to be reconciled to God, through Christ, and to engage in the Great Commission, so others may do so as well. The Christ was promised to Adam & Eve (Gen. 3:15). In the life to come, while we do not expect to become Gods, we do expect glorification. We shall rule and reign with Christ. We shall judge angels. We shall see as He sees. Bottom line: Reconciliation with God, Evangelization of the world, and walking righeously with my God. These are my purposes.For what reason should one be reconciled to God. How can one be reconciled to God if one was never in his grace previously? IMO, This is plain evidence that before our mortality we not only existed but were found to be in God's favor and grace. Either that or the common held and mainstream Christian belief regarding original sin is wrong. To be reconciled creates purpose and reason for fearing the Lord and obeying his commandments, rather then "because he said so." It teaches and implies that there was a time that we were held in God's favor, but at some point fell from such status.I am also curious as to the meaning of "we do not expect to become Gods, we do expect glorification." I understand your use of we do not expect to become Gods and I have reservations if you really understand the LDS doctrine regarding become joint-heirs with Christ. Honestly I do not want to derail this thread so I will leave it at that, but I am curious as to your meaning regarding the expectation of glorification. What exactly does it mean for me to expect glorification?As far as judging angels go I agree with your assessment that Paul was teaching a broader principle and point, but I think you are too dismissive of the belief Paul represented. Even though Paul was making a point with the example of judging angels its obvious that statement represented some form of belief or doctrine. I understand it was in a sense cryptic, Paul seems to throw things out there in that way quite often, but its also apparent it was a held belief. Do you have any idea on what that could mean ? Anyway thanks for that thought from 1 Corinthians its been too long since I have read that Quote
Justice Posted October 26, 2009 Report Posted October 26, 2009 Without trying to sound like a broken record (for those of you old enough to remember what happened when records were broken)... Does being reconciled to God have anything to do with our will for us verse His will for us, and what we choose to spend our time doing? Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.