The Bible is the inspired and inerrant Word of God, and it has the power to speak to the deepest issues of life. For Christians, the Bible is our primary source for understanding the nature and meaning of their faith and its implications for life and purpose. The Bible is a vast and diverse book, composed of many different types of literature, but overall, it gives us a clear and profound message about our purpose in life.
God’s Design
The Bible emphasizes that humans have a unique purpose in God’s design. We are made in the image of God and have been entrusted with the awesome responsibility of ruling and caring for the things that God has created. Genesis 1:26–28 tells us, “And God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. . . . And God blessed them. And God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” By understanding our calling to be fruitful, multiply, subdue, and rule, we have an understanding of our purpose in life.
Glorifying God
The Bible also teaches us that we have been created to glorify God. Psalm 97:5–6 reads, “The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth. The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory.” From the creation to the end of days, our purpose is to glorify the Lord and recognize his greatness and sovereignty. As Paul wrote to the Romans, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men” (Colossians 3:23).
Loving Others
The Bible also teaches us that part of our purpose is to love others. Jesus said in Mark 12:31, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Our purpose as humans is to love and serve one another. As believers, we have been given the mandate to go out and share the Good News with the lost and to share the love of God with the world.
Living A Holy Life
The Bible also teaches us that part of our purpose is to live a holy life. As believers, we are called to live a life that is pleasing in God’s sight. In Leviticus 11:45, God said to Moses, “Be holy, for I am holy.” We are also commanded to “put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Colossians 3:10). We are to be changed from our former selves and made new in Christ.
Fulfilling Our Goals
Finally, the Bible teaches us that part of our purpose is to fulfill the goals that God has set for us. In Romans 8:28 Paul writes, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Here we see the idea that God has a purpose for each of us and that we should strive to fulfill it.
We Are Image Bearers
The Bible makes clear that we have been created in the image of God and entrusted with a special and unique purpose. This idea is foundational to our understanding of our purpose as humans. Genesis 1:27 reads, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” Being made in the image of God means that we have been given a dignity and worth that is beyond compare. As image bearers of God, we have been given a purpose to glorify him and to care for the earth and its inhabitants.
Our Obligation To Love
The Bible teaches us that a key part of our purpose is to love others. This is seen clearly in 1 John 4:7-8, “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” Here, we read that God is love, and that it is our responsibility to love one another. This love is seen in action when we help those in need and share the good news of salvation with the lost.
Our Mission To Glorify God
Glory is due to God alone, and because of his greatness, one of our primary purposes is to glorify him. Colossians 1:15–17 says, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” This passage makes clear that everything that exists was created for the glory of God and to bring him honor.
Living A Life Of Holiness
The Bible emphasizes that we are to strive to live a life that is pleasing in God’s sight. 1 Peter 1:13-16 reads, “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’” This passage emphasizes that our purpose is to be holy as we seek to serve and follow the Lord.
Fulfilling Our Purpose Through Christ
The Bible makes clear that it is through Christ that we can fulfill our purpose. Romans 8:28–30 reads, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.” Here, we see that, through Christ, we are able to fulfill our purpose as we are conformed to the image of his Son.
Obey God To Fulfill Our Purpose
Ultimately, our purpose is to obey God to the best of our abilities. In Psalm 119:105 David writes, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” This passage emphasizes that we are to seek God’s direction and to follow his Word in order to fulfill our purpose. As we seek to obey God, we find ourselves being conformed to the image of his Son and being set apart for his service.
Living A Life of Integrity
The Bible emphasizes that, as we seek to fulfill our purpose, we are to live our lives with integrity. Proverbs 11:3 says, “The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.” Our integrity is a reflection of our faith and of the fruit of the Spirit, and it is something that God looks upon with favor.
The Struggle We Face
As believers, we are not alone in our struggle to fulfill our purpose. We live in a broken world and, at times, our efforts to do what is right may be met with opposition. In 1 Peter 5: 8-9, we are warned, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.” Here we are reminded that we can rely on the faith of our brothers and sisters in Christ to sustain us and to help us in our struggle.
Living A Life of Surrender
The Bible encourages us to live with a spirit of surrender and not of fear. In Romans 12:1-2 we read, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 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.” Here, we see that our purpose is to be transformed by the renewing of our minds and to live in obedience to God’s will.
The Power Of Perseverance
The Bible teaches us that, as believers, perseverance is a key part of our purpose. In James 1:2–4 we read, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” In this passage, we learn that it is through persevering in our faith that we can be perfected and made complete.
Knowing Our Savior
The Bible makes clear that the only way to fulfill our purpose is through knowing and believing in Jesus Christ. In John 14:6, Jesus says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Ultimately, our purpose is to know the Lord and to accept him as our personal savior. In doing so, we find purpose and significance in a life that is centered on Christ.
