Life before life?

[*Miau*]

The ancient Roman philosophers believed that there was nothing before and after life on earth. As a christian I believe in life after death, but what about life before life? The Bibel doesn't say anything about it, does it?
What do you think?

 

[arizona_sunshine]

I believe in a pre-mortal existance.

 

[*Miau*]

Would you care to explain it?
What kind of church are you from?

 

[arizona_sunshine]

I believe that we are, quite literally, spirit children of our Heavenly Father. Before this life, we dwelled with Him and learned from Him.

We chose to come here to earth, to have our faith in God proven, to obtain a physical body and ultimately to return to our Heavenly Father.

We understood then that we would have to come here without a knowledge of our past and also that we would be susceptable to sins of the flesh.

The atonement of Christ was presented to the Father as the only means by which His children could repent and purge themselves of sin. We accepted this plan, knowing then that only thru Christ we could return to our Father.


I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.


I believe that our spirits yearn for our Heavenly Father because thru our spirits we remember Him. The Holy Spririt confirms our desire for Heaven, and leads us toward Christ as the Only Way.

 

[*Miau*]

Thank you very much.
Does it say anything about this in the Bibel? I'd very much like to learn more about it...

 

[So'Leem_Jesus]

This topic is an important question and perhaps more important then some here would like to realize. You see, resent studies show that all behaviors are a result of some type of learning, this is odd because many behaviors patterns are very unexplained and unreliable.

It seems a persons environment is a factor yet their primary source of behavior, this opens the door to some type of pre-birth learning. Which would introduce and bring some support for the idea of pre-life.

Yet to me, pre-life is not practical, I do not see relearning as an efficient and hence effective way for God to implement his plan. Neither do I believe if I pre-existed and had a say in my own creation that I would set myself as I am, nor you as you.
You see, to suppose pre-life is to suppose that your pre-entity is to be more infantile then you are by the end of your life or for that matter at any point in your life, this however lack logical order, in fact to result in the birth to growth structure we have it takes a lot of wisdom and care and love which can only come of a more mature placement not more infantile one. It is for those reasons I do not believe I could have a pre-life, in short simply because it would be either pointless (if I was relearning) or it would not be congruent with what we know about ourselves.

It is however my belief, that my older wiser self, that is grown and hence wise enough for G-d to trust , is free of time and space and I(future tense) do assist my younger self(current tense).So no I do not support pre-life, by I do support eternal life(free of both after and pre, simply is)

Ke'th

 

[arizona_sunshine]

As you mentioned before, Biblical support of a pre-existance is not concrete. I feel the Bible supports the idea more than it does refute it.


Foreordination of Jeremiah the Prophet

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.


Also, in Revelation 12 we learn of a war in heaven. In our belief, we are the host of heaven, present during this war. All who arrive here on earth chose to follow Christ, and His plan of salvation.

 

[arizona_sunshine]

I am surprised more hasnt been contributed to this thread!

 

[Sophia23]

life before life... fascinating... I never even considered such an idea - had no conception of it before seeing this thread... thanks!!!

 

[Radagast]

I believe that we are, quite literally, spirit children of our Heavenly Father. Before this life, we dwelled with Him and learned from Him.... We chose to come here to earth, to have our faith in God proven, to obtain a physical body and ultimately to return to our Heavenly Father....

That doesn't make any sense to me: why would such spirits choose to come to earth?

Also, the Bible does not support this -- the passage quoted from Jeremiah simply indicates that God had a plan for us before we were born.

-- Radagast

 

[arizona_sunshine]

That doesn't make any sense to me: why would such spirits choose to come to earth?

Also, the Bible does not support this -- the passage quoted from Jeremiah simply indicates that God had a plan for us before we were born.

-- Radagast

I understand your perspective.

In simplest terms, I would say that we had learned all that we could in the pre-existance and in order to progress we had to experience physical life.

You and I most likely have different perspectives on the purpose of life, mine being a two-fold purpose: 1) To have our faith in Christ tested 2) To recieve a physical body that will be with us after the resurrection.

You and I have different perspectives on what the Bible does and does not support. My interpretation of Jeremiah could be wrong according to your understanding. However, I believe even with Biblical understanding only, the possibility of a pre-existance is not completely discredited.

 

[pmarquette]

I understand your perspective.

In simplest terms, I would say that we had learned all that we could in the pre-existance and in order to progress we had to experience physical life.

You and I most likely have different perspectives on the purpose of life, mine being a two-fold purpose: 1) To have our faith in Christ tested 2) To recieve a physical body that will be with us after the resurrection.

You and I have different perspectives on what the Bible does and does not support. My interpretation of Jeremiah could be wrong according to your understanding. However, I believe even with Biblical understanding only, the possibility of a pre-existance is not completely discredited.

God created Adam the Spirit :
Gen 1:27 So God created man in his [own] image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them
God created Adam's " dirt suit "
Gen 2:7 And the LORD God formed man [of] the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

God created the spiritual being first and placed into the earthly vessel second

A word of Caution about life before / after thought line .... dangerously close to heathen view of " karma " .... bible says one life , then judgement ...

 

[arizona_sunshine]

pmarquette

i very much believe that we were created spritually before we were created physically. i just believe we existed for a period of time before putting on the "dirt suit."

and i really dont see what this has to do with karma. or reincarnation, if thats what you meant.

one life on earth. one judgement. but we will "live again" after our earthly life, just as Christ does. so where does the Bible really disagree with the possibility that we lived spiritually, with our Heavenly Father, before this earthly life?

 

[Breetai]

Col 1:16-17
For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him. And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

John 1:3-4
All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

These verses are referring to Christ Jesus. If Jesus created all things, how could man be His "spiritual brothers and sisters". They aren't. They are His creation.

Before anyone counters and says that only the Father is the creator, read John 1:1 adn John 1:14:
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." "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."

The Word is clearly Christ Jesus. Also, notice how the this verse states that He is the "only begotten of the Father"? Jesus had no spiritual "brothers and sisters".

1 Corinthians 15:47
The first man is of the earth.

This certainly implies that man did not exist before he was on the earth. To believe that man pre-existed in heaven is a direct condradiction of this verse.