Introduction
“The moment you accept Jesus Christ as Lord, 2 Corinthians 5:17 says ‘All Things become new.’” Throughout Scripture, we find 30 distinct transformations that occur at the moment of salvation. This document explores the twelfth of these transformations: receiving a new purpose.
Our Ultimate Purpose: Glorifying God
When we come to Christ, a fundamental shift occurs in our life’s orientation. We move from being self-centered—focused primarily on our own interests, needs, and desires—to being God-centered. This transformation establishes our new primary purpose: to glorify God in all we do.
This new purpose aligns us with the very reason for our existence. We were created to honor, exalt, and reflect the character and nature of God to the world around us.
Jesus’ Example of Glorifying the Father
As in all things, Jesus provides our perfect example of what it means to live with the purpose of glorifying God.
John 17:4
“I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do.”
In His prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night of His betrayal, Jesus stated that He had glorified the Father by accomplishing the work God had given Him to do. This reveals one of the primary ways we glorify God—by faithfully fulfilling the specific work and calling He has placed on our lives.
John 17:1
“Jesus spoke these things; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You.’”
This remarkable statement reveals the pattern of glorification between the Father and Son. The Father glorifies the Son so that the Son might glorify the Father. Similarly, God places His glory upon us—His presence, power, and character—so that others might see Christ in us and glorify God as a result.
Bearing Fruit That Glorifies God
John 15:8
“My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.”
Jesus used the metaphor of the vine and branches to illustrate how we glorify God. When we abide in Christ (the vine), we bear spiritual fruit. This fruit-bearing process brings glory to God because:
- The fruit is produced by God’s power, not our own efforts
- The fruit demonstrates the reality of our relationship with Christ
- The fruit benefits others and advances God’s kingdom
- The fruit reflects Christ’s character in us
Jesus emphasized that bearing “much fruit” both glorifies the Father and proves our discipleship. This indicates that a life without spiritual fruit fails to fulfill its fundamental purpose.
Letting Our Light Shine
Matthew 5:16
“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught that our good works should be visible to others—not to draw attention to ourselves but to direct attention to God. When people observe the supernatural work of God through our lives, they are drawn to glorify Him.
This passage addresses a critical distinction:
- Self-centered works seek to bring glory to ourselves
- God-centered works aim to bring glory to the Father
The “light” that shines through us is not our own light but Christ’s presence within us. As this light shines in the darkness of the world, it reveals God’s character and draws people to glorify Him.
Obedience as an Expression of Love
Jesus made it clear that obedience is directly connected to love: “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15). Our obedience to God’s commands flows from our love for Him and becomes one of the primary ways we bring glory to His name.
When Jesus said, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work” (John 4:34), He revealed how central God’s will was to His life and mission. For Jesus, doing the Father’s will was not a burden but a source of spiritual nourishment and fulfillment.
Using Our Gifts to Glorify God
1 Peter 4:10-11
“As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
This passage provides practical instruction on how we glorify God through the use of our spiritual gifts:
- Recognize the source: Every gift comes from God as an expression of His grace
- Employ the gift: Use what God has given you in service to others
- Operate as a steward: Manage the gift as something entrusted to you, not owned by you
- Speak God’s words: When using speaking gifts, aim to communicate God’s truth, not merely human wisdom
- Serve in God’s strength: When serving, rely on God’s power, not your own ability
- Focus on the goal: The ultimate purpose is that “in all things God may be glorified”
Each believer has received “a special gift” from God. These gifts are not bestowed based on our merit but are expressions of God’s “manifold grace.” When we use these gifts as God intended—speaking His words and serving in His strength—He receives the glory.
The Connection Between Purpose and Body Life
Ephesians 4 highlights how our individual purpose connects to the larger purpose of the Body of Christ. Each part of the body provides what only it can supply, contributing to the growth and health of the whole. This means that fulfilling our personal purpose is essential to the proper functioning of the church.
God Glorified Through Changed Lives
Throughout the Gospels and Acts, we see a pattern: when people witnessed the supernatural work of God—whether through Jesus’ miracles or the apostles’ ministry—they “glorified God.” This response demonstrates that one of the most powerful ways God is glorified is through visibly transformed lives and supernatural ministry.
When people see genuine change that could only be attributed to God’s power, they naturally give glory to the One responsible for that change.
Conclusion
When we accept Christ, we receive a new purpose that fundamentally reorients our lives. We transition from living for ourselves to living for God’s glory. This purpose is fulfilled as we:
- Accomplish the specific work God has given us to do
- Bear abundant spiritual fruit through abiding in Christ
- Let Christ’s light shine through our good works
- Obey God’s commands as an expression of our love
- Faithfully use our spiritual gifts to serve others
As we embrace this new purpose, our lives increasingly reflect the words of Paul in 1 Corinthians 10:31: “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
