What is the purpose of living a Christian life?

As children of God, our goal in life is to glorify and exalt God, and to enjoy God forever. We are to honor him wholeheartedly as we communicate our true emotions to him, we adore him above all things as we walk in obedience.

Ephesians 1:11-12 - In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.

Another way to describe our life’s goal is to become more like Christ and this only happen as we submit ourselves to God. It is God’s plan for each of us to be conformed to the likeness of Jesus and by cooperating with the Holy Spirit we are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory.

Romans 8:29 - For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

2 Corinthians 3:18 - And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Paul labored with the Galatians “until Christ is formed in you” (Galatians 4:19). He told the Ephesians that our goal is “attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13).

In Christ, we have a new identity and a new purpose for living. The new self is “to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22-24). What a concept! We are to be like God not just in the resurrection, but even in this life. Jesus, who demonstrated for us what God is like in the flesh, is modeling for us how we should live. We are striving to live like Christ in this life, not simply in the life to come.

The bible says to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. How is the transformation accomplished in our lives? Our new self is being renewed in knowledge and in the image of its Creator. The heart, mind and behavior are involved, and these three works together in those who are being transformed by Christ.

The more we know and love God, the more we live like him. The heart change causes the change in behavior. The heart change comes from the Holy Spirit, and gives him room to work in our lives.

As we strive to imitate our Savior, Jesus Christ, we need to look at Paul's relationship with the Father. His relationship with the Father was characterized by prayer and by his thorough knowledge of and reliance on Scripture.