What is the purpose of human life? Why were we created and born? #

To address this, we must first ask: Why did God create humanity? God had no need to create humans. God is the Holy Trinity, and He does not experience loneliness or lack. He created humanity out of the abundance of His love. Like a loving parent, God desires love in return from the beings He created. However, He does not compel it—God granted humanity free will.

Some suggest that one purpose for humanity’s creation was to replenish the number of angels who had fallen. After Satan led a third of the angels into rebellion, humanity was intended to restore that number. However, by sinning, the first humans fell and forfeited this opportunity.

Christ descended into the depths of hell to save fallen humanity. The Savior said:

“I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
(John 10:10)

The Holy Fathers teach that God became man so that man might become god—god by grace. Therefore, the purpose of every person’s life is to attain this state, the state of theosis (deification). While living on earth, each person must seek the Kingdom of God:

“Take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
(Matthew 6:31–33)

“From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.”
(Matthew 11:12)

Thus, humanity’s task is to struggle against sin and passions. Sin can only be conquered through the power of Christ. By uniting with Christ in the sacraments of the Church—Baptism, the Eucharist—and maintaining this union throughout one’s life by keeping Christ’s commandments, a person attains not only the salvation of their soul but also the state of theosis. This state involves the salvation of both soul and body. Christ came to save the whole person. Ultimately, the individuality of each person does not dissolve into God, as taught by some Eastern religions, but rather, while retaining one’s personal identity, one has the opportunity to live in God for eternity.

— Priest Evgeny Gureev