Reddit mentions of The Explicit Gospel (Paperback Edition)

I love this question because the why of humanity's existence lays the foundation of our morality. So let's get into it. (Here is an excellent article that might help. Also, this book sums it up fairly well too).

So skimming through the Bible, the main recurring theme is The Glory of God. Let's look at the psalms.

>He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. (23:3)

>For your name’s sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great.(25:11)

>For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me. (31:3)

>Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; deliver us, and atone for our sins, for your name’s sake! (79:9)

>Yet he saved them for his name’s sake, that he might make known his mighty power. (106:8)

>But you, O God my Lord, deal on my behalf for your name’s sake; because your steadfast love is good, deliver me! (109:21)

>For your name’s sake, O Lord, preserve my life! In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble. (143:11)

The book of Isaiah is riddled with references to God's glory.

>I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins. (Isaiah 43:25)

>For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another. (Isaiah 48:11)

Isaiah even answers your question in chapter 43 verse 7.
>everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed and made.

I can make a ton more references in both the old and new testaments, but I would encourage you to read through the Bible and discover them for yourself.

So let's ask this:

What is the glory of God?

This article says quickly that it is the beauty of God's spirit, that is, the beauty that emanates from His character, from all that He is. The way I like to word it is that the glory of God is making God's holiness known.

In order to make known the holiness of God, God created man in His image to reflect that holiness.

Now, based on your replies, it seems as though, in your mind, there are only 2 answers to this question and for some reason both answers are bad.

Let me explain why the answers that you cam up with aren't bad and why they aren't the only answers available.

First, so what if God acts arbitrarily? He's God. He can do what He wants. The good news is is that what He wants and does are according to His holiness and character. That is, he acts according to His love, mercy, grace, justice, wrath, jealousy, etc. Look at that last one; jealousy.

God doesn't need to express himself or be worshiped. God desires to be worshiped. God also desires intimacy. If God needs my worship, I don't want to worship him.