Christlikeness: God’s Purpose for You
God’s Purpose for Believers: Becoming Like Christ
Every Christian struggles at some point with understanding their purpose in life. Through examining Scripture, we can see that God’s ultimate purpose for believers is clear – to become like Christ. This transformative journey happens across past, present and future.
Why Did God Predestine Us to Be Like Christ?
Romans 8:29 reveals that God predetermined before time that every true believer would “become conformed to the image of His Son.” This wasn’t a casual decision, but God’s intentional purpose established in eternity past. Just as a coach develops a game plan before the game begins, God established this purpose for His people before they even existed.
How Does Transformation Happen in the Present?
According to 2 Corinthians 3:18, believers are “being transformed into the same image from glory to glory.” This transformation is:
- Supernatural – powered by the Holy Spirit
- Gradual – happening in phases over time
- Interactive – requires our cooperation through spiritual disciplines
- Comprehensive – changes our minds, hearts, desires, character and conduct
What Will Complete Christ-likeness Look Like?
First John 3:2 gives us hope for the future, stating that “when He appears we will be like Him.” While there’s some mystery around the details, we know:
- Christ will return
- We will see Him as He is
- We will be completely transformed to be like Him
- All sin will be removed
- We will receive new spiritual bodies
How Can We Cooperate with God’s Purpose?
While God is always working to transform us, we can either speed up or slow down the process through our response. Ways to cooperate include:
- Regular Bible reading
- Consistent prayer
- Faithful church attendance
- Using spiritual gifts to serve
- Engaging in discipleship
- Putting Christ first in priorities
Life Application
This week, evaluate whether your current life purpose aligns with God’s purpose of Christ-likeness. Ask yourself:
- What activities or priorities might be hindering my transformation?
- Am I actively engaging in spiritual disciplines that promote growth?
- How can I better cooperate with the Holy Spirit’s work in my life?
Challenge: Choose one spiritual discipline to strengthen this week. Whether it’s establishing a daily Bible reading habit, committing to regular prayer time, or serving in a new way at church, take a concrete step toward becoming more like Christ.
Remember – you can’t become like Christ until you know Him personally through salvation. If you haven’t taken that first step of repenting and placing your faith in Jesus, that’s where the journey begins.