Ben1445
Well-Known Member
Will does not mean presently does.
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What is the Greatest Obligation That All Humans Have Toward God?
- Thread starter Scripture More Accurately
- Start date
Anthony Pritchard
Well-Known Member
"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man." Ecclesiastes 12:13
Scripture More Accurately
Well-Known Member
Not true. God is worthy of glory from all beings. If they do so willingly, that is far better, but if they will not do it willingly, they will still give God the glory that is due His name.
Vast multitudes of humans who have never loved God or enjoyed Him and never will love or enjoy Him will yet some day bow the knee in worship of Him and glorify Him:
Philippians 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Whether humans ever love or enjoy God or not, they will worship Christ one day and will thereby glorify God the Father.
Glorifying God is the greatest obligation that all humans have toward God.
Scripture More Accurately
Well-Known Member
I did not make any claim that it means that God presently does.
Ben1445
Well-Known Member
Sorry. It was just the way I read it. It could have been taken either way. My mistake.
KenH
Well-Known Member
New kid on the block here...Howdy all.
Welcome to the Baptist Board!
HistoricalChristian
New Member
The first commandment: "You shall have no other gods before me." Deut. 5:7
I don't know about "The chief end of man". Man's soul will exist forever - either in heaven or in hell. Those in heaven will glorify God and enjoy him forever. Do you believe those in hell will also?
No able to offer you any help properly applying the following scripture in this context. I am always willing to be englightened.
"[Mat 7:21-23 KJV] 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
Ben1445
Well-Known Member
Pardon my jumping in here but, the phrase, “the chief end,” doesn’t necessarily mean the final outcome.
Chief need only mean the greatest.
The word “end,” especially more so in older English may mean purpose.
So a better way to look at that phrase is greatest purpose, rather than final outcome.
END. noun
- Either extremity of something that has length.
"the end of the pier." - The outside or extreme edge or physical limit; a boundary.
"the end of town." - The point in time when an action, event, or phenomenon ceases or is completed; the conclusion.
"the end of the day." - A result; an outcome.
- Something toward which one strives; a goal. synonym: intention.
Similar: intention - The termination of life or existence; death.
- The ultimate extent; the very limit.
"the end of one's patience." - The very best; the ultimate.
"This pizza's the end." - A remainder; a remnant.
They glorify God as well
I think this supplies the answer, because if we truly love God as the text describes, we shall also delight in glorifying and worshipping Him, not to mention obeying Him and fearing Him.
BTW, fearing God is always portrayed as something positive in the Bible (e.g. Prov. 1:7; Job 28:28; Acts 9:31).