What is humankind’s purpose on planet earth?

God set humankind over His creation to be responsible for it. Genesis 1:26

Then 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 birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

God’s purpose was for humankind to populate, subdue and rule his earth. Genesis 1:28

And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

This is not the end of God’s purpose with humankind, which also includes:

• The glory of God shall fill the earth:

Hab 2:14 For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.

Isa 43:7 everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”

Eph 1:9-12 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ (10) as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. (11) In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, (12) so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.

• Jesus Christ, God’s son, shall rule because God created the universe and everything in it for Jesus:

Col 1:16 (LITV) For all things were created in Him, the things in the heavens, and the things on the earth, the visible and the invisible; whether thrones, or lordships, or rulers, or authorities, all things have been created through Him and for Him.

• God created us for Jesus Christ:

Heb 2:11-13   For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, (12) saying, “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.” (13) And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again, “Behold, I and the children God has given me.”

Isaiah 53:10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him;
He has put Him to grief.
When You make His soul an offering for sin,
He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days,
And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.

• People have the choice, to follow Jesus (and therefore God) and become like Jesus and God

Deut 30:19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live

Eph 4:20-24 But that is not the way you learned Christ!– (21) assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, (22) to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, (23) and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, (24) and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

• We are to tell others about the gospel of the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ:

Mat 28:19-20 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (20) teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

1Pe 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

• We should glorify and praise God and live godly lives:

Eph 2:4-10 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, (5) even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ–by grace you have been saved– (6) and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, (7) so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (8) For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, (9) not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (10) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Isa 43:20-21 The wild beasts will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches, for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people, (21) the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise.

To Summarize

Humankind’s purpose on planet Earth is to look after the planet in this age, while serving and praising God. We are to become like Jesus and preach the gospel to others. We are to live the way Jesus lived, doing good works. At the return of Jesus, the faithful will be raised (if they have “fallen asleep” – i.e., died [cf. John 11:11-14]) and be given immortality to help Jesus govern the world. The world will then accept God and his son Jesus as king. The world shall then become full of the glory of God.