I will share what I believe as a fellow sojourner here on earth. I have come to believe in a God. I believe the God of the Bible is the God of this earth. I believe there is a purpose why God has placed us on this fallen world So first off, I will explain who God is and what our relationship to him is.
1 God is an exalted man who rules in the heavens above and on the earth beneath. What does God look like? He looks like us because we were all created in his image and likeness.
Genesis 1:26-27
26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
The overall message of this verse of scripture is that man was created in the very image and likeness of God We all look similar to God. Mankind was created in the very image and the very likeness of God. Something subtle is revealed in the verses above where it tells us that God speaking to someone and says, "let US make man in OUR image, after OUR likeness". From this we understand that there are multiple beings spoken of and that we are created in their image and likeness. So who is this other being whom God is speaking to when he says, "Let US make man in our image, after our likeness"? The Bible answers this question in gospel of John:
John 1:1-3, 14
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Here we read that in the beginning was a being called the Word. The Word was with God in the beginning and He was also known as God. We are then told that it was through him that God created all things that God created. Finally in verse 14 we come to understand that this God, who was known as "the Word", was made flesh and dwelt among us and was known as the Only Begotten of The Father. He was full of grace and truth. From this realize that the two Gods being spoken of in Genesis 1:26-27 are God the Father and his Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ. So Jesus actually existed before he was born on this earth and was a personage of spirit. The Father on the other hand was resurrected immortal being having a body of flesh and bones. We know this from scripture because after Jesus died and was resurrected, He received an immortal body of flesh and bones as is spoken of in Luke 24:
Luke 24:36-43
36 And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?
39
Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.
41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?
42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.
43 And he took it, and did eat before them.
Here we read about the resurrected Jesus when he appeared to his apostles. Jesus gained an immortal resurrected body that would never die again:
1 Corinthians 15:53
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
This tells us of Jesus' resurrection but how do we know that the Father himself has an immortal body of flesh and bones? Paul when speaking to the Hebrews spoke of the resurrected Jesus ascending to heaven and that in that state he was
Hebrews 1:1-3
1 God, who
at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2 Hath in these last days spo22ken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
These verses teach us that the resurrected Jesus received the full brightness and glory of His Father and that Jesus was the very express image of the person of the Father. This would mean that Jesus in his immortal resurrected state was the express image of the Father. Thus the Father himself has an immortal body of flesh and bone just as Jesus now has and that all mankind will gain through the grace of Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:2-22
20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
All mankind will be resurrected and live in immortal bodies of flesh and bones. Jesus has conquered death and all mankind will live immortally for all eternity. So why did God send us to this fallen earth to begin with? Why does God care that we live immortally for all eternity? God is not only our creator but he is also the Father of our spirits. Yes, mankind existed before this earth was ever created as spirits. Our spirits are the literal offspring of God. This is why God the Father is known as our Father in Heaven. Here are some biblical verses that reveal to us our existence before the world was:
Job 38:4-7
4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?
6 Whereupon are the foundatioEns thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
Ecclesiastes 12:7
7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
Jeremiah 1:4-5
4 Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
Acts 17:28-29
28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.
Ephesians 1:3-4
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Hebrews 12:9
9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
Revelation 12:7-11
7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
In this last verse of Revelation we see that brethren whom Satan fought against in the war in heaven have to overcome the devil by the blood of the lamb and by their testimonies. We also learn that they became subject to death. So who were these premortal beings that fought against Satan in the war in heaven but later had to overcome him by the blood of the lamb and by word of their testimony? They became subject unto death. These brethren who existed in the premortal world of spirits are we who have come down to this earth and are subject to mortality or death. We have to overcome Satan by the blood of Jesus Christ who is the lamb and rely on our testimonies to defeat him.
In closing, we are the literal spirit children of a loving Heavenly Father. We have been sent to this fallen world to learn good from evil and to learn to overcome wickedness of our own free will and choice. Those who overcome Satan and follow after Jesus Christ will receive the highest degree in the heaven's above when we are all resurrected and become immortal and eternal beings.
