— To uplift, inform & challenge followers of Christ —

Dear one,

I recently asked a zealous Christian to state the purpose of her faith, to which she answered, “it’s all about loving Jesus.”  Likewise, I asked a seasoned, line-by-line type believer.  He shot back with: “To be ready for Christ’s return.”  Yet another offered: “To save as many souls as possible.”  I suggested to each that their idea was biblically incomplete and in view of that, asked how they hoped to map a God-pleasing life course and know when they’ve arrived?

OK ... what’s your answer?

It is utterly amazing that so many could be so earnest and committed to something which purpose they’re not entirely sure.  Since that cannot be pleasing to God, let’s review this believer basic.

Christian Purpose

You’re born-again, so now what do you do?

"And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers."  — Acts 2:42

The story is told of a camel-mounted traveller who, long ago and far away, came upon a sizable construction project in the desert.  Curious as to what was being built, he tried stopping a laborer driving a team of camels dragging a stone-laden wooden skid.  “Kind sir,” he inquired, “What’s going on here?”  Well, isn’t it obvious? — the driver gruffly shot back, not stopping or even turning.  I’m hauling rocks from a quarry beyond those hills.

Not satisfied, he approached another laborer who was squatting in the hot sun, intently chiseling the stones into smooth blocks.  “My good man,” he ventured, “May I ask what you’re doing?”  Hardly lifting his sweat-beaded brow, the workman simply said, I’m an expert in shaping these rough-cut rocks into beautiful blocks ... then continued his chipping.

Determined to get a better understanding, he went to a third workman who was mortaring the dressed stones into a wall.  Judging from his quiet singing and meticulous attention to detail, he was enjoying his work.  “Pardon me, but may I learn the purpose of your labor?”  With that, the mason stopped, aimed his radiant smile at the visitor and en-thusiastically began gesturing far and wide with trowel and outstretched arms, saying:  Why yes, I’m so glad you asked!  We’re building a great temple in which to worship our God. He then displayed the plans and followed up with a tour of the work site, pointing out various features.  All the while this joyous worker glowed with anticipation of the temple’s completion.

How About yourself?  What is the purpose of your Christian labor? to haul a few others to Church; chip away at “unsaved” friends and neighbors; build walls; read the Bible in 365 days; teach Sunday School; head the Nursery; hand out tracts; “witness”; sing in the choir; preach to the lost? Perhaps you believe the main purpose of your “labor” is to pray; serve as an elder, pastor, teacher or evangelist.  Of course, the Bible does not fault any of these ... nor does it endorse them as a Christian’s prime objective.

Here’s the answer

Scripture tells us God’s manward desire is that all would glorify Him, to which the Trinity says “Amen!”  Our Father’s declaration: "Thou shalt have no other gods before me" (Exod 20:3) is tantamount to, “glorify Me alone!”  The Son instructs: "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Mt 5:16).  The Spirit exhorts: "For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's" (1Cor 6:20).  Glorify — meaning “to honor; extol; to praise extravagantly ... to make glorious.”  Wow!  A tall order.  How in the dickens are we earthly peons to “make glorious,” He Who is the repository of all power, beauty and might; the very definition of love and mercy and Who has ALWAYS been the spiritual end-all and epitome of glory?

Glorify GOD?!

Yes, and the answer as to how is quite simple, but for rebel-born humans, a tall order indeed ... o-b-e-y.

Follow it through.  Implicit in biblical obedience are the believer basics denoted in our text:  “... they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers"  (Acts 2:42).
 

• Sitting under systematic Bible teaching by one who has been called, equipped and sent by God.
• Spending time with others of God’s household (fellowship).
• Regularly commemorating the Lords’ sacrificial cost for our sins and to inaugurate the New Covenant.
• Praying.  God desires we pray at all times and for all manner of things (Eph 6:18, etc.).
 

But, none of these are God’s purpose for our being born-again.  Combined, however, they lead to fulfilling that purpose.  They’re all but a “means.”

Christ “formed” in us

Paul prayed to this end: "My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you" (Gal 4:19).  Ah!  That’s the goal of it all.  Being a Christian, with all it’s indescribable temporal perks and eternal blessings, are an unparalleled gift — but the supreme purpose of it all is to glorify God by having Christ formed in us.  That is to say, our rebel nature so thoroughly given way to God’s Word and His Spirit within ... all that’s left is Christ.  We think like Him; we talk like Him; we behave like Him and we glorify God just as He does.  He would have all mankind one day claim with Jesus: "I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do" (Jn 17:4).

When Christ is fully formed in us, our virtual position will describe our actual condition "... if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2Cor 5:17).  Our lives will be in accord with Jesus, the Living Word; theologically, “sanctified.”  That process whereby, through learning and submitting to scripture, prayer, ongoing repentance and empowering of the Holy Spirit, our whole person progressively is molded into the likeness of Christ.  We can become Christ-like.  No, we are commanded to so become!  "But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy" (1Pet 1:15,16).

Listen; every time we decide to obey God — to that extent, Christ is being formed in us.  Every time we bring an ungodly thought into submission to scripture, Christ is being formed in us.  When we accept unjustified abuse — we become that much more like Christ, Who promised: If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before [it hated] you (Joh 15:18).  When we choose to give, instead of get — we are behaving like Christ, Who at that moment is being formed in us.  When we love in response to hate, Christ is in the process of further sanctifying and molding us into His likeness.  We become more godlike because Jesus Christ is the very image of God in human form (2Co 4:4).  When reviled, cheated and slandered, if, by the Spirit’s power in us, we respond in love ... at that very moment, Christ is shining forth through us.  We are being conformed to the image of Christ ... to God.

Though we all fail miserable, if we understand these basics, and by the Spirit’s power, strive by faith to obey — we can victoriously proclaim along with the apostle Paul: "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me" (Gal 2:20).  We thereby glorify God and advance the cause of Christ in our lives; we give honor to His sacrifice.

Christ did it all for us.  However, not merely so we could drag our bodies to a Sunday meeting; chip away at a Bible study or mortar the walls of a new edifice.  Nor did His blood spill forth to only wash away our sin-guilt or secure eternal life for followers. Likewise Jesus’ life was not sacrificed so we could play church.  No!  He gave it all so that all mankind would have the blessed opportunity to become like God’s first-born; like Christ; like Himself.  So that Christ might be fully formed in us.

Dear one in Him, know that indeed, we do incite divine pleasure by being faithful to the many biblical aspects of following Jesus.  Realize also that many, such as those listed in Acts 2:42 are but means to a greater end.  That “end” or purpose, being — to have Christ formed in us.  By all means, biblically drag, chip and mortar — but only in the context of the end purpose of it all.  "My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you" (Gal 4:19).  Maranatha!

ABOUT US:  Founded in 1993, Hallelujah Living Ministries is a donation-based, non-denominational Christian outreach to uplift, inform and challenge followers of Jesus Christ.  For more information or a copy of our always-free print newsletter, please include a  postal mail address along with your comments and prayer requests. Thank you for visiting  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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