Aliens and the Bible

The idea of alien life does not fit well with Scripture. The earth is unique. God designed the earth for life (Isaiah 45:18). The other planets have an entirely different purpose than does the earth, and thus, they are designed differently. In Genesis 1 we read that God created plants on the earth on Day 3, birds to fly in the atmosphere and marine life to swim in the ocean on Day 5, and animals to inhabit the land on Day 6. Human beings were also made on Day 6 and were given dominion over the animals. But where does the Bible discuss the creation of life on the “lights in the expanse of the heavens”? There is no such description because the lights in the expanse were not designed for life. God gave care of the earth to man, but the heavens are the Lord’s (Psalm 115:16). He made the stars, planets, and moons “to divide the day from the night; and . . . for signs and seasons, and for days and years; and . . . for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth” (Genesis 1:14–15). When we look at what the Bible teaches, extraterrestrial life does not seem reasonable.

If alien life were discovered, what would be its significance in the universe? Science fiction movies show many different races of beings who supposedly evolved on other worlds. We see Vulcans and Klingons—similar to us in most respects (they usually have two legs, two arms, eat with their mouths, hear with their ears, etc.) but different in others. Although very entertaining, such alien races present a problem. When aliens sin, can they have their sins forgiven?

God’s plan of redemption is for human beings, descended from Adam. Christ is called the “second Adam.” So aliens have no plan for their salvation. They are not blood relatives of Jesus, so Christ’s blood cannot pay for their sin. Could Christ have gone to their planet and lived a sinless life as one of them and then died for them? Could He have done the same for every planet where aliens live? No, because the Bible tells us that Christ died “once for all” (1 Peter 3:18). Jesus is now and forever both God and man. He was raised from the dead in His glorified human body to live forevermore at the right hand of God the Father. He is not an alien.

The earth is unique. It is here that God placed mankind when we were created. And it is here on the earth that Christ became man, lived a sinless life, died for our sins, and was resurrected. Isn’t that an amazing truth?

Adapted from Are ETs and UFOs Real? and The Bible and Modern Astronomy, Part 2 by Dr. Jason Lisle.