How and why did God create us?

God created us male and female in his own image to know him, love him, live with him, and glorify him. And it is right that we who were created by God should live to his glory.

Genesis 1:27

For additional teaching and prayers tailored to this question:
–>  go to the online catechism tool

–> Creation by JI Packer

–> Humanness by JI Packer

Have so enjoyed studying for and putting together some stuff for our FOUNDATIONS series. On Sunday nights at 6pm I will be doing an overview of bible doctrine using the WCF.

In realizing again how great this document–The Westminster Confession of Faith– is, I am reminded of this Chesterton quote:

“Tradition means giving votes to the most obscure of all classes, our ancestors. It is the democracy of the dead. Tradition refuses to submit to the small and arrogant oligarchy of those who merely happen to be walking about. All democrats object to men being disqualified by the accident of birth; tradition objects to their being disqualified by the accident of death.”

(G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy)

Our great God, per the Westminster Confession of Faith

Chap 2, section 2.
God hath all life,a glory,b goodness,c blessedness,d in and of himself; and is alone in and unto himself all-sufficient, not standing in need of any creatures which he hath made,e nor deriving any glory from them,f but only manifesting his own glory in, by, unto, and upon them. He is the alone fountain of all being, of whom, through whom, and to whom are all things;g and hath most sovereign dominion over them, to do by them, for them, or upon them whatsoever himself pleaseth.h In his sight all things are open and manifest,i his knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent upon the creature,k so as nothing is to him contingent, or uncertain.l He is most holy in all his counsels, in all his works, and in all his commands.m To him is due from angels and men, and every other creature, whatsoever worship, service, or obedience he is pleased to require of them.n
(a) Jer 10:10; John 5:26
(b) Acts 7:2
(c) Ps 119:68
(d) 1 Tim 6:15; Rom 9:5
(e) Acts 17:24-25
(f) Luke 17:10
(g) Rom 11:36
(h) Rev 4:11; Dan 4:25,35; 1 Tim 6:15
(i) Heb 4:13
(k) Rom 11:33-34; Ps 147:5
(l) Acts 15:18; Ezek 11:5
(m) Ps 145:17; Rom 7:12
N revelation 5

(Julie gave me permission to post this great update. On to Bulgaria! Search Bulgaria on blog to learn more.)

Hey!!!

I wanted to let you know that I just met with my assessors and I’ve been approved!!! I’m so excited!! This week was such a blessing to me and I feel I’m coming away with so much from this experience. I believe Mission To the World (MTW) will be in contact with you (as my pastor) formally within the next week or so with how to pray and prepare me for the next step, but I wanted to give you the good news!!!!

God is good!!

Julie