Editing Meaning of life (section)

=====Denominations=====

The specific process of appropriating salvation through Christ and maintaining a relationship with God varies between different [[List of Christian denominations|denominations]] of Christians, but all rely on faith in Christ and the gospel as the fundamental starting point. Salvation through faith in God is found in [[Epistle to the Ephesians|Ephesians]] 2:8–9<sup>[8] "</sup>For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;<sup>[9]</sup> not as a result of works, that no one should boast." ([[New American Standard Bible|NASB]]; 1973). The gospel maintains that through this belief, the barrier that sin has created between man and God is destroyed, thereby allowing believers to be [[Regeneration (theology)|regenerated]] by God and to instill in them a new heart after God's own will with the ability to live righteously before him. This is what the term [[Salvation in Christianity|saved]] almost always refer to.

In Reformed theology, it is believed the purpose of life is to glorify God. In the ''[[Westminster Shorter Catechism]]'', an important creed for Reformed Christians,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bower |first=John |title=9 Things You Should Know About The Westminster Confession |date=25 March 2021 |url=https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/9-things-westminster-confession/}}</ref> the first question is: "What is the chief end of Man?" (that is, "What is Man's main purpose?"). The answer is: "Man's chief end is to glorify God, and enjoy him forever". God requires one to obey the revealed moral law, saying: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbour as yourself".<ref name="Westminster">{{cite web |title=The Westminster Shorter Catechism |url=http://www.creeds.net/reformed/Westminster/shorter_catechism.html |access-date=21 March 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080311000717/http://www.creeds.net/reformed/Westminster/shorter_catechism.html |archive-date=11 March 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The ''[[Baltimore Catechism]]'' answers the question "Why did God make you?" by saying "God made me to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world, and to be happy with Him forever in heaven."<ref>{{cite web |title=The Baltimore Catechism |url= http://www.sacred-texts.com/chr/balt/balt1.htm |access-date=12 June 2008}}</ref>

[[Catholicism]]'s meaning of life is explained in Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph 294. The Universe exists for the manifestation and communication of God's glory, while mankind exists for the [[beatific vision]].<ref>[http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p1s2c1p4.htm#294 Catechism of the Catholic Church 294]</ref> Catechism of the Catholic Church 601 explains the meaning of Jesus' life: to fulfill the Scripture, in particular the plan of salvation.<ref>[http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p122a4p2.htm#601 Catechism of the Catholic Church 601]</ref>

[[Mormonism]] teaches that the purpose of life on Earth is to gain knowledge and experience and to have joy.<ref name="Gospel Principles">{{cite web|url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-principles?lang=eng|title=Gospel Principles|website=churchofjesuschrist.org|access-date=27 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190710171937/https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-principles?lang=eng|archive-date=10 July 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> Mormons believe that humans are literally the spirit children of God the Father, and thus have the potential to progress to become like Him. Mormons teach that God provided his children the choice to come to Earth, which is considered a crucial stage in their development—wherein a mortal body, coupled with the freedom to choose, makes for an environment to learn and grow.<ref name="Gospel Principles"/> The Fall of Adam is not viewed as an unfortunate or unplanned cancellation of God's original plan for a paradise; rather, the opposition found in mortality is an essential element of God's plan because the process of enduring and overcoming challenges, difficulties, and temptations provides opportunities to gain wisdom and strength, thereby learning to appreciate and choose good and reject evil.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2 Nephi 2 |url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/eng/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/2 |access-date=2022-07-14 |website=www.churchofjesuschrist.org |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Moses 6 |url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/eng/scriptures/pgp/moses/6 |access-date=2022-07-14 |website=www.churchofjesuschrist.org |language=en}}</ref> Because God is just, he allows those who were not taught the gospel during mortality to receive it after death in the spirit world,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/138?lang=eng|title=Doctrine and Covenants 138|work=churchofjesuschrist.org}}</ref> so that all of his children have the opportunity to return to live with God, and reach their full potential.

A recent alternative Christian theological discourse interprets Jesus as revealing that the purpose of life is to elevate our compassionate response to human suffering;<ref>{{cite book |last=Drake-Brockman |first=Tom |url=http://christianhumanism.webs.com/ |title=Christian Humanism: The Compassionate Theology of a Jew Called Jesus |date=2012}}</ref> nonetheless, the conventional Christian position is that people are justified by belief in the [[Propitiation|propitiatory sacrifice]] of Jesus' death on the cross.