What Is Our Purpose as Christians?
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Oftentimes, soon after a person repents, comes to faith in, and surrenders to the Lord Jesus Christ, they wonder, “What is my purpose as a Christian?”
In his memoir Someplace to be Somebody, Pastor Marshall Brandon had the same conundrum, except his call to ministry took years to come to fruition, and he says he was despondent over not having a ministry when he thought it was time. In God’s providence, Marshall heard a pastor’s message on the radio with the theme, “Bloom Where You’re Planted.” Right then he knew he was to pour himself into his vocation and be the best employee he could while he continued to serve the Lord through his church — all for God’s glory.
He realized God does not operate according to our will and timing but by His perfect will and timing. A few years later, Marshall’s unique purpose was revealed and he answered the call to a full-time ministry position. Before Pastor Brandon learned his purpose as a pastor, however, he had to discover what every Christian learns — our overall purpose as Christians, no matter what our vocation.
What Does the Bible Say about a Christian’s Purpose?
When we become Christians, we are no longer living for ourselves; we are living for the Lord (Philippians 1:21). Therefore, we need to discover God’s purpose for us, and the Bible has much to say about that. We, in effect, have one main purpose, and many other facets which support and accentuate our chief goal.
Our greatest purpose as Christians is to glorify the Lord (Isaiah 43:6-7; Romans 15:5-6; Revelation 15:4). The Westminster Shorter Catechism states in its first question:
Q. “What is the chief end of man?
A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.”
King Solomon, in much the same way, ends his astounding look at life by saying, “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).
To that end, everything we do serves our purpose as God-glorifiers. To glorify God, we are to:
1. Live holy lives. The Lord God does not leave us baffled or unfitted; He enables us through His Holy Spirit living within us (Romans 8:9). Pastor Daniel R. Hyde says, “The Holy Spirit’s indwelling is the sine qua non of being a Christian, meaning that He is the essential thing, or better yet, the essential person we need to be Christians.” 2 Peter 1:3 assures us we have everything we need to live godly (holy) lives.
2. Do as Romans 12:2 commands, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Knowing God’s will for us gives us our purpose.
3. Grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). How do we do this? We are to read, study, and meditate upon the Word of God. And in so doing, we come to know God and His redemptive purpose through Jesus Christ. The Bible gives us our standard of living because its Author is God and we are all created in His image (Genesis 1:27). As image-bearers, we seek to be like our Creator (Romans 8:29). This is made possible by God’s sanctifying work in us (John 17:17). As Christians, Jesus is our raison d'être, “for in Him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28). He is our purpose.
4. Share the Gospel, make disciples, and teach them (Matthew 28:19-20). Romans 10:17 underscores our need to speak the Gospel. “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Because of the Spirit within us, we understand Scripture and can discern and share truth by speaking the Gospel and living a holy life.
5. As growing Christians, we are to display the fruit of the Spirit, which is “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). Love is listed first, and Jesus said, “By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). Love — His love for us and our love for Him and others — encompasses the two greatest commandments, to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength and to love others as ourselves (Mark 12:30-31).
6. Gather regularly with the church. Hebrews 10:24-25 gives us our charge to make meeting together a priority. This is not a suggestion; it’s a command so we grow together in Christ, and His love and unity. We hold each other accountable, edify one another, and learn from our elders. If you are not a member of your local, Bible-based, Gospel-driven, Christ-centered church, don’t wait to obey the Lord in this important matter.
What Hinders a Christian’s Purpose?
When the Lord God rushed Lot and his family out of harm’s way before He destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, Lot’s wife, with one foolish action, died as God turned her into a pillar of salt (Genesis 19:23-26). Her foolish action? She looked back with longing at what once was. In so doing, she rebelled against God’s command and His loving protection of Abraham’s nephew (her husband, Lot) and his family.
Some Christians do the same, yet not all act on their wish to re-live a life of darkness. Ephesians 5:8a outlines it as such, “for at one time you were darkness.” The Christian life isn’t easy, for we not only fight the world’s overbearing ways and the temptations wrought by Satan and his minions, but we also fight a longing for what we perceived was freedom and ease.
Solomon as much said it in the passage above — God knows our hearts and all our intents, and He will bring every deed into his righteous, holy judgment.
The areas where we falter are those which counter the list offered above:
1. Quenching the Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19). Christians with purposeful lives walk by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16) as He guides us in the truth (John 16:13) as we actively fulfill our purpose as ordained by God.
2. Following the world’s beliefs will cause a Christian to “backslide” (fall back) into behaviors which counter our purpose to glorify God.
3. No time in God’s Word equals no growth in the grace and knowledge of Jesus. We owe our Savior quality, focused time in prayer and in His Word.
4. Saying nothing about the Lord to a lost and dying world is tantamount to denying Jesus (Matthew 10:33). One day we will each stand before God and give an account of what we did according to our purpose. We long to hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Luke 19:17).
5. Displaying the works of the flesh will denigrate the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:19-21).
6. Missing church services. God places a priority on gathering together, and ignoring this command is akin to telling the Lord we don’t care because other things are more important to us. The Lord Jesus continues to build His church, and we ought not hold other events as more important than coming together as Christ’s bride.
How Can We Stay on Track with Our Purpose?
Proverbs 16:9 tells us, “The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.” We may think we have ultimate control over our plans and purposes, but our omniscient Lord God has sovereign reign over every plan we make.
We looked at the first part of Ephesians 5:8 before, but the remainder of that verse gives us a reminder of who we are and how we are to live, “but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.”
Whether you are growing exponentially in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18) or are prone to look back, we must always take productive time to read, study, and memorize God’s Word, and to pray to ascertain, affirm, and continue in our life’s purpose.
Titus 2:11-12 reads like a training manual for Christians who long to achieve their purpose. Because Christ saved us, we are to “renounce ungodliness and worldly passions.” Instead, we are to be “self-controlled, upright, and godly.” This is our witness for Christ and for His work in us as we glorify Him (for He is God). He redeemed us for His use, and He purifies us as people who are “zealous for good works.” “Good” in a godly sense means approved by God, for He is good (Psalm 31:19; 100:5). Paul finished this passage in Titus 2 by saying, “Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.” Our purpose includes standing for the truth.
Walking in the world according to God’s purpose for us is not easy, but it is eternally fruitful. When we are tempted to walk by the world’s standards and not by the Spirit, we are adjured to:
Pray (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
Trust in the Lord (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Consider our calling (1 Corinthians 1:26).
Remember what Jesus did; He saved us by His atoning work on the cross and to save us from God’s righteous wrath. No one else can come close to what He did (Matthew 26:26-29; Romans 5:7; 1 Corinthians 15:25-26).
As you consider your God-given purpose, think on the things Paul lists in Philippians 4:8-9 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me — practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”
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